A fresh fuel-sipping family SUV that is rammed with standard equipment has arrived Down Under, but potential buyers are in for a shock.
Peugeot 3008 GT Sport Hybrid
Peugeot’s 3008 plug-in hybrid is a bit like a needy pet. You have to put time and energy into it to get the best results and – like an in-demand designer doggie – this Pug is frightfully expensive.
Priced from $79,990 plus on-road costs (about $89,000 drive-away), the plug-in hybrid version of Peugeot’s five-seat SUV sits at the top of the 3008 range.
Backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, the Peugeot is also expensive to service at more than $620 per year – nearly triple Toyota’s RAV4 hybrid.
Peugeot’s new hybrid SUV costs about $90,000 drive-away.
Based on the 3008 GT Sport, it has premium touches such as quilted and heated leather seats, 19-inch alloys and a 10-speaker stereo.
It’s an impressive-looking car built to a high standard. A 10-inch central touchscreen with smartphone mirroring is part of the deal, joining a high-mounted 12.3-inch digital dashboard and tiny, oval-shaped steering wheel.
Ergonomics aren’t a strong point for the French brand and larger drivers will need to place the steering wheel low on their laps to get a decent view of the instruments.
USB points and cruise control buttons are hidden out of sight, the audio controls are split between the left and right side of the steering wheel and climate control adjustments require taps and swipes of the touchscreen, as opposed to the simple prod of a button or twist of a knob.
The cabin presents well with lots of premium materials used throughout.
The hybrid has a smaller boot and fuel tank than regular models, compromises made to accommodate its 13.2kWh lithium-ion battery.
It uses the same 1.6-litre turbo petrol motor as the GT Sport, tuned to make a stronger 147kW in the premium machine. Petrol power goes to the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission that bowls up the odd bumpy shift.
A pair of 81kW front and 83kW rear electric motors chip in to produce 222kW of combined peak power, delivering a surprisingly rapid 6.1-second sprint to 100km/h.
The hybrid has plenty of grunt.
It certainly does feel brisk with a full battery charge that allows about 50 kilometres of pure electric driving. The impressive 1.6L/100km fuel use claim is a little misleading. Short trips with a full battery will use almost no fuel, while longer drives will return fuel use similar to conventional cars.
You need to plug it in regularly to get maximum power or all-wheel-drive, otherwise only the petrol motor provides motivation, and only for the front wheels. And the 3008 feels sluggish once the battery is depleted.
Extra weight means it isn’t as nice to drive as the petrol-powered versions.
The hybrid hardware adds a good 400 kilograms to the car, blunting the regular 3008’s innate agility and supple ride. Factor in 19-inch alloys with what Peugeot describes as “tall and narrow” eco-minded Michelin rubber and the result is a car with much less poise than Peugeot’s usual fare. It’s also more hands-on than traditional “self-charging” hybrids – if you want to make sure the Peugeot runs emissions-free at the end of the school run, you must remember to use the touchscreen to instruct the battery to keep charge up its sleeve.
It’s a clever system that can provide a compromise between petrol and electric cars, but only if you’re prepared to put the work in.
VERDICT 3/5
Expensive, complex and less fun to steer than the petrol Peugeot 3008, this hybrid is for folks committed to the green cause.
A HANDSOME HYBRID
Peugeot 508 Fastback Plug-in Hybrid
Want the plug-in treatment in a more stylish package? Consider the Peugeot 508 Hybrid. Priced from $76,990 plus on-road costs ($3000 less than the 3008), the premium 508 sedan has a less sophisticated spin on the hybrid theme. Combining a 133kW petrol engine with an 81kW electric motor, it has a combined peak of 165kW and only ever drives the front wheels. A smaller 11.8kWh battery offers five kilometres less electric range than the 3008. As with its high-riding sibling, the sedan is loaded with luxury features, but isn’t as sweet to drive as regular models.
PEUGEOT 3008 HYBRID VITALS
Price: About $89,000 drive-away
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo hybrid, 222kW
Warranty/servicing: 5-year, unl’td km. $3109 for 5 years
Safety: 6 airbags, auto emergency braking, active cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist
Thirst: 1.6L/100km
Cargo: 395 litres
Spare: Inflator kit
Keyword: 2022 Peugeot 3008 Hybrid review