FAMILY LIFE IN CHARGE (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Peugeot's seven-seat 5008 aims to offer the best of both worlds in Plug-in Hybrid form. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 47

With this third generation 5008, Peugeot has at last brought us a Plug-in Hybrid version - and if you can afford the up-front asking price, you might find it quite a tempting package. Don't put your name down for an E-5008 before considering one of these first.

Backgroundword count: 150

Prior to this generation model, we'd never had a Plug-in Hybrid version of Peugeot's 5008. Not in the UK market anyway. Now though, this PHEV model is one of two 5008s you can plug in, the other being the E-5008 full-EV model. This Plug-in Hybrid variant won't give you much on that full-electric derivative, but right at the moment, with charge station queues growing, it could be the smart model in the range to pick. Assuming you've decided to ignore the non-plug-in base Hybrid 136 version anyway, which would save you quite a lot. But that self-charging Hybrid doesn't come with the super-low BiK taxation rating that many potential 5008 PHEV customers will want. That and the pleasurable feeling of being able to waft around on electric power most of the time in suburbia, yet with the reassurance of a petrol engine for longer trips. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experienceword count: 288

The Plug-in Hybrid 195 version is based around a 150hp 1.6-litre petrol engine mated to a 21kWh battery that energises a 125hp electric motor; which claims to be to drive the car for up to 55 miles on the combined cycle on battery power. As the variant's name suggests, the total power output is 195hp, which is a useful slide more than the 136hp you get from the non-plug-in Hybrid 136 e-DSC6 variant in the range. Rest to 62mph in the PHEV takes 8.3s en route to 137mph, which is 3 seconds and 14mph faster than the Hybrid 136 version. A family-sized seven-seat SUV isn't meant to be thrown about. But it should be capable of safe, high speed handling, should circumstances demand that. If you want us to get right to it, that's what's been delivered here. Don't expect to particularly enjoy the back doubles on your way home from the school run. But if necessary, the 5008 will get you through them surprisingly quickly if your kids have made you late for your first appointment of the day. At the wheel, the unusual driving position of the 'i-Cockpit' design takes some getting used to, but does encourage wrist-flick direction changes aided by this Peugeot's relatively light weight by class standards. As on all 5008s, there are three stages of selectable regenerative braking (Low, Moderate and Enhanced) and three main driving modes - 'Eco', 'Normal' and 'Sport'. Like the Hybrid 136, this PHEV has a straightforward twist beam suspension set-up - the more advanced and supposedly more supple multi-link rear axle arrangement is reserved for the E-5008. Ironically though, this Plug-in Hybrid version rides better than its all-electric stablemate because it carries around a lot less weight.

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