Hybrid power in Peugeot's 2008 makes for an appealing combination. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

Peugeot fills the gap between combustion and EV versions of its little 2008 SUV with this Hybrid 136 e-DSC6 model. It's largely electric where it needs to be - in town. And fuel-powered where you might want it to be - on longer journeys. An ideal combination?

Background

We can understand why you might be attracted to Peugeot second generation 2008, yet find yourself rather undecided as to what powertrain it should have. For most of this MK2 model's life, there's been a vast price gulf between the Puretech combustion models at one end of the range and the full-electric E-2008 variants at the other. A gap Peugeot has finally plugged with the Hybrid version we're looking at here. This is the same Hybrid e-DSC6 powertrain we've already seen in a whole range of Stellantis Group models, though here you don't get the 100hp version of this package that's offered in the 208 Hybrid supermini. The 2008 offers only the 136hp variant of this Hybrid powertrain, but it's well worth a look.

Driving Experience

In concept, this Hybrid 2008 is a combination of combustion and battery power. And, it turns out, in engineering terms too. As usual with a full-Hybrid, you have to have an auto gearbox, though this is a rather different kind of self-shifting transmission - and not only because it's of the dual-clutch sort and restricted to six speeds. Built into its casing is a DC inverter, an Engine Control Unit and, most significantly, a little 28hp electric motor powered by a tiny battery secreted beneath the front passenger seat. On the move, this motor can work together with the Hybrid model's 1.2-litre petrol engine - or separately from it. And, unlike with a mild hybrid system like that fitted to say, a rival Ford Puma, here the car can be driven for short urban distances (under 18mph) on electric power alone. During deceleration, the petrol engine stops and the e-motor acts as a generator to recharge the Hybrid system's 48V battery. The battery also stores the energy recuperated by the regenerative braking system. The motor additionally assists the engine under acceleration - such as from standstill to 62mph, which takes 8.3s en route to 128mph for the 136PS version on this engine. The more affordable 100PS variant of this Hybrid unit that Peugeot offers in the 208 supermini isn't available in this SUV.

Design and Build

Apart from the badging, there aren't any significant visual differences with this Hybrid 2008. Like all more recent versions of this model, this revised design gains a slightly more aggressive front end, complete with the latest Peugeot brand badge and a light signature inspired by the recently revised 508, characterised by three vertical light claws integrated into the gloss black inserts on the bumper. There are revised LED tail lights too, made up of three super-imposed horizontal double slats, which help to visually widen the car's stance. Wheel sizes are between 16 and 18-inchers and, as before, GT-spec models are distinguished by a black bi-tone roof. There are subtle differences inside too, where the innovative 'i-Cockpit' dash design (which sees you viewing the instrument gauges over the rim of the steering wheel rather than through it) has been updated, primarily with a fresh look for the 10-inch digital instrument cluster, which features a 3D display on GT versions. All models get a 10-inch central touchscreen as standard. The steering wheel gets new brand badging and houses buttons for the infotainment system, as well as the voice control set-up. Plus there are new upholstery and dash fabrics used throughout, including a smart alcantara option for GT versions. The cabin's pretty practical; even with a six-foot tall driver up-front, someone of similar height could sit behind comfortably. And this interior continues to set the class standard for cabin quality, with more soft-touch surfaces than you'll find in the various rival Volkswagen Group small SUVs. Out back, there's a 434-litre boot with a false floor that can be positioned to create additional space beneath.

Market and Model

Prices for this Hybrid model start at just under £28,000 for base 'Active' trim. You'll need around £30,000 for the mid-range 'Allure' version and around £32,000 for the top 'GT' variant. If you're comparing against an equivalent conventional 1.2-litre Puretech 130 EAT8 auto variant, there's a price premium of just £800 to get the Hybrid. And this Hybrid will save you around £8,000 over the E-2008 electric model. If having considered all of this, you're seduced by this Gallic model's style proposition and you then conclude that it is this Peugeot that you really want, then you're going to want to know just how generous the brand has been when it comes to standard spec. Well, let's see. Even entry-level 'Active' variants come pretty well equipped, with 16-inch silver 'Silom' alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, eco LED headlights, auto headlamps and wipers, power-folding heated mirrors, a colour-coded rear spoiler, full-LED tail lamps, a Thatcham category 1 alarm and a reasonable tally of camera safety kit - which we'll get to in a moment. Inside in an 'Active'-spec variant, there's automatic air conditioning with a pollen filter, a small little leather-stitched steering wheel, a trip computer and programmable cruise control with a speed limiter. Infotainment is taken care of by a 10-inch high definition HD capacitive colour centre-dash touchscreen featuring wireless 'Apple CarPlay'/'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring, Bluetooth and a decent quality 6-speaker DAB audio system.

Cost of Ownership

Are the efficiency improvements promised by this petrol/electric derivative large enough to justify its price premium? Well the technology sounds quite promising, incorporating a variable geometry turbocharger, variable valve timing and a belt-driven starter that combines with the e-motor to start the petrol engine from cold - and also restarts the engine quickly and seamlessly while driving. So what's the end result? Well the 2008 Hybrid manages up to 62.1mpg on the combined cycle and up to 102g/km of CO2 - a useful improvement over the conventional engine, very close to the stats of the class-leading Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid and virtually the same as the figures delivered by the Vauxhall Corsa Hybrid supermini we reviewed recently. These improved returns are enough to allow the 2008 Hybrid 136 e-DSC6 model to usefully reduce the normal version's BiK tax rating down to 27% - the ordinary PureTech models are usually rated at between 30-32% depending on variant. But of course that's nothing like as good a tax return as you'd get from the E-2008 full-Electric model Peugeot really wants to sell you, which like all EVs, is BiK-rated at just 2% - until 2025 anyway.

Summary

The most recent update of mid-term improvements haven't done that much to enhance this second generation 2008 model's appeal - but the availability of this Hybrid engine does. We venture to suggest that, right here right now, this petrol/electric version of this Peugeot would probably make more all-round sense for most small fashion-conscious families than a similarly shaped and targeted full-electric EV. It might certainly be difficult to justify the considerable extra expense and more limited driving range of an E-2008 over a 2008 Hybrid 136 e-DSC6. Of course, we're all eventually going to have to go down the full-EV route, but that time is further away than the legislators and Brussels bureaucrats think - and the car makers know it. In the meantime, Hybrid engineering is enjoying a surprisingly strong renaissance. And cars like this are the reason why.