The 5008 has been designed as a conquest vehicle.

Peugeot really wants dealers to highlight the improvement it has made and it’s the brand’s intention to nibble away at the market share carved out by the Renault Scenic and Citroën C4 Picasso.

Engineers have worked hard to make the driving experience similar to a saloon or hatchback rather than an MPV and they’ve managed it very well.

It’s good on corners and the driving position is very similar to the 308. The interior is still massive and it’s very clear you’re driving a seven seater.

Peugeot believes the driving experience is what’s going to make the 5008 stand out from the crowd in what is becoming a crowded market.

It’s built on the same platform as the C4 Picasso but Peugeot has gone for a harder suspension set up in comparison to the Citroën.

Peugeot is also introducing technology like a heads-up-display (HUD) and distance alert as standard to set the 5008 apart from the competition.

HUD allows drivers to keep their eyes more focused on the road. It’s a device that dealers can use to pull in safety or gadget-focused customers.

There will be an even split between fleet and retail sales. Peugeot is hoping the 5008 will help the French brand get to 6% market share.

As usual, the brand was tight-lipped on sales expectations, but Peugeot’s market share is currently sitting at 4.99% in the UK so dealers are going to have to help them find 20,000 more sales in 2010.

It’s the brand’s intention to try and improve residual values with the 5008 and get CAP to recognise the improvements in quality and refinement.

When it comes to seating/loading adaptability the 5008’s configurations include a fold-flat feature that leaves a massive 2,506 litres of space.

A lot of manufacturers are trying to achieve the holy grail for seven seaters – a third row that is comfortable for fully grown adults.

Peugeot has had a good crack at it with the 5008, but not many adults would want to spend a long journey there. However, the seats are more comfortable than competitors like the Touran.

Peugeot has made sure to get a five- star Euro NCAP safety rating and ESP, six air bags, automatic electric parking brake and hill assist are all included as standard.

The stand-out safety feature is the head curtain airbag across all three rows.