2018 Peugeot 5008 vs Nissan X-Trail - A fight worth considering

MPVs are usually vanishing from the face of the earth. This is because there is less demand for them as more and more people are adopting for stylish SUVs. Well, technically, there isn’t much to differentiate either because they roll off the same line and require more or less no input costs to change one from the other. We are talking of the Peugeot 5008 SUV.

 

It is more or less the 3008 but now in its new generation, it is no longer being labelled as a MPV. Instead, given the general apathy towards the monolith form of MPVs. Check what Honda does with the Mobilio and the BR-V. Same is now being done with the 3008 and 5008. The latter has now got extra length as well as generous ground clearance. But since being drafted as an SUV, it now has to contend with the new Nissan X-Trail. The latter is the company’s bread and butter model. Yes, hard to believe it but then the Sunny isn’t doing anyone any favour. So based on the specifications, let’s see which one wins on paper. Should you be headed to Nissan’s showrooms or Peugeot’s?

Looks

Admit it! The Nissan X-Trail doesn’t even resemble the older-generation car from any angle. It is all-new and let’s keep it that way. Let’s get the numbers out of the way then. The Nissan X-Trail 2018 measures 4,690 mm in length, 1,830 mm in width and 1,740 mm in height. The wheelbase is kept at 2,705 mm. The Nissan is now a 7-seater, having being a 5-seater for a good 15 years plus. The Nissan X-Trail now looks more modern and it has lost is slab-sided appeal as well. More and more new age Nissans have started subscribing to the family look. The V-motion grille is a nice design touch. The rear of the looks more SUV-like while the front can be mistaken for being that from a hatchback.

In contrast, the Peugeot 5008 screams aggression from all angles. It is not only a much more cohesive design but also brings along a sense of refinement which is not present in the Nissan.Those full LED headlights with DRLs and more look very nice. The side profile is also alluring. The lion claw tail lamps, as well as the diffuser, imbibe a sense of perfection to the design. Peugeot, overall has done a wonderful job then. This is no contest here. The Peugeot 5008 is better styled and is more attractive to look at. The dimensions of the Peugeot are 4,641 mm in length, 1,844 mm in width and 1,646 mm in height. Wheelbase of the Peugeot 5008 is 2,840 mm.

Interior

The cabins too are a reflection of the exterior design. The Nissan goes with the conventional all-black treatment and it has been executed in a better fashion. The increased wheelbase shows as the car is very roomy now. Not that it wasn’t before but now there are more features to keep you happy as well.The front seats get a powered option. There is the new Zero Gravity seats that Nissan specially built for the X-Trail in Japan. This one is said to be a fatigue free throne. One can order it with the fabric trim of the 2.0-litre or the leather from the 2.5-litre. The middle row of seats too is spacious and given that they can slide, provide for more space in the third row. The third row of seats, however, is best suited for children. The boot space is 550 litres and goes up to 1.500 with the second and third row down.

In terms of features, Nissan offers cruise control, rear AC vents, automatic dual zone climate control, push button start, power socket outlets and sunroof. A 7.0-inch touchscreen music system too is available and this one also shows the reverse camera display. Navigation too is available on this screen.

With the Peugeot 5008, you get this multi-information colour display panel. This provides all the vital information one may ever need and helps in driving undistracted too. The front seats are not only powered but also have a massage function. They also are equipped with memory sensors. The second row of seats folds in a different fashion than in the Nissan. These are akin to the Honda’s Jazz’s seats. We quite like the approach Peugeot has taken here. The 8.0-inch touchscreen has a higher resolution than what Nissan offers. It also has Mirrorlink. Peugeot also offers a chilled glovebox with a light in there. The third row is a tad more spacious than the Nissan and one can have grown-ups sit here for a fair part of the journey. There is also the sunroof on offer.

Engines and performance

Peugeot offers its fiery 1.6-litre engine that is good for 165 PS of power and 240 Nm of torque. The direct injection turbocharged unit is Euro VI compliant and is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. It is a smooth functioning unit and given the smaller capacity motor and the body style it has to lug, there wasn’t any issue. At sedate pace and part throttle, the 5008 moves ahead smartly. It is efficient in this range, with a claimed 15.8 kmpl efficiency. The 0-100 kmph dash is completed in just 11s while the top speed is closer to 200 kmph.

Nissan offers two engine options with the X-Trail. This includes a 2.5-litre fuel injected naturally aspirated motor that makes 177 PS of power and 233 Nm torque. The turbocharged smaller 2.0-litre motor produces 144 PS of power and 200 Nm of torque. Nissan will supply you with a X-Tronic CVT gearbox and manual override option with the two engines. Out these two, the higher powered engine gets 4WD. The Peugeot is a front wheel drive vehicle for that matter.

Both of Nissan’s engines are smooth operators and retain their refinement even at moderate speeds. It is only the top whack where they get boomy. The turbo-ed unit is a tad more refined than the NA engine. In terms of efficiency, it was the turbo engine which earned the top honours with an overall number of 14 kmpl. The naturally aspirated motor ran 12 kmpl before needing a refuel.

What is noticeable is that Peugeot has slanted their preference towards ride quality while Nissan has moved towards handling. That being said, both the vehicles here don’t exhibit any kind of bad dynamics and you wouldn’t go wrong with either of them. We liked the fact that both the cars offer a surround view camera. However, the Peugeot will also help you parallel park.

Safety

In terms of safety, Peugeot offers six airbags, cruise control, advanced grip control, hill start assist and ABS along with EBD. There are also rear parking sensors as well as a reverse camera.

Nissan is also no laggard when it comes to offering safety tech. However, the Japanese company has skimped on essentials when it comes to the X-Trail. There are only two airbags available. However, there are much more driver assist aids in the form of Brake Assist System, ABS along with EBD, Active Brake Limited Slip, Active Engine Braking, Electronic Brake Force distribution, Active Chassis Control, Vehicle Dynamic Control,, Active Trace Control, Advanced Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist.

Verdict

Prices of the Nissan X-Trail start from Php 1,534,000 while those of the Peugeot 5008 start from Php 2,999,000. The Peugeot is almost one and half lakh more expensive than the Nissan. However, it comes with a more spacious and better equipped cabin along with a decent driving dynamics. The Nissan promises a more easy to service option, reasonably priced spares. Plus it comes with AWD. You can use the extra money you will spend on the Peugeot for fuel and for decking up your new Nissan X-Trail then.