By launching the world’s first full diesel hybrid vehicle - the 3008 Hybrid4 - Peugeot has written a new chapter in motoring history.
The combination of an already fuel efficient 2.0-litre 163bhp HDi diesel engine and a 37bhp electric motor is, they say, the optimal combination for a hybrid vehicle. Unlike other hybrid vehicles which use less fuel efficient petrol engines, the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4’s diesel engine provides a Combined Drive Cycle fuel consumption of 74.4mpg, and CO2 emissions from just 99g/km for the most popular version, priced at £26,995.
This version has a relatively high specification and uses 16-inch wheels and low rolling resistance tyres. Other running costs are low with road tax at £0 and company car tax at the lowest 10 per cent rate. This version is also free of London Congestion Charges.
Around 65 per cent of UK buyers are expected to choose this version and 85 per cent overall of customers for the 3008 Hybrid4 are expected to be business car users because of the low taxes which includes a 100 per cent Write Down Allowance for a company bought vehicle.
The second model in the three version range has the same drivetrain but comes with added specification and 17-inch wheels which compromise the ride quality as well as putting up the price to £28,495.
Emissions go up to 104g/km because of the larger wheels but BIK company car tax remains at 10 per cent. VED road tax is zero cost in the First Year and then £20 per annum. Official fuel economy drops to 70.5mpg.
The third model in the range is a Limited Edition version of the 104g/km model. Just 35 of these are coming to the UK and all are sold even though they cost £29,950.
It is all very well being a world-first, but does the 3008 Hybrid4 really work satisfactorily, efficiently and more importantly does it make financial sense?
Does it make financial sense?
Well yes it does - on paper anyway. It is decent enough for performance because of its torquey 300Nm diesel engine that gives good fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions anyway. The benefit now is that it is improved by adding a relatively low 37bhp power electric motor but with 200Nm of torque to boost performance.
Adding a four wheel drive function and an electric power propulsion mode for future zero emission areas of cities all help with the reasons-to-buy as do the compelling statistics for much reduced taxes.
But these tax savings might lose their appeal when potential customers consider the overall higher purchase price. The 3008 Hybrid4 is around £5,000 more expensive than a two wheel drive 2.0-litre diesel model with the same ECG semi-auto gearbox. The relatively short range of around three miles, at best, that the vehicle can travel using electric power only is not that impressive either.
Real-world fuel economy
The actual fuel economy isn’t that appealing either. Officially the Combined Cycle fuel consumption figure for 3008 Hybrid4 model is 74.4mpg with 17-inch wheels and 70.5mpg for the 17-inch wheel version.
I’ve done two test drives with this vehicle now, one in France where the smaller wheeled model returned 49.5mpg and this week I drove the 17-inch wheeled version and the figure was 44.4mpg. Unfortunately for the UK press launch only the 17-inch wheeled, 104g/km models were available.
Both of these test drives included stop/start city traffic, open roads, winding country lanes and in the UK a little lightweight off-roading in the West Midland’s Safari Park where the Lion badge of the Peugeot brand came face to face with the real thing.
These real-life figures fall too far below the official ones and a non-Hybrid 3008 diesel model can easily match that fuel economy. For instance I am driving a 3008 1.6 e-HDI diesel with the micro-hybrid stop/start system and two wheel drive and that is regularly returning 46mpg and it costs significantly less to buy.
The 200kg weight penalty of the electric motor and battery pack the Hybrid4 has to carry over non-hybrid versions and the four wheel drive function have to be a big factors in these poor fuel economy figures.
But the customer can still win because official homologation paperwork shows the Hybrid4 scores highly with low CO2 emissions which determines the free road tax and the lowest company car tax rate.
So choosing a Hybrid4 over any other 3008 Crossover/SUV is going to be a financial balancing act but I suspect being able to use a hybrid to show off the private or company owner’s ‘green’ credentials will be the biggest reason to buy, especially as it offers four wheel drive. But I just hope owners will not be disappointed by the lower actual mpg figure than official one.
Hybrid variations
All 3008 Hybrid4s are technically identical apart from the wheels and tyres. The 3008 Hybrid4 does have some bespoke but minimal styling changes including a new two bar grille design and subtle Hybrid4 badging.
The rear suspension is a more compact and sophisticated independent multilink system needed to make room to house the electric motor, battery pack and electronic control unit.
The diesel engine powers the front wheels only and the electric motor drives only the rear wheels. The two power systems have no mechanical connection whatsoever, just a high capacity electric cable connection.
All versions use Peugeot’s EGC six speed electronic automated manual gearbox, normally criticised for its jerky shifts, but works marginally more smoothly with the additional torque from the engine/electric motor combination. However this EGC system is one of the biggest dislikes about the 3008 range in any form.
Specification details
The specification for the 99g/km best selling model includes an electronic stability programme, alarm, cloth interior trim, climate control air conditioning, automatic electronic parking brake, front and rear electrically operated windows, rear parking sensors, cruise control, electric operated mirrors, auto headlights and wipers, 16-inch alloys, low rolling resistance tyres and a rear spoiler.
The 104g/km model gains 17-inch wheels which unsettles the vehicle over poorer road surfaces, an exterior lighting and visibility pack, Peugeot’s Connect Media Navigation system and a head-up display with distance alert.
The Limited Edition version, now already sold out, has a panoramic roof and leather upholstery.
The load space for 3008 Hybrid4 models is 354-litres and up to 1,435-litres with the rear seats folded down. Non Hyrbrid4 versions have 432 to 1,604-litres of space. The difference is due to the space under the load floor taken up by the electric power unit and batteries for the Hybrid4 models.
Driving
There are four driving modes that can be selected by using a centre console mounted rotary dial which is a little out of the eye-line of the driver.
Selecting ZEV mode (Zero Emission Vehicle) the electric motor only powers the car driving the rear wheels providing there is enough power in the batteries otherwise the diesel engine cuts in to top up the batteries.
In theory this mode would be ideal for zero emission zones in towns and cities but using the air conditioning does severely limit the driving range, using battery power only.
Choose 4WD mode and both the diesel engine driving the front wheels and electric motor driving the rear wheels work in tandem to boost traction.
Sport mode sharpens the throttle responses and speeds up the gear changes of the electronic transmission with the electric motor providing extra torque.
Most of the time, the driver will just select Auto mode where the car’s brain sorts how best to optimise performance and fuel economy.
Driving is impressive with the two power units working in harmony. The diesel engine is strong and the electric motor provides a linear surge in power and torque.
The Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 might be the world’s first diesel/electric hybrid on the market but it will not be the last.
Milestones
Peugeot 3008 Crossover Hybrid4
Price: £28,495 (104g/km test drive model).
Powertrain: 2.0-litre, four cylinder HDI turbodiesel 163bhp and 300Nm of torque boosted by a 37bhp electric motor with 200Nm of torque, auto, stop/start function, two/four wheel drive, electric drive only and sport modes via a 6-speed electronically controlled automated gearbox.
Performance: 118mph, 0-62mph 8.5 seconds, 70.5mpg Combined Cycle (44.4mpg on test), CO2 104g/km, VED road tax £0 then £20 per annum, BIK company car tax 10%.
Insurance group: 20E.
Dimensions/capacities: L 4,365mm, W 1,837, H 1,639mm, boot/load space 354 to 1,435-litres, braked towing weight 500kg.
For: World first use of diesel and electric hybrid power, low CO2 emissions, tax friendly, nice delivery of power.
Against: Battery power alone has a very short driving range, jittery ride and worse if larger 17-inch wheels are chosen, doesn’t get close to the official fuel economy figures, very low towing weight, very expensive price premium over diesel power only models.