Peugeot’s cementing its status in the SUV sector.

the 5008 is releasing as a larger option to the 3008, which has been Peugeot’s most popular model here and is also arriving early next year in updated form, including with a PHEV drivetrain.

GOING bigger in the strongest part of the new car market is the gameplan in 2021 for Peugeot in this market – in addition to adding an electric edge to its most popular model it’s also entering the large sports utility sector.

Announcement of the seven-seater 5008 medium-large soft roader joining the local lineup, conceivably as a Skoda Kodiaq rival, follows confirmation that an update to the mid-sized and similarly styled 3008 five-seat crossover will span into another new area – electric driving.

The plug-in hybrid version of the 3008 – whose full name is a mouthful, being ‘AWD Hybrid4 300 e-Eat8’ - will stand as the first battery-compelled Peugeot sold here.

The electric-assisted 3008 will likely introduce around the same time – so, early 2021 – as the 5008, whose two orthodox turbocharged four-cylinder engine options, a 1.6-litre petrol and a 2.0-litre diesel, might conceivably feature in other 3008 models.

No exact specifications or pricing has been announced for the cars. That won’t happen until closer to launch, says the brand rights’ holder, Auckland-based Auto Distributors New Zealand.

Chief executive Chris Brown has expressed high confidence for both model lines, which despite being in different sectors as result of size difference are nonetheless closely related, being off a common platform and sharing the same drivetrains.

He views the 5008 as being “the perfect solution for families who desire unparalleled levels of comfort, style and refinement” while the 3008 should offer enough revised technology to maintain “as the most popular model in our line-up.”

The PHEV model augments the current edition’s 1.6 petrol with an electric motor and battery to produce a total output of 224kW and 520Nm. The electric drive configures to the rear wheels, so as to create a four-wheel-drive effect for a car that formats in front-drive in other editions.

The driving range on electric-only power is almost 60km, according to testing on the independent WLTP cycle.

The 3008 also presents with a 2.0-litre diesel and a 1.6-litre petrol whose respective outputs of 133kW and 400Nm and 121kW/240Nm are as developed in current editions and also appear to be cited for the 5008 models, also with an eight-speed automatic.

The refreshed 3008 is identified by a big update to the grille and LED lights and also delivers interior upgrades.

The cabin takes a 12.3-inch digital drive display and also a larger 10-inch infotainment display system to refresh the i-Cockpit cabin theme. Expect new trim options and material finishes, too.

The 5008 will intrigue as being very much a big brother in size and specification … and styling. From the back of the back of the driver’s door forwards it and the 3008 are effectively the same car.

The model designation has never been represented previously, though it has been around for some years and used to apply to a large people mover.

Peugeot retired that car when MPVs fell out of fashion but re-issued the badge on identifying – as many others have – how large SUVs were being adopted in the same role.