THE Peugeot 5008 is described as a ‘compact' people carrier - but it offers seating for seven without being overly pressured for space and has a light and airy cabin.

If that's what compact runs to these days then a full-sized MPV must be a bus of some description.

A recent revamp sees the Peugeot family ‘face' grafted on to the model with the striking ‘floating' grille - already enhancing the 208 and 2008 - now a feature of the 5008.

The grille is flanked by natty new headlamps and fog lamps highlighted by a chrome trim to help the car stand out from the MPV crowd. 

The classy cabin of the range-topping Allure model I drove gets the benefit of a panoramic glass roof which floods it with light while an elevated seating position gives the driver a good view in every direction through the large windscreen.

There are lots of soft-touch plastics and everything feels built to last the pummelling most families will inevitably provide. 

Versatility is the watchword with the 5008 and this is demonstrated by the seating configuration. There are three in the second row and two in the back with all able to be individually folded to create a flat floor.

This means the cabin can be adapted to take virtually any load thrown at it while the folding front passenger seat means longer items are no problem.

Accessing the third row of seats is easy via a pull on a tab which sees the second row seat cushion flip up for the entire individual seat unit to slide forward.

The rear top-hinged tailgate reveals a boot which is easy to access adding to the car's practicality - as does the huge 2,506 litres of space available with all of the seats folded down. There are plenty of cubby holes and cupholders in addition to a cavern masquerading as central box to swallow a family's bits and bobs.

The Allure also offers front and rear parking assistance supplemented by a reversing camera which is a boon when it comes to manoeuvring into the laughably tight spaces offered by many car parks these days. There's even a space measurement system on screen which informs the driver when the size of a parking space is suitable.

A colour head-up display on a translucent panel near the base of the windscreen gives the speed of the Allure model as well as its the distance from the car in front plus cruise control information if selected. The centre console neatly groups the air conditioning and an audio system which can also be operated via controls attached to the steering wheel.

Chrome dials and a raised gearbox mount give the interior a modern feel while the dashboard's layout is straightforward so doesn't look cluttered.  

The 1.6-litre diesel engine under the bonnet of my test car offers good fuel economy and pulling power and is complemented by a decent ride and sharp handling thanks to well-weighted steering and confidence-inspiring levels of grip.

Comfort is the key thing for most families though and the 5008 is adept at soaking up the humps and hollows littering roads these days.

Noise is effectively banished from the interior, although most families will bring large volumes of sound - the kids - into the cabin with them. Rest assured the engine won't add to this while wind and road noise are pretty well contained.

This makes long journeys relaxing as the 5008 is a cruiser suited to quiet long-distance motoring.

Safety is taken care of by front and side airbags with curtain airbags running the length of the cabin in the event of a collision, while stability control is fitted as standard to help prevent one in the first place.

There's a generous amount of goodies included, with the 5008 entry-level Access model getting air-conditioning, front electric windows and an automatic electric parking brake with hill start assistance.

Stepping up to the Active trim adds cruise control, 17-inch alloy wheels and rear electric windows while the range-topping Allure includes Peugeot's Connect Navigation system and Bluetooth, plus 18-inch alloys.

It all adds up to a good-looking, versatile MPV that will be attractive proposition for families.