Peugeot 5008 review: a genuinely different seven-seat SUV for Bahrain families
3.7/5MotorsSouq Editorial Team
The 5008 is the more practical half of Peugeot's new SUV pairing. The 165hp tune of the shared 1.6-litre turbo is enough for a fully loaded seven-seater without feeling breathless, the third row genuinely accommodates children or smaller adults on shorter trips, and the 166-litre boot with all seats up covers a weekly shop, if not much more. It asks a Bahrain family to accept a smaller service network and a steeper depreciation curve than a Yukon or Palisade in exchange for standing out in every school car park. That trade is worth making for some buyers and not for others.
Pros
- Genuine third row, not a token bench, at this size
- 165hp turbo copes well with a full seven-seat load
- Distinctive fastback-influenced design in a class of look-alike boxes
- Cabin quality and tech feel above the segment norm
Cons
- Boot shrinks to 166 litres with all three rows in use
- Third row is for children or shorter adults, not full-size ones
- Faster depreciation than Japanese and Korean three-row rivals
- Smaller Bahrain service network than the mainstream brands
The 5008 shares its underpinnings, fastback-influenced styling and 1.6-litre turbo engine with the 3008, but stretches the wheelbase to fit a proper third row rather than the token bench some rivals bolt into the boot. It is the first Peugeot SUV in years that genuinely competes on family practicality rather than just design.
The 165hp turbo four is a slightly softer tune than the 3008's, which suits a heavier seven-seat body better than it sounds on paper — there is enough shove to merge onto the highway with all seats occupied, and the six-speed automatic keeps the engine in a relaxed part of its rev range on the flat, fast roads that make up most Bahrain driving.
Third row reality
With all seven seats up the boot shrinks to 166 litres, which is enough for a few bags of groceries and not much else — plan to fold the third row for anything larger, at which point the load bay becomes genuinely generous. The third row itself is best reserved for children or shorter adults on causeway-length trips rather than a full-size family of seven for a long haul.
Cabin fit and finish carries over the design language that made the smaller Peugeots feel expensive, with the same small steering wheel and raised digital cluster that some drivers adapt to immediately and others never fully do.
Who should buy one
Buy it if you regularly need a genuine seven seats but do not want another Japanese or Korean three-row SUV in the school car park, and you are comfortable with a smaller dealer network and quicker depreciation in exchange. Families who need the third row full-time for adults, or who prioritise resale above all else, are better served by a Palisade or a Highlander.