Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 –Powered by Fairydust?

One word just about sums up the feeling of driving this world first (the first diesel/electric hybrid car): smug. It’s difficult not to feel a tad pleased with yourself when you know that you’re driving a big, buxom (there’s a lot of dash up front) beautiful beast. Beautiful because the interior is sensual and serene and beastly because it’s stacking an extra 441lbs of environmentally friendly electric motor positioned in the rear. Smug also because you’re driving one of the greenest cars on the road; starting at 99g CO2/km for the basic model, it evades road tax and the inner London congestion charge.

If you like catching a glimpse of other people’s gardens, you’ll love the high riding regal position of the 3008 Hybrid4. You can get a right royal 74.4 mpg from the combination of the electric motor, which kicks in on ignition, and the front mounted diesel engine which takes over at speeds upwards of 14mph from a standing start, to 27-33mph during urban driving. It’s also fascinating to view the dash monitor recording nil emission levels, whilst the electric motor is in play, and the recharge symbol signifying the diesel motor recharging the electric motor when it’s in charge (so to speak). So, no need for fiddly and time consuming plugging in to sockets to recharge.

Even more impressive, is the fact that the two motors are not physically connected: the two-litre 163-BHP diesel engine drives the front axle, while the 37-BHP electric motor drives the back axle. The onboard computer decides when to change between the two (otherwise known in scientific and engineering circles as the ‘Fairydust principle’....)

The gearbox gives a choice of Auto (the most user-friendly, allowing the automatic seamless switchover between the two engines) ZEV is electric motor only, Sport injects a bit of extra oomph and 4WD gives both engines a chance to work in tandem. If you’re looking for guilt-free 4WD, this is your baby.

The spacious cabin is comfy and airy and a real winning feature is the reflected speedometer positioned on a glass panel at driver viewing height: fantastic if, like me, the steering wheel is nearly always positioned at a level that obscures the dashboard instruments (officer).

Something that did make me chuckle though, is the positioning of the windscreen wipers, hinged at the centre, opening wide in opposite directions (something akin to Kenny Everett’s naughty film star crossing and uncrossing her legs in a very unladylike fashion).

Boot space is mildly compromised by the positioning of the electric motor: but at 420 litres, it’s big enough for buggies and shopping, and the rear folding seats create 1500 litres of space...much more than the Toyota Prius.

Aesthetically, the 3008 Hybrid4 is boxy and bulky (your bumper WILL look big in this) and won’t pick up any points on the sexy Mummy’s car market, but in terms of safety (5 star NCAP rating), performance and all round eco-friendliness (WhatCar Green Awards 2011) it’s possibly the best family car on the market today.



Price: From £26,995

Eco-friendliness: 99g CO2/km

Fuel Economy: 74.4 mpg (diesel)

0-60 mph: 8 seconds

Competitors: VW Golf 1.6 TDi Bluemotion

Toyota Prius

Honda Insight

Desirability: 4WD capability with excellent green credentials: every Yummy Mummy should have one


Ruthie at Me-Mo www.me-mo.co.uk

This article is also reproduced at: http://www.womentalking.co.uk/ -the U.K.'s great online women's magazine


A Me-Mo Car Review

Ruthie at: www.me-mo.co.uk

Labels: car accessories, car review, girls car accessories, me-mo, Peugeot 3008 hybrid, Peugeot review, womens online driving magazine

posted by Ruthie @ 8:13 AM