New PEUGEOT 3008 Plug-In Hybrid – Where Efficiency Meets Practicality.

New PEUGEOT 3008 HYBRID – Where Efficiency Meets Practicality.

The multi-award winning PEUGEOT 3008 SUV has consistently achieved outstanding sales success here in Ireland, as well as across Europe and Internationally. The 3008 is very well built, very well equipped, and has a cabin design that makes other conventional family SUV’s look rather dull and dated in comparison. Occupants are immersed in a sensory and technological world that will guarantee an enhanced experience on every journey. The powerful lines of the 3008 SUV combine strength and refinement, dynamism and smoothness, while its striking front end design gives it a strong personality. In addition to petrol and diesel powered variants, PEUGEOT has now added a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powerplant with the option of 2 or 4-wheel drive.

Ingenious i-Cockpit Digital Display. 

PEUGEOT had to make some relatively small sacrifices in terms of practicality in order to accommodate the plug-in hybrid 3008’s batteries, with a 10-litre smaller fuel tank and a 395-litre boot space (down from 520-litres in the non-hybrid versions) being the only forfeits. However, a dedicated 25-litre area for storing charging cables is a nice touch, and with a seats-down boot capacity of 1,357-litres, the 3008 Hybrid is still the ideal mode of transport for a growing family. Throughout the cabin you will find plenty of cubbies to store things like mobile phones and wallets, along with a large central storage space that doubles as an armrest. The ingenious ‘i-Cockpit’ digital dashboard in the 3008 is impressive, and it sits proudly within the stylishly-appointed and spacious cabin. The 12.3” digital instrument display provides the driver with all of the important driving information within their line of sight, while a 10” central touchscreen incorporates 3D navigation and voice control, along with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone screen mirroring.

Trim Levels & Safety Systems.

While the new PEUGEOT 3008 is available in a choice of three, generously-equipped trim levels – Active, Allure and GT – the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) 3008’s trim options are confined to mid-spec Allure (two-wheel-drive HYBRID2 with 225bhp) and top-spec GT (two or four-wheel-drive HYBRID4 with 225bhp and 300bhp respectively). Peace-of-mind on the road comes courtesy of latest-generation driving aids that further enhance on-board comfort and safety, and assist towards autonomous driving. Such features include Extended Road Sign Recognition, Drive Assist Plus Pack, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, Parking Assistance, Lane-Keeping Assistance with detection of roadsides, and Active Blind Spot Detection.

Test Car Details.

My test car was a PEUGEOT 3008 HYBRID4 GT model, which was finished in elegant Nimbus Grey metallic paint, with 18” ‘Detroit’ two-tone diamond-cut alloy wheels, along with a black roof and door mirrors for maximum visual impact. Standard GT equipment is hugely impressive, with key features such as a Drive Assist Plus Pack consisting of a suite of advanced safety systems, Full LED headlights with static corner lighting and Daytime Running Light Extension, LED sequential scrolling front indicators, half Mistral leather-effect seat trim, electric tailgate, chequered radiator grille with black PEUGEOT lettering, chrome side window trim, sports front bumper design, twin chrome-effect exhaust trim,  alloy roof rails, alarm system, PEUGEOT Connect SOS & Assistance function, front & rear parking sensors with a 180-degree reversing camera, power-folding door mirrors with blind spot detection indicator, LED rear lights (including reversing lights, scrolling indicators and PEUGEOT ‘3 Claw Effect’ light signature – with daylight function), Onyx digital instrument panel, black roof lining material, rear privacy glass, PEUGEOT Open & Go (keyless entry and push button start), and automatic dual-zone climate control, along with many more comfort, convenience, infotainment and safety features. The upmarket cabin of the new 3008 (as with its predecessor) is a marvellous place in which to spend time, and the high-tech dashboard and comfortable seating wouldn’t look out of place in a car costing twice as much.

On The Road. 

I found my test car to be impressively engaging on the open road, with little body lean to speak of, while the well-judged suspension does an excellent job of soaking up potholes and pitted tarmac. The car is also easy to drive around town, while it is impressively quiet and well-mannered on the motorway, with a selection of drive modes available to suit individual driving style and mood. In Sport mode, full power is unleashed, allowing for a 0-100km/h sprint time of just 6.1-seconds. Electric mode enables drivers to achieve up to 63km’s on battery power alone, without the petrol engine cutting in. This is the most relaxing mode to drive the 3008 in, as it highlights the cars’ excellent ride quality and overall serenity. In Hybrid mode, the car will decide itself whether to use electric or petrol power, or combine the two power sources in order to make progress as efficiently as possible. The final option is a 4WD mode that provides the 3008 with all-wheel drive traction and ability for times when the going gets tough underfoot. The 3008 HYBRID4 consists of a pair of electric motors (one on each axle) paired with a 180bhp, 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine to deliver a combined output of 300bhp and 520Nm of torque, and means PEUGEOT’s family SUV is fast, as well as potentially very frugal, with claimed fuel consumption as low as 1.3l/100km when starting every journey with a full battery. The electric motors are mated to a slick-shifting eight-speed e-EAT8 electronic-automatic gearbox for undiluted driving pleasure. The battery capacity is 13.2kWh and charging is easy and fast. A full charge (0-100%) can be completed in just 105 minutes when using a Wallbox charger (7.4kW). Built on PEUGEOT’s efficient EMP2 (Efficient Modular Platform) platform, high levels of comfort are preserved, even with the fitment of the batteries.

Verdict.

The new PEUGEOT 3008 HYBRID4 offers the perfect blend of family practicality, stunning design and impressive economy, along with one of the best cabins around. Pricing for the new 3008 HYBRID starts at €44,845 (2WD Allure model), with my test car specification priced at €52,600. A comprehensive 5-year/100,000km PEUGEOT warranty comes as standard, along with an 8-year/160,000km hybrid battery warranty, and a 3-year roadside assistance package for total peace of mind motoring.

Visit www.peugeot.ie for further information.