A new type of car from a manufacturer with enviable history asks buyers to pay a significant premium for emerging technology.
Peugeot charges a premium for its plug-in hybrid 508.
The Peugeot 508 Hybrid is a car you buy with your heart.
Eye-catching looks, impressive attention to detail and an eco-minded motor will appeal to conscientious customers.
Others will be stumped by numbers that don’t quite add up.
Peugeot’s 508 (left) and 3008 (right) hybrids are ambitiously priced.
The Peugeot 508 is the French brand’s flagship in Australia, a handsome four-door “fastback” bridging the gap between the mainstream Toyota Camry or Mazda6 and premium sedans from the likes of Audi or Mercedes.
As such, Australian 508s are loaded with equipment.
The Peugeot’s interior is a beautifully-finished space.
The standard petrol version has nappa leather, a 10-speaker stereo from French specialist Focal, heated seats, powered tailgate, 360-degree camera and more.
Electronic tech includes a customisable 12.3-inch digital dashboard and 10-inch central touchscreen with smartphone mirroring.
Peugeot’s i-Cockpit invites you to peer over the steering wheel to see the dash.
It’s a beautifully-finished space, with carbon-look trim, quilted leather, piano-like shortcut buttons for the infotainment, and a tiny, oblong-shaped steering wheel placed low in your lap. Reasonably spacious in the front, the 508’s passenger appeal is cruelled by a lack of headroom in the rear.
A rakish roofline looks great but compromises headroom.
The exterior styling is a winner to our eyes, with a swooping silhouette and sharp details such as illuminated fang-like extensions dripping from the headlights.
Regular 508 GT models are powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine sending 165kW and 300Nm to the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission,
Sold for about $65,000 drive-away, it’s not a particularly cheap car.
The 508 Hybrid has the same core equipment level as the petrol 508 GT.
But the Hybrid is much more expensive at about $83,000 drive-away.
It splits the difference betwen the hybrid Lexus ES sedan (about $71,500 drive-away) and plug-in BMW 330e (yours for about $96,000), though we suspect few premium shoppers have Peugeot on their shortlist.
The primary difference between Peugeot’s sedans is under the bonnet, where the hybrid sends the same 165kW to the front wheels through the same eight-speed automatic transmission.
There’s more to it than that, as the Hybrid’s figure is derived from the joint efforts of a 1.6-litre engine detuned to make 133kW and 250Nm, plus an 81kW/337Nm electric motor that combine to make 165kW and 360Nm.
Piano key shortcuts help you navigate the infotainment system.
An 11.8kWh battery delivers up to 55 kilometres of emissions-free range in electric mode. Set it to sport and it will sprint to 100km/h in 8.3 seconds, or pop it in hybrid mode and try to match a 1.8L/100km fuel claim.
As with all plug-in hybrids, the official fuel figure is a theoretical exercise. If you start the day with a full battery and drive for less than 50 kilometres, fuel bills will be negligible. But if you drive long distances or aren’t committed to charging regularly, fuel use will exceed the regular car’s 6.2L/100km claim.
That’s because the Hybrid carries weighty hardware contributing little to the cause once the battery is depleted.
The car looks sharp, but struggles to justify its price.
The 508 Hybrid’s 8.3 second sprint to the highway speed limit is also slower than the petrol version – and that’s with a full battery charge. Without hybrid assistance, you’re relying on a less powerful petrol motor to haul the heavier hybrid around, which does not translate to brisk performance.
The battery also takes up space normally reserved for a spare wheel.
But there are positives.
With the battery charged, it delivers effortless progress helped by a broad choice of ration from the eight-speed automatic.
Peugeot’s 508 Hybrid is more comfortable than sporty on the road.
Peugeot’s decision to ditch the petrol’s 19-inch alloys in favour of 18-inch wheels with chubby tyres results in an improved ride, assisted by multi-mode shock absorbers. It lacks the precision and light-footed effortlessness of the standard car, but we reckon hybrid buyers are more concerned with comfort than competition.
And there’s the intrigue that comes with buying a car that represents a green choice, and a step away from default choices in the new car market.
It might not make sense to most folks, but some will find it irresistible.
Verdict:
The Peugeot 508 Hybrid is pretty and well-equipped, but far too expensive to be an easy recommendation.
3 stars.
The 508 Hybrid is on sale now.
Peugeot 508 Hybrid
Price: About $83,000 drive-away
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl hybrid, 165kW and 360Nm
Warranty/Service: 5-year, unlimited km / $2638 for 5 years
Safety: 5 stars, 6 airbags, AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection, radar cruise control, blind spot detection, lane keep assist
Thirst: 1.8L/100km
Cargo: 487 litres
Spare: Repair kit
Keyword: Peugeot 508 Hybrid review