2019 Peugeot 5008 THP Plus Allure Review

Malaysia's C-Segment 7-seater SUV market has always been a battleground for family users. Consumers not only want ample seating space but also hope that the configuration doesn't feel compromised, while expecting the power performance to meet daily commuting and occasional travel needs. The 2019 Peugeot 5008 THP Plus Allure aims at this specific segment, priced at RM179,880 with features like 6 airbags, HUD head-up display, and front and rear parking sensors with cameras. It attempts to highlight its cost-performance advantage among models in the same price range. In this test drive, we focused on its space practicality, power response, and daily driving comfort as a family car to see if it truly meets the core needs of multi-member families.

From a distance, the overall lines of the 2019 Peugeot 5008 THP Plus Allure appear elongated, lacking the overly rugged muscularity of traditional SUVs, and instead offering a hint of the gentleness of a family car. The front face adopts Peugeot's family-style inverted trapezoidal grille, with the brand logo in the center, flanked by LED daytime running lights. The headlights are a combination of halogen and LED, providing decent recognizability when lit. The waistline on the side of the body runs from the front to the rear, paired with 18-inch wheels for relatively balanced proportions. The rear design is relatively simple, with claw-like taillights echoing the front headlights. The rear fog lights and reverse radar sensors are concealed, resulting in a clean and neat overall visual effect.

Opening the door, the interior layout is driver-centric, with the center console inclined toward the driver, making it easy to operate. In terms of materials, the top of the dashboard is wrapped in soft-touch materials, offering a pleasant tactile experience. The 8-inch capacitive touchscreen is located in the center of the dashboard, supporting touch operations. While its response speed is not particularly fast, it is sufficient for daily use. The steering wheel features a multifunctional design with paddle shifters, and there’s a fully digital instrument cluster behind it, which clearly displays information. Key data such as vehicle speed can also be projected onto the head-up display (HUD), eliminating the need for frequent glances downward while driving. As for configurations, the front row includes an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and a 6-way power-adjustable passenger seat. The middle row seats support a 33:33:33 split fold, sliding forward and backward, and manual recline. Each seat is equipped with a small table. The third-row seats can be split 50:50 and folded down, offering great flexibility. Practical features like dual-zone automatic air conditioning, rear air vents, and a 220V power outlet are all included, ensuring rear seat passengers’ needs are well taken care of during family outings.

In terms of dimensions, its length, width, and height are 4670mm, 1855mm, and 1655mm, respectively, with a wheelbase of 2840mm, which places it slightly above average in the same class of 7-seater SUVs. In actual seating tests, a passenger of 175cm sitting in the front row would have a headroom of one fist and two fingers, while in the middle row, there is a headroom of one fist and a legroom of two fists. Even with the seat positioned all the way back, a 165cm passenger in the third row would not feel too cramped, with one fist of legroom remaining, although the headroom would be reduced to just three fingers, which might feel a bit tight for long journeys. In terms of storage space, with the third-row seats upright, the trunk volume is 952L, sufficient for several carry-on suitcases. When the third row is folded down, the volume expands to 2042L, which is enough to carry large items. Inside the car, there are also door storage compartments, a central armrest storage box, cup holders, and other small storage spaces, ensuring daily miscellaneous items have a place to go.

For the powertrain, it is equipped with a 1.6T turbocharged engine, offering a maximum horsepower of 167PS and maximum torque output as early as 1400rpm, paired with an AT gearbox. During actual driving, the power response is quite aggressive at the start; a light press on the accelerator gives a noticeable push-back feel, making city commutes and overtaking easy. When switched to Sport mode, the throttle sensitivity increases, and gear shifting becomes quicker, providing more confidence for highway overtaking. The official 0-100km/h acceleration time is 8.9 seconds, which is quite good among SUVs with the same engine displacement. The steering wheel offers moderate feedback with minimal play, making it quite agile to drive and easily manageable even for female drivers. The chassis adopts a front MacPherson independent suspension, which can filter out most of the fine vibrations when driving on bumpy roads. Passing speed bumps does not result in very harsh impacts, although rear passengers might experience slight bouncing. On highways, the vehicle's stability is impressive, remaining steady even at speeds of 120km/h.

In terms of fuel consumption, on our test drive comprising roughly half city roads and half highways, the measured average fuel consumption was 7.5L/100km, slightly higher than the official figure of 7L. However, considering it is a 7-seater, this fuel performance is still acceptable. Regarding noise control, during city driving, road noise and wind noise are minimal; on highways, wind noise starts to become more noticeable once the speed exceeds 100km/h, but it remains within an acceptable range and does not interrupt conversations inside the vehicle. The seats provide good wrapping and support, ensuring comfort even on long journeys.

In terms of safety features, it comes standard with ABS anti-lock braking, vehicle stability control, lane departure warning system, blind-spot monitoring, and six airbags. Additionally, it is equipped with front and rear parking sensors and a camera system, which provide ample safety assistance during parking or driving. Overall, its safety performance meets the needs of family-use vehicles.

In conclusion, the core strengths of the 2019 Peugeot 5008 THP Plus Allure lie in its flexible space layout, comprehensive practical features, and smooth power performance. Compared to the similarly priced Honda CR-V 7-seater version, this model offers more features, such as HUD and electric seats, which the CR-V lacks. When compared to the Toyota Highlander, it is more affordable and offers better value for money. However, its third-row space is relatively cramped, making it less comfortable for long trips compared to the Highlander. Additionally, its after-sales service network is not as extensive as Japanese brands.

This vehicle is more suitable for families that prioritize cost-effectiveness and features, especially families with two to three children who frequently travel with elderly members. It handles daily commutes and short weekend trips with ease; even for long-distance travel, as long as the third-row passengers are not particularly tall, it can still be bearable. If you are looking for a well-configured, spacious 7-seater SUV without breaking the bank, this is worth considering.