Peugeot 3008 Hybrid performance, engine & drive
Especially in 'Hybrid4' form, the 3008 is as fast as some sports cars, but the same can't be said for its handling
| Model | 0-62mph | Top speed | Driven wheels | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid 225 | 8.9s | 140mph | Front | 222bhp |
| Hybrid4 300 | 6.1s | 149mph | Four | 296bhp |
The range-topping 3008 Hybrid4's 296bhp drivetrain consists of two electric motors paired with a 197bhp, 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, making it very fast as well as potentially very frugal. The less expensive 222bhp version, called simply the Hybrid, has a single electric motor – and therefore no four-wheel drive.
Peugeot 3008 hybrid 0-62mph, top speed and acceleration
There are a number of driving modes. In Sport, full power is unleashed, allowing for a 6.1-second 0-62mph time in the Hybrid4, or 8.9 seconds in the Hybrid. The eight-speed automatic gearbox isn't the smoothest transmission we've encountered, but this can still take off like a hot hatchback when you put your foot down. There's a good deal of vibration and noise when you do, but fortunately the engine is much quieter when driven more sedately.
You're likely to spend much more of your time in Electric or Hybrid mode. In the former, Peugeot says you should be able to keep going for nearly 40 miles on power from the car's 13.2kWh battery alone, without waking the engine. Doing this, the 3008 is extremely smooth, quiet and relaxing to drive – a sensation enhanced by good ride quality, even on the large 19-inch alloy wheels of higher-spec models.
In Hybrid mode, the 3008 behaves more like a Toyota or Honda hybrid, deciding itself whether to use electric or petrol power, or mix the two, in order to make progress as efficiently as possible. You can also hold on to battery charge until you want or need to use it – when you enter an urban area, for example.
Handling
The hybrid system’s battery adds weight: 340kg, to be exact, making the hybrid 3008 feel a lot less agile through corners than its purely petrol or diesel-engined counterparts. In practice, that means there's little inclination to use the prodigious performance we mentioned earlier, and therefore seemingly little reason to shell out the extra cash demanded for the Hybrid4. The standard Hybrid costs a good deal less in the same trim level and should be more than sufficient for most motorists.
