Peugeot 3008 GT Pack HYbrid4 - a lion with a black claw
With more than 800 000 cars built since its debut in 2016, the Peugeot 3008 can be considered the leader of the compact SUV market. The model is indeed selling very well in Europe and in markets outside Europe. Its success was sealed by winning the Car of the Year title in 2017. The car arrived on the Polish market in autumn 2019. Its four-wheel-drive hybrid version deserves a closer look. The car I tested is the PEUGEOT 3008 GT Pack HYbrid4.
Design and the Black Pack
The Peugeot 3008 GT Pack HYbrid4 represents the next stage in the model's styling evolution. With its redesigned front end, new Full LED tail lights, new body colours and the "Black Pack" offered for the first time, the car looks modern. The "Black Pack" makes a strong impression, with black dominating the front end. The grille is black, the logo is black, and so are the "fangs" that seem to bite into the front wings. On the test car, the sporty look was further emphasised by gloss-black side air intakes. Black wheels complete the picture. Even in the base trim, the headlights have LEDs and are extended by sharp daytime running light strips with a chrome tip. Peugeot has succeeded in giving the car an intriguing and distinctive styling character.
Interior, i-Cockpit and boot
The shapely body goes hand in hand with a futuristic interior, with the brand's characteristic layout of instruments above a flattened steering wheel. Fortunately, traditional, if stylishly designed, buttons have been kept on the centre console for the basic functions.
The current generation of the French SUV has been equipped with the latest driver assistance systems and the latest version of the PEUGEOT i-Cockpit®, with a new digital instrument panel with a high-quality display and a new 10” HD touchscreen.
I was not entirely taken with the very wide and tall console between the front seats. It takes up too much space. On the one hand, it certainly earns a big plus for the cavernous storage compartment under the armrest, but on the other hand, a second practical storage space could have been created by "cutting away" the lower part of the console, below knee level.
What does deserve praise is the very clear interface showing the charging data, including a counter showing "how much longer it will take to charge fully" and the rarely seen but very useful "how many km of range I gain from an hour of charging".
The amount of space inside guarantees comfortable travel for both front-seat passengers and those sitting behind them. With the electric motor on the rear axle, there was no need for a propshaft. There is no protruding tunnel in the passenger cabin, and yet you still get four-wheel drive: combustion power to the front and electric to the rear. The driver will appreciate the very wide range of seat adjustment.
However, the need to fit batteries under the floor and an additional electric motor at the rear has reduced the size of the boot: in the plug-in hybrid the luggage space is 395 l versus 520 l in the versions with a conventional drivetrain.
Hybrid 4x4 drive, driving modes and range
Power comes from a turbocharged 1.6 petrol engine producing 200 hp, which works together with two electric motors of 110 hp each. The system's combined output is a mighty 300 hp, with maximum torque of 450 Nm. To make the most of these figures, you need to use "Sport" mode. The car then responds quickly to the throttle and accelerates to 100 km/h in under 6 s. And that is despite the hybrid version being 340 kg heavier than the 1.6 petrol.
The driver can choose from several driving modes (4WD, Sport, Electric, Hybrid) and several instrument panel views (Driving, Navigation, Personal, Minimal, Energy, Counters). The "minimal" view can be particularly useful when driving at night.
The manufacturer gives a nod to off-road enthusiasts, as shown by a button that activates hill descent control. That function seems a bit over the top, though.
In the city you can use electric mode for just over 40 km; the homologated range is 59 km with the 13.2 kWh battery fully charged. After that the drivetrain switches to hybrid mode, which means the electric motor will kick in at critical moments, as the car tries to top up the battery at every opportunity. During the test, average fuel consumption was 5.2 l/100 km, thanks to the stretches the car covered without starting the combustion engine. On longer trips, range will be limited by the 43 l fuel tank.
Test summary
The Peugeot 3008 GT Pack HYbrid4 is a versatile car, thanks to its two types of drive. The French styling, built around the lion's claw motif, is very successful. The car copes well running both on electricity and on fuel, and on top of that it offers 4x4 drive. Despite a few minor shortcomings in practicality, the car will serve well in everyday use.
