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

Ten Second Review

Peugeot has high aspirations for its 508 medium range model, which means that it needs to offer cutting edge electrified technology - and does in this plug-in hybrid form. 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. The French PSA Group (Peugeot/Citroen/DS/Vauxhall) has chosen to ignore the two self-charging options (mild and full-hybrids) and instead install full-EV powertrains in its smaller models and plug-in hybrid engines in its larger ones, cars like this Peugeot 508 Hybrid.

The same set-up is offered in the Lion brand's 3008 mid-sized SUV, but with the 508, it can't be had in to 300hp AWD form. With the 508 Hybrid, 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 Volkswagen Passat GTE, the Skoda Superb iV and the BMW 330e.

Driving Experience

The electrified formula here sees a 180hp 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 11.8kWh lithium-ion battery. When fully charged, this allows for 32 miles of WLTP-rated all-electric driving range. 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.

The hatch model's official combined WLTP fuel figure is rated at up to 235.5mpg for the hatch and WLTP emissions are rated at up to 29g/km. The latter figure means that the average company car user could roughly halve their annual BiK taxation exposure by choosing this model over a conventional petrol-powered 'D'-segment rival - and make considerable savings over diesel competitors too.

Design and Build

Unless you happen to be a Peugeot dealer or an ardent fan of the brand, you're unlikely to be able to tell a 508 Hybrid apart from a conventional variant at a glance. There's 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 with any other 508, there's the choice of either a 'Fastback' five-door hatch or a quite stylish SW estate.

As ever with a 508, the interior feels of much higher quality than you'd expect from a volume brand, aided in sophistication by a digital instrument binnacle screen and a huge display for the aforementioned central monitor. As usual with a modern Peugeot, there's an 'i-Cockpit' dash layout you'll have to get used to that leaves you looking over the (steering wheel at the instrument binnacle, rather than conventionally through it. 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.

Market and Model

You'll need to be prepared to pay quite a premium if you want plug-in hybrid capability for your 508. Prices start at around £35,000 for the 'Allure' variant and extend through mid-range 'GT Line' trim up to just over £40,000 for the top 'GT'. That's for the five-door hatchback body style that Peugeot wants us to call a 'Fastback Coupe'. The alternative SW estate commands a £1,600 premium over its showroom stablemate.

As is obvious from the prices we've just given, the value lies further down the range. Base 'Allure'-spec gives you all the kit you could reasonably want. That includes a Connected 3D navigation system, diamond-cut 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, a colour reversing camera, ambient lighting, power-folding door mirrors, all-round parking sensors, part-faux leather upholstery and Active suspension that works through the settings of the drive mode system. Plus there's a safety pack with blind spot detection, driver attention alert and road sign recognition. 'GT-Line' trim adds front fog lamps, full-LED self-levelling headlights, a wireless charging mat and sportier styling. And with top 'GT'-spec, you get leather upholstery, a surround view camera system, massaging front seats and a FOCAL premium hifi system.

Cost of Ownership

Let's get to the figures. We've covered the 32 mile WLTP-rated all-electric driving range; it's actually more like around 25 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 235.5mpg for the hatch) 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 the equivalent diesel model. Rely on the petrol engine alone and you'd struggle to average 35mpg. WLTP emissions are rated at up to 29g/km for the hatch and 30g/km for the SW.

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 wallboxPeugeot is offering buyers six months free use of the Polar public charging network but you won't be able to use the fastest rapid chargers.

Summary

Peugeot has to produce cars like this 508 Hybrid. 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, The taxation arguments are difficult to argue with and the attraction of mostly fuel-free commuting mileage is considerable, 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.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Peugeot 508 Hybrid

CATEGORY: HYBRID – PLUG-IN - COMPACT

PRICES: [Fastback] £34,875-£40,630

INSURANCE GROUPS: 31E-33E

CO2 EMISSIONS: [WLTP] 29-30g/km

PERFORMANCE: 0-62mph 8.3s / top speed 155mph

FUEL CONSUMPTION: [Fastback] (combined) up to 235.5mpg [WLTP]

BOOT CAPACITY: [litres] 487-1,780

WLTP ELECTRIC DRIVING RANGE: 32 miles

WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/height mm 4750/1859/1403 mm