2011 Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 Review | Auto News

Peugeot Citroen contain person's name presentation Hybrid4 doorsill for inquisitiveness existence now - and finally the stay is over. The new Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 is at petroleum time - and we've driven it. UK similar create in November 2011.

2011 Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4

This is a important car on numerous counts. It's the primary series manufacture diesel-electric hybrid on sale. It's the primary occasion you or I contain person's name clever to buy a PSA Hybrid4 vehicle. And, if Paris is to be believed, it may yet revolutionise the way hybrid cars are put jointly and sold.

Read on for CAR's primary drive appraisal of the new 2011 Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4.

Peugeot Hybrid4: a ,the past lesson

A rapid recap on the PSA hybrid solution. The French contain extended championed diesel, and there's person's name a great deal oh la la and gnashing of teeth to be performer in the corridors of Peugeot Citroen HQ as the earth in the clouds on to petrol-electric hybrids, a lot of of not any fearsomely expensive, bespoke heavy by means of knee-high emissions and sky-high cost tags.

PSA, by means of a lot of assist as of Bosch, has approach up by means of come again? it argues is a a great deal simpler system: Hybrid4. It an obtainable combustion-engined replica - pace forward 3008 - and mad on a comparatively low powered 27kW electrified back axle. Clever electronics manage the communication recognized by front engine and back electric motor, by means of not a solitary bodily link recognized by the axles.

It income so as to each replica in Peugeot Citroen's variety can theoretically be hybridised comparatively cheaply, at a premium of a number of £2500-£3500 in excess of a usual cookery petrol or diesel engine. PSA is launching the diesel primary (because they're French/because of its inherent 30% mpg benefit), but unleaded hybrids determination follow.

Does the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 labor healthy in practice?

First impressions are good. This actually is a 'normal' hybrid car. There are no glitzy controls to scare you off, no weird-looking corpse panels. Your after that door neighbours determination be firm pushed to tell you're heavy a clever-clogs sub-100g/km CO2 car. There's now so as to niggling hesitation in excess of a cost tag of £26,995 construct earth at chances by means of the 3008 Hybrid4's populist roots... Cheaper hybrids determination follow, engineers promise us.

Step onboard and anywhere you'd normally discover the 3008's Grip Control button is a hybrid controller, letting you choose recognized by ZEV for filled electric mode (it'll run as a RWD for up to inquisitiveness on foot if the battery is full); Auto (where all is complete for you); 4wd (where together axles are powered for improved traction in slippery conditions); and Sport (where the automated physical six-speed broadcast clings onto gears for longer).

Turn the key to create up and the silence is golden. Progress is smooth, as we drag absent in Auto mode. Peugeot has tuned the gearbox to use the electric motor's torque to smoothe off gearchanges and development is sweeter supposed in usual 3008's by means of the jumpy automated manual. Creep forwards and you can indeed drive in EV mode up to approximately 30mph preceding to the 2.0-litre HDI diesel kicks in. The transitions are smooth and there's no kangarooing to talk of.

Don't similar to the contemptible artificial paddles, though, and it's firm to tell construct mode you're in as the controller has minute lights. But first heavy impressions are good.

What concerning at senior speeds?

The 3008 is no powerhouse; so as to modest back electric motor is a fifth the authority of a Prius's, remember. But you've got so as to stonking 2.0-litre HDI engine, construct rows the chunky - 1660kg - 3008 Hybrid4 the distance end to end of extremely nicely.

Regular 3008 character remain: a lofty heavy place for high-quality visibility (bar a number of hefty A-pillars), storage space spaces galore for family duties, a plump ride, fairly agile steering and a slightly fiddly parking brake. You won't see a % authority indicator in a usual or garden Pug, though. It's additional Rolls-like.

We tested it in 38deg C warmth by means of the air-con blasting absent in mostly urban circumstances - standard pace 23mph - and gobbled diesel at a speed of 49mpg. We'd say that's fairly imposing for a big five-seater so as to can double up as a van. The 3008's loadbay loses approximately 15% of its space, but you've motionless got 420 litres, stretching to 1501 if you fall the back seats.

Just keep in mind you require to choose the bottom car by means of 16in wheels if you desire the magical 99g/km CO2 figure. At present tax rates, that'd denote you'd be exempt as of yearly street tax and London congestion accuse for life. But the higher-spec Hybrid4 replica we tested had 17s and 104g/km. Every digit counts nowadays.

Verdict

We admire the Hybrid4's plug-n-play nature. That you can be relevant petroleum tech to any car feature on the big or mid-sized PF2 or PF3 platforms in the Peugeot Citroen empire is a neat manufacturing trick. It's a bright way of hybridising big numbers of cars quickly, and a plug-in account by means of lithium ion batteries and a fourfold add to in ZEV variety is pending in 2014.

While we may struggle to name a £27k hybrid affordable, it's clear PSA has elected to open the Hybrid4 at the top of the 3008 range. Once it percolates downward to smaller engines, we'd wager it'll create additional intelligence to additional buyers.

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