THE Peugeot 5008 has burst on to the MPV scene with a combination of good looks and a spacious, practical cabin offering sales-winning flexibility.

It marks the return of Peugeot's ‘5' series label and evokes the memory of cars like the 505 estate - a seven-seat beast that was a favourite of many families in the 1980s.

As well as invoking past glories Peugeot is keen to follow up the recent success of the 308 SW and the 3008 Crossover and believes the 5008 is the logical next step in its bid to attract new customers to the brand.

It is certainly a breath of fresh air in the compact people-carrier sector where it represents serious competition to the established stars.

The exterior gives a good first impression with a distinctive profile and aerodynamic styling, profiled headlamps and steeply-raked bonnet catching the eye.

Peugeot has abandoned the shark mouth grille of the past few years and replaced it with a sharper, more conventional nose while there are also neat details on the flanks that give the car a get-up-and-go feeling.

The 5008 has more glass than Kew Gardens - especially the panoramic sunroof - making the cabin light and airy. The driver benefits from a raised seating position giving excellent visibility, while a head-up display adds a sexy ‘Top Gun' element to the mix.

The position behind the wheel is fully adjustable and therefore comfortable with all switches and dials within easy reach. The instrument panel is incorporated in an elegant inclined centre console in keeping with the general high-quality fit and finish of the interior.

The two rows of innovative rear seats can be moved and lowered individually to reveal loads of extra space, while legroom is only reduced for the final two. Access to the third row is a cinch as the seats in front are collapsible.

Boot space will obviously depend on the configuration of the seats but is generally generous ranging from 758-litres to 823-litres under the parcel shelf with the third row of seats folded away.

This capacity is increased to 1,247-litres when the rear parcel shelf is removed and the boot is loaded to the roof - and if you fold the second row of seats away a moderately-sized circus can be accommodated.

As is usual with Peugeot there's plenty of trinkets thrown in and all 5008s get air conditioning, ESP stability control and an electric handbrake while the top-of the-range Exclusive model I drove features cruise control, dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, rear parking sensors, radio/CD system plus the already famous head-up display and panoramic glass roof.

Engine choice is comprehensive with five available. Both petrol engines are 1.6-litre, but produce either 120bhp or 156bhp depending on the version selected. The 110bhp 1.6-litre HDi is the entry-level turbo diesel or there is a choice of a 150bhp or the punchy 163bhp outputs from the larger 2.0-litre HDi oil burner.

Fuel economy just north of 40mpg is claimed for the car I drove and it just about achieved what it said on the tin, while the delivery of power via the six-speed automatic gearbox was smooth.

Peugeot has moved to improve the driving experience in its new cars and as a result the 5008 offers a firmer set-up that skips round bends with aplomb.

The ride is firm, but not uncomfortably so and the handling is sharp for a seven-seat family people-carrier.