Peugeot‘s revolutionary 3008 Hybrid4 has become even more appealing to fleets since we first drove it last September.
Two months later, and following an enquiry made by BusinessCar, the HMRC ditched the 3% BIK penalty for diesel hybrids, so the 3008 now commands just 10% BIK.
The 3008 Hybrid4 still holds plenty of appeal in its own right, not least its headline figures of 99g/km and 74.3mpg. The battery and the electric motor are packed tightly at the back of the car, so the motor can power the rear wheels, rendering it four-wheel drive. The flipside is that this also impedes the boot space by around 15%, so there’s 354 litres available.
A dial on the centre console allows the driver to switch from the standard automatic setting through Sport, 4WD and ZEV (zero emissions) modes, while the exact transfer of power and regeneration via the brakes and under deceleration is displayed on the screen at the top of the dash.
Save for unconventionally quiet starts, the Hybrid4 is a conventional drive. It rides and handles well for an MPV and is, for the most part, refined. The only other noticeable characteristic is a large amount of engine braking that almost negates the need to use the brake pedal under normal conditions.
For all its merits, the Peugeot is heavily flawed by its lofty P11D price and poor CVT transmission. Known as EGC, it’s in no way smooth and doesn’t transfer power anywhere near quickly enough at low speeds, which makes leaving roundabouts and junctions fraught affairs. We also found the car failed to engage electric-only mode with the windscreen demisters or air conditioning switched on in any capacity.
Despite these niggles and the steep initial outlay, the Hybrid4 still manages to outdo its fellow 2.0-litre HDi 3008s on whole-life costs, so it is the best value and the most eco-friendly option for fleets.
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