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June 30, 2021
A masterful work for the electrified era—Test drive of the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 | PEUGEOT
Impressive agility that belies its 4WD nature
Sinking into the seat and pressing the start button, the car begins its journey not with an engine idle, as is customary for PHEVs, but with just the electrical system powered on. When driving on ordinary roads, it exhibits exemplary behavior, prioritizing zero emissions and aiming to operate solely on electric power up to 135 km/h, the speed limit on French highways. The default drive mode is "Hybrid." While "Electric" mode locks the rear motor for drive, the transitions between power sources—front, rear, or ICE (engine)—and coasting at a constant speed are exceptionally smooth, allowing for seamless driving without conscious effort when maintaining a steady pace.
However, once you venture onto winding roads and begin to actively shift weight to navigate corners, it's not the powertrain but the chassis that truly comes alive with dynamic motion. The front wheels grip tenaciously as you turn the steering wheel, tucking the nose into the turn, and the rear wheels swiftly follow, settling the car's posture. This level of cornering feel is familiar to Peugeot enthusiasts, but the 3008 Hybrid4's true prowess emerges when you apply power. Unlike the FF ICE version, a sharp and powerful thrust from the rear propels the car forward. Although the full acceleration in 4WD mode is likely brief, engaging "Sport" mode optimizes the front-wheel drive, maximizing the ICE's torque and rotational speed through programmed control.
Switching the drive mode to lock in 4WD and driving on both winding roads and off-road revealed that on the former, a slight tendency towards understeer emerged, suggesting it's primarily a mode for unpaved surfaces. Indeed, on the latter, stable grip was achieved even on steep inclines, confirming the 3008 Hybrid4 as a long-awaited 4x4 in Peugeot's lineup.
Regrettably, the brake pedal feel is somewhat spongy and deep. Engaging the B range by pulling the shift lever back allows for regenerative braking, which should be utilized during deceleration. Nevertheless, despite its considerable weight of 1880kg, including the panoramic roof, the 3008 Hybrid4 is not excessively heavy for a PHEV. The engineering prowess that has achieved such agile dynamic quality and impressive agility, which belies its 4WD nature, is truly characteristic of Peugeot.
