WHEN it comes to technology Peugeot’s new diesel hybrid is a world first but what really counts is how much it can save drivers in everyday use. Strip away the remarkable systems which make the 3008 Hybrid4 a car like no other and Peugeot says the bottom line for the average company car driver is around £2,500 a year. The bulk of that comes in tax savings since the hybrid has much lower exhaust emissions than comparable diesels but Peugeot’s claims about fuel economy appear optimistic. There are two versions of the 3008 Hybrid4, one rated at 99g/km with an official fuel combined fuel consumption figure of 74.4mpg and the other has a CO2 figure of 104g/km which equates to 70.5 to the gallon. We have just tried the higher emission version – it has larger wheels and is slightly heavier than the 99g/km model – and managed to see an average mpg readout on the car’s onboard computer of just under 55 to the gallon over a mixed 50 mile route. Nevertheless that is still impressive for an all-wheel-drive family-sized car weighing 1.8 tonnes powered by a two-litre diesel. By comparison a similar sized Nissan Qashqai with four wheel drive has an official fuel consumption of just 40mpg and commands a 29 per cent tax liability for business users as opposed to the ten per cent rating for the Peugeot. Where the 3008 comes into its own is in the sheer scope of what it delivers. It can be a family load lugger, a 4x4 or zero emission electric vehicle – albeit only for a few miles at a time. The only car which comes close is the Lexus 450h – a petrol hybrid that is not as economical and can cost twice as much. With clever use of the 3008’s multi-mode drive control greater fuel economy can be achieved by locking in the electric motor but that will work only at speeds below 40mph and for only around three miles. As the world’s first diesel hybrid the 3008 has a two-litre engine driving the front wheels with an electric motor powering the back axle. It is fitted with a semi automatic six speed electronic gearbox which can be used manually via steering wheel paddle shifters. In total there is 200bhp on tap – 163 from the diesel and 37 from the motor – giving a 0 to 60 acceleration of 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 118mph. The battery pack is recharged on the move – the electronics are guaranteed for five years – and in general use the drive is managed automatically. Moving off will usually happen in zero emission electric mode, the diesel will kick in when more power is required then after that the car will run on a blend of the two sources. There is no rev counter but a power gauge showing how efficiently the car is performing and it will be at its best kept in a marked eco band. Call up the power flow display on the central information screen and you will see the drive moving from axle to axle and the amount of charge in the battery. There is also another readout which shows the amount of hybrid activity which has taken place. By using the multi mode rotary switch next to the gear lever the drive can be controlled manually moving from the auto setting (for general use) to sport, all wheel drive or electric only. Try to do what the system is not ready for – such as switching into EV when there is insufficient charge in the battery - and the car’s ‘brain’ will intervene and switch back to auto operation. In traffic there is a stop/start function while when crawling along there is every chance it will be operating as an electric vehicle and using no fuel. Sport mode locks in both diesel and electric motors to give maximum power and drives the motor direct from the engine as happens when its working as a 4x4 – and traction is good enough to get the 3008 over muddy tracks and grassy slopes as well as being handy in wintry conditions. The 3008 hybrid is priced from £26,995 for the 99g/km version and £28,495 for the 104g/km model which comes with more equipment, bigger wheels and sat nav. It may not be quite as easy as Peugeot would like for its diesel hybrid to fulfil its maximum potential on the economy front but whichever way you look at it this is groundbreaking technology with genuine potential to deliver savings. For the techno fans it is a must, for the business user it is a no brainer and for the family motorist – where tax savings are not quite as important – there is no other car around which is so multi-role. | 
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