Peugeot 3008 Plug-in Hybrid - ABC Leasing

Car & Driving
The independent definitive Peugeot 3008 Hybrid video review
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    By Jonathan Crouch


    Ten Second Review word count: 76

    Peugeot wants to be a key player in the PHEV part of the mid-sized SUV segment with this car, the 3008 Plug-in Hybrid. It looks smart, certainly makes the efficiency numbers and will work well as a package for a family buyer wanting a degree of EV tech but not quite ready to take the plunge into full-battery motoring. But though the plug-in technology on offer here is pretty cutting-edge, it's also pretty heavy and pricey.


    Background word count: 137

    Plug-in Hybrid technology may turn out to be one of the more short-lived of the motor industry's propulsion options. The first plug-in hybrids didn't arrive until around 2015 and there's talk of future legislation banning them by 2035 (though in a post-Covid world, who knows how far that deadline might be extended?). What we do know is that right here and now, plug-ins (or PHEVs) are often the undecided green motorist's preference, even though they're no longer government-incentivised. The fully electrified commuting mileage, the absence of range anxiety and low taxation of PHEVs are all tempting. But the elephant in the room remains the high cost of this technology, which reflects in the price of all current contenders, including the one we look at here, the Peugeot 3008 Plug-in Hybrid. Can it stack up? Let's find out.


    Driving Experience word count: 332

    This isn't the only 3008 Hybrid model that Peugeot offers; there's also a Hybrid 136hp variant, but that's a mild hybrid, so you can't plug it in. With this 3008 Plug-in Hybrid, a 1.6-litre petrol turbo powerplant mated to an 8-speed auto gearbox has been blended with quite advanced plug-in hybrid technology. This powertrain features in two flavours: in either 180hp or 225hp form allied to front-wheel drive. The 300hp AWD 3008 Hybrid4 variant with its dual electric motors is no longer imported. With both the front-driven models you can have, the way that petrol progress is seamlessly integrated with electrified power is very impressive - and the whole package feels as quick as those output figures might suggest (rest to 62mph in the 180hp version takes 8.0s en route to a 134mph maximum - or an 84mph all-electric maximum). It's 8.9s and 140mph for the 225hp version. EV driving range is up to around 39 miles with the base Hybrid 180 and around 42-43 miles with the Hybrid 225. The power output stats suggest that in both its forms, this 3008 Plug-in Hybrid ought to feel pretty quick. Well it does to a point. But things are rather blunted, as is usual with this class of car, by a somewhat prodigious kerb weight. The plug-in powertrain adds a substantial 500kgs over the weight of a base petrol 3008. That's an awful lot of extra bulk to carry around and even with 266Nm of pulling power on tap, you feel that from behind the wheel, especially if you try and chuck this car about in the kind of manner a typical owner never would. You get four driving modes, with the one you'll be using most of the time being the 'Hybrid' setting that chooses the best mix of electric and petrol propulsion to suit the driving style whilst optimising efficiency. The alternative setting is 'Sport' (where the car combines the power of the electric and petrol motors to offer livelier performance).


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