Peugeot's 508 Hybrid 225 delivers plug-in tech from a brand keen to play the long game when it comes to electrification. Jonathan Crouch drives the revised version.

Ten Second Review

The only remaining version of Peugeot's 508 medium range model is this Hybrid 225 PHEV version. There's a price to pay for the convenience of limited fuel-free mileage, but you'll gain some of the outlay back in lower taxation payments and petrol savings. Fastback and SW estate variants both feature with this set-up and there's premium packaging and appealing design to sugar the asking figures.

Background

Stricter emissions regulations have forced every brand to invest in electrified engine tech and it's been interesting to see how different brands have prioritised the different technology options the industry currently has to offer. For this Peugeot 508, the Stellantis Group chose to ignore the two self-charging options (mild and full-hybrids) and instead install a Plug-in Hybrid engine in the top versions, creating this Peugeot 508 Hybrid. The same set-up is offered in the Lion brand's 3008 mid-sized SUV. With the 508 Hybrid 225 model, the idea is to address a primarily business-orientated clientele attracted by the low taxation opportunity that models of this kind offer. People currently considering cars in this class like the Mercedes C300 e and the BMW 330e.

Driving Experience

The PHEV tech adds a portly 280kgs to the kerb weight of the 508. The first generation 508 design was available in electrified form too, but that was a self-charging set-up mated to a diesel engine. In this 'R83'-series model, a 181hp 1.6-litre turbo petrol powerplant combined with an 8-speed auto gearbox is mated to a 110hp electric motor on the front axle powered by a 12.4kWh lithium-ion battery. When fully charged, this allows for up to 42.3 miles of WLTP-rated all-electric driving range. There's a 225hp system output. You get four driving modes, with the ones you'll be using most of the time being the 'Hybrid' and 'Comfort' settings that choose the best mix of electric and petrol propulsion to suit the driving style whilst optimising efficiency, the latter softening the standard adaptive damping. The alternative settings are either 'Sport' (where the car combines the power of the electric and petrol motors to offer livelier performance). And 'Electric' (battery power only), in which guise the car is apparently able to run at up to 84mph. With the engine chiming in, 62mph from rest occupies 7.9s and top speed is limited to 149mph. The hybrid system's extra weight slightly blunts the handling but refinement is exemplary (even with the PureTech engine working) and the ride is superb.

Design and Build

If you were familiar with the original version of this second generation 508, you'll immediately notice that the front end of this updated model has a considerably sleeker look. There are now three lighting 'fangs' and a redesigned grille, similar to that which features on the smaller 408, has gloss and textured black features, as well as the latest Peugeot emblem. Plus the narrow beady LED headlights now have standard-fit matrix tech. As before, there's a choice of either a 4.75-metre-long five-door hatch model (which the brand wants us to call a 'Fastback') or a swoopy 4.79-metre SW estate variant. Hybrid-specific features include a special dichroic version of the Peugeot lion brand logo, some additional Hybrid badges stuck on the front wings, an extra left-hand filler flap for voltage charging and a cyan light that shines from the interior mirror when the car is in all-electric motion. As before, the unusual style-led exterior looks are mirrored by an original interior, with a redesigned dashboard and centre console. The fascia's still highlighted, as mentioned in our drive section, by the usual Peugeot i-Cockpit dashboard design, plus there's a large 10-inch capacitive infotainment touchscreen angled towards the driver and a 12.3-inch head-up digital instrument display. The centre screen benefits from updated media tech, allowing for wider customisation options. The auto gear shifter's different too, switching from the previous olf-school 'trigger' to the more discreet finger-pull selector that now features on other Stellantis Group models. As before, the cabin can also feature the brand's 'i-Cockpit Amplify' system, which enables the driver to choose between two levels of ambience - 'Boost' and 'Relax'. Because this design was created from the outset to accommodate battery power, there's no compromise in rear seat accommodation with this Hybrid variant and a couple of adults will be quite comfortable. Boot space is unaltered too, 487-litres in the hatch and 530-litres in the SW estate, with load capacity in the latter case extendable to 1,780-litres with the rear bench flattened. There's also a helpful compartment beneath the boot floor where you can store the charging cables, though you do lose the convenience of a spare wheel.

Market and Model

Tis Hybrid 225 PHEV model is the last remaining version of the 508 and it's only available in top 'GT' trim, though you do still get the choice of Fastback or SW estate body styles. The top 360hp high performance PHEV 'Peugeot Sport Engineered' model is sadly no longer available. All 508s have EAT8 auto transmission. 'GT'-spec includes plenty of equipment; 18-inch 'Epherra' diamond-cut two-tone wheels and part-faux leather upholstery paired with Alcantara and 'Aikinite' stitching extended into the dashboard, doors and steering wheel. Other 'GT'-spec additions include aluminium pedals, blue ambient lighting, Nera Black door mirrors, a 360-degree 'Visio Park' camera system and heated front seats that are ergonomically approved by the AGR organisation, who campaign for healthy backs. Plus there are various drive assist features and the SW version gets aluminium boot rails. Plus there's Connected 3D Navigation with voice recognition, automatic dual zone climate control and the 'Peugeot i-Cockpit' digital instrument binnacle screen. Options include a superb 'FOCAL' surround sound Hi-Fi system, night vision and a wireless smartphone charger. The wrap-around seats can be specified with five multi-point massage programmes, there's a range of premium and sophisticated trim and upholstery materials and you can have a panoramic opening glass roof. All the usual drive assistance elements are included - and you can have level two semi-autonomous capability. Expect to find features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane assist, rear parking sensors, a rear reversing camera and an automatic high beam.

Cost of Ownership

Let's get to the figures. We've covered the 42.3 mile WLTP-rated all-electric driving range; it's actually more like around 30 miles in real-world use. And we also ought to apply real-world thinking to projections of likely fuel economy because the fantasy-land official combined WLTP figures (up to 274.8mpg for the Fastback) clearly aren't likely to be replicated by the average owner. As a feather-foot, we suppose 80-90mpg might theoretically be possible but your realistic average is going to be much less than that - and certainly less than you'd get from an equivalent diesel model. Rely on the petrol engine alone and you'd struggle to average 35mpg. WLTP emissions are rated at up to 23g/km. These stats will mean attractively low BiK figures. Or they will for the mainstream Hybrid model anyway. Bear in mind that you'll need to find £500 extra to upgrade your 508 Hybrid to a model incorporating a 7.4kWh fast charger that would be capable of accepting charge from anything faster than a domestic three-pin socket. This halves charging time when charging with a typical garage 7kW wallbox. And it really ought to be standard. Charging the 12.4kWh battery takes 1 hour 45 minutes from empty to full using a 7.4kW garage wallbox. You can use a provided smartphone app to set low-tariff charging times. Insurance is group 36E.

Summary

Peugeot has to produce cars like this 508 Hybrid. It doesn't necessarily have to sell a lot of them. Most of the brand's profit comes from small cars and LCVs: if models like the 508 can also sell, then so much the better. But they can't drag down the brand's across-range collective CO2 performance in a way that would these days deliver eye-wateringly high EU fines. So plug-in tech needs to be offered in this 508 model, even if high pricing means that the market for it is still quite small. But we can see why you might want one, especially if you're seeking a stylish business conveyance and the current market trend for various flavours of SUV has passed you by. The taxation arguments are difficult to argue with and the attraction of mostly fuel-free commuting mileage is considerable. With the practicality of the SW estate body style, we think that this car starts to make some sort of sense. But if you don't agree, Peugeot won't worry too much. C'est la vie.