HY-ER ASPIRATIONS (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Peugeot's latest 3008 Hybrid 136 e-DCS6 makes the petrol/electric option more palatable for customers wanting this model line. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 64

Peugeot says that the 48V Hybrid engine fitted into this 3008 Hybrid 136 e-DCS6 is a great choice if you're not quite ready for the EV revolution - and there's some truth in that. You can't plug this powerplant in, but it delivers a combination of value, performance and frugality that 3008 fans will like. And it's vastly cheaper than the all-electric E-3008 alternative.

Backgroundword count: 147

All the headlines with Peugeot's third generation 3008 tend to be of the full-electric E-3008 model, but the version that will actually sell in real numbers is this one, the Hybrid 136 e-DCS6. You can't plug it in, but that makes it lighter and cheaper. And if you still fancied a diesel in a mid-sized lifestyle SUV of this kind, the efficiency stats here might make you think again. It shares its self-charging Hybrid engine with Stellantis Group cousin and close rival Citroen's C5 Aircross Hybrid 136 - which is significantly cheaper thanks to Citroen's new pricing policy. So the 3008 will need it's more arresting looks and more avant-garde cabin. It's reasonable value compared to significant Hybrid rivals from other brands though and Peugeot expects that for the foreseeable future, this will continue to be the 3008 variant of choice for many customers. Let's see why.

Driving Experienceword count: 214

In principle, this is one of those 48V Hybrid systems merely designed to allow the car to run solely on electric power when manoeuvring or under very light throttle loads. In practice though, Peugeot says this 3008 Hybrid 136 e-DCS6 can run without fossil fuel for up to 50% of the time on the kind of low-speed commuting journeys that the majority of owners will typically do. The 48V system is based around a 28bhp electric motor embedded into a purpose-designed dual clutch 6-speed auto gearbox. The main source of forward motion though, is the brand's familiar three cylinder 1.2-litre turbocharged Puretech petrol engine, which contributes to a total output of 134bhp, facilitating a rest to 62mph time of 10.0s en route to 124mph. With just 230Nm of torque available though, towing is unlikely to be this car's forte (the braked towing weight is 1,250kgs). You'll need to make frequent use of this Peugeot's 'Eco' drive mode to get anywhere near the frugality figures the brand claims; unlike in rival Toyota Hybrids, there's no button to force the car into EV mode. There's brake regen harvesting set-up to feed energy back into the 48V system's battery (which sits under the front passenger seat), but there are no selectable options to change the regen level.

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