A family SUV with 300hp and tax band A1 green credentials is always going to attract our attention. The Peugeot 3008 is already a cracking car and now there is a new range topper on sale that while expensive is oh so good – the 3008 Hybrid4. Should you rush and buy this one? Read to the end.
Okay as the name implies it is a hybrid and unlike the Peugeot’s original diesel/electric Hybrid4 – that worked far better than it sold, the new Hybrid4 is a PHEV plug in hybrid powered by a petrol/electric combination this time. With tried and tested all wheel drive ability this 3008 can find traction in almost any weather or road conditions you can imagine. The 3008 Hybrid4 has incredible performance for a family car and is potentially super economical and these are compelling traits. The rise of PHEVs aka plug in hybrids is something we predicted long ago and they really do offer the perfect bridge to full EV electric motoring. In fact they are the saviour of large SUVs with the likes of Range Rover, X5 etc. able to deliver tax band A beasts.
The key to using a PHEV properly is to maximise the amount of time spent running on stored electricity. After a full charge careful users will have enough range to travel circa 50+ kilometres on electricity without the engine cutting in. This means ‘the school run’ or short commutes can be very green if not completely emissions free (at the tailpipe anyway – where you get the power from is another story!). Fuel consumption is quoted as low as 1.3L/100km (217mpg) – quite astonishing! If you don’t charge up however you will have a relatively thirsty petrol car to deal with. Using it’s centre touch screen you can force the car to recharge the battery while on the move and this feature is handy if you are heading to a low or zero emissions zone and need to run on electricity once there.
Peugeot PHEV range
If you read our Opel Grandland X Hybrid4 review http://motorhub.ie/opel-grandland-x-hybrid4-review/ of course you did, sorry! you’ll know that 3008 Hybrid4 is its sister car. Fundamentally identical under the skin there are slight differences to each car’s suspension and steering but they are near-imperceptible to most backsides as by their nature these are comfortable family cars. The 3008 differs more obviously from its PSA Group sibling in that it features a more acclaimed exterior design and an interior design that makes the Opel’s look positively dull. Dull works for some but Peugeot’s i-Cockpit design had me at ‘i’.
Technically there is a 200hp petrol engine married to two 110hp electric motors – one at the front and one at the rear. Combined the output is 300hp (with hybrid power it is never a simple addition but a more complex bit of maths to get the output figure).
0-100km takes a very brisk 5.9 seconds. The battery pack can be charged at home in as little as 1hr 45min (using its type 2 cable & 7kW Wallbox) and has a 13.2kWh capacity that is good for a range of 59km (WLTP). Emissions are an incredibly low 29g/km CO2 (WLTP). This power output and all wheel drive combination is only available in the GT model and a less powerful front wheel drive versions will prove popular too with a cheaper price point. The 3008 Hybrid2 has a total power output of 225hp (180hp petrol engine/110hp motor).
The Peugeot 3008 range starts from €30,110 (1.2/130hp) and for many buyers on a budget the thought of spend another 10, or in our case 20 grand to be green when trying ‘to make ends meet’ is out of the question. The 3008 Hybrid2 starting at €40,895*. Our test car the 3008 GT Hybrid4 costs from €49,400* (*net of €5K SEAI grant and €2.5K VRT rebate).
The yet to go on sale 2021 revised 3008
