Peugeot 3008 Hybrid: road test of the French SUV

The style does not change but the character does. Peugeot's range also welcomes the 136 hp hybrid version, which joins the 100% electric motor with a claimed range of 700 kilometres and the plug-in hybrid with an electric range of 87 kilometres. We tested the pure hybrid on the roads around Milan.

Peugeot 3008 is a strategic model that marks a momentous change for the French brand and the Stellantis group. Heir to a best seller, which in seven years and two generations has sold more than 1.3 million (150 thousand in Italy), the Peugeot 3008 is a radically new car in terms of style, chassis structure and technology and, in fact, brings to debut the STLA Medium platform, the flagship of Stellantis' development plan on electrics and energy transition. The fact of having selected the Peugeot e-suv (the electric version of the 3008) for the debut of this strategic architecture is a choice that reaffirms the role of the French brand within the group. It is the first unified architecture of the group (created almost three years ago by merging Psa and Fca) developed and designed for the new generation of medium-large electric cars. For the version tested, there are two trim levels: Allure and Gt, and the list price starts at 38,700 euro and 43,200 euro respectively.

Electric or hybrid, the styling of the third generation Peugeot 3008 remains unchanged. The front is still dominated by the large radiator grille and at the rear by the truncated tail like a true fastback. Then the wheels up to 20 inches in size accentuate its presence on the road. In terms of external dimensions, the measurements are compact: 4,542 mm in length, 1,895 mm in width and 1,641 mm in height.

The luggage compartment capacity is 588 litres, rising to 1663 litres by folding down the backrest of the rear bench.Peugeot 3008 hybrid is designed for city driving. In fact, thanks to the energy recovery system, the 48V battery located under the front left seat of the car is recharged each time the brakes are applied, a solution that ensures no loss of space in the passenger compartment and better weight balance of the car.The system consists of the renowned 1.2-litre three-cylinder 136 hp (100 kW) turbo petrol engine developed specifically for the hybrid application and which has won numerous awards in past versions. This offers a torque of 230 Nm available from 1,750 rpm. Coupled to this is the new six-speed dual-clutch transmission within which is a 21 kW (28 hp) electric motor.

We drove the Peugeot 3008 in an urban context, where there were numerous noisy stops and starts typical of the city. The car was as comfortable as the other versions in the range and with a seating position that allows you to have everything under control, thanks also to the large 21-inch curved screen that includes a digital dashboard and touch screen. Of particular note is the excellent soundproofing of the cabin and the smooth ride. There are three driving modes: eco, normal and Sport. In the latter, the car is more responsive, acting on the steering, accelerator and gear changes. On the road, there is a regenerative braking function that simulates engine braking by slowing down the car without the need to press the brake pedal. And while the recovered energy is used to recharge the traction battery, the release of the accelerator pedal is sufficient for more dynamic driving, to manage corner entry. The sprint from a standstill is good considering the car's weight in running order is over 1600 kilos. The 0-100 km/h is covered in 10.2 seconds and the top speed attainable is 201 km/h.