Peugeot 3008 Hybrid

FIRST DRIVE Is battery-assisted car better than pure-electric model?

- Paul Barker

PEUGEOT'S new 3008 is a fine example of a modern car launch: kick off with the headline-grabbing electric model, before quietly sneaking in the one likely to be more popular in the short term.

The hybrid version of the eye-catching mid-size SUV has far less power (134bhp versus the E-3008's 207bhp), but on the flip-side, it's over £11,000 cheaper. It's also arguably more practical for anyone not yet willing or able to take the plunge into EVs.

Power comes from the same 1.2-litre turbocharged engine and small electric motor as found in the Vauxhall Corsa Hybrid (Page 30), albeit tuned here for its specific application. That e-motor makes the 3008 capable of running on battery alone for short bursts - but only if you're incredibly light on the throttle. Even thinking about wanting to accelerate is enough to have the engine kick in again, so you'll find it regularly ticking over at steady urban speeds. It's also a shame there's no display to help you know how far you can push to keep the car in EV mode - as you get in Toyota hybrids, for example.

Performance is better than it looks on paper. A o-62mph time of over 10 seconds doesn't sound great, but once the car is rolling, there's a decent amount of oomph. The 3008 Hybrid isn't the most refined under acceleration, though, and while the six-speed transmission's shifts are smooth enough, they aren't seamless.