Overview

PEUGEOT AUSTRALIA’S kick-off point is the Small SUV segment 2008 Allure SUV Hybrid priced from $42,490 rising to $49,490 for the 2008 GT SUV Hybrid as-tested both excluding on road costs.

By way of reference, the 308 hatchback sits in between at $48,990 + ORC.

Hybrid competition for the small electrified French SUV comes from many quarters mainly Hyundai’s Kona hybrid from $36,700 +ORC, Honda HR-V from $39,900 d/a, Toyota C-HR from $45,440 + ORC and the Toyota Corolla Cross from $37,440 + ORC.

Plenty of other electrified choices are available in the hotly contested segment.

Peugeot has a bit of an edge with the 2008 GT as it features distinctive and attractive styling with defining edges rather than the currently in-vogue “eggmobile” look often cloned elsewhere.

Power comes from Peugeot’s ubiquitous 1.2-litre, three pot turbo petrol engine found in (most) other locally available Pugs with an integrated electric traction motor, but this model goes better as it weighs hundreds of kilos less at 1272kg.

Peugeot Australia has settled on hybrid technology to replace PHEV and ICE powertrains across its locally available models. It can be described as a “mild” MHEV with a 48-volt electric motor contributing a mere 15.6kW and 51Nm of torque via a 0.8kWh Li-ion battery with regen’ for a combined output of 107kW and 230Nm.

After the petrol only 2008 GT was discontinued, the GT Hybrid tested gains some cool kit to offset its near $50K price such as a previously optional ‘Style Pack’ as standard with 18-inch Evissa Onyx Black alloy wheels and a sunroof that was a $2500 option.

The front-wheel-drive, five-seat SUV uses a six-speed conventional automatic transmission with paddle shift facility and rides on a strut front and beam axle rear suspension.

Claimed combined fuel consumption is 4.4 litres/100km fed from a 44-litre petrol tank while the petite Pug has a braked tow rating of 1100kg.

Assisting Peugeot’s NVES compliance is a CO2 emissions rating of 99g/km representing a 19.5 per cent reduction over the previous ICE-powered 2008 GT.

Sweetening the 2008 deal from the entry model is a wide selection of standard kit including a 10.0-inch high-definition capacitive central touchscreen, e-toggle automatic gear selector switch on centre console, LED headlights and tail-lights with PEUGEOT signature ‘Claw Effect’ and daylight function.

Further goodies include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, wireless phone charging capability, Blind Spot Detection (BSD), a 360-degree HD camera system, body-coloured roof and rear spoiler, sports seats with Alcantara and leather effect trim with top stitch.

The GT adds a configurable 3D digital driving cockpit, adaptive cruise control with stop and go function, multi-function full grain leather steering wheel with ‘Adamite’ green stitching and GT badging, panoramic opening glass roof, diamond black roof and rear spoiler, driver and front passenger heated seats, driver seat multi-point massage function and electric lumbar adjustment.

The 2008 GT Hybrid comes standard with Peugeot’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Driving Impressions

Apart from the air-con’ not working, driving the striking blue Pug was fun characterised by good engine performance tidy dynamics and generous kit.

It has more get-go than any of the other Peugeots with this tiny powertrain thanks to its lighter weight and is quickish out of the blocks all the way through to high speeds especially when left in Sport or to a lesser extent Normal drive modes.

Eco mode makes the pint-size Pug feel like it has a sock in the exhaust.

Roll-on response in S and N modes is strong punctuated by the occasional down shift to tag the powerband’s fat spot accompanied by a volume increase to the warbling exhaust note which is OK to a point.

It has paddle shift that allows more driver engagement as do the brakes with plenty of pedal feel and bite coupled with light and quick steering responses facilitating pot-hole avoidance, the drive feel enhanced by a tiny flat top and bottom multi-function steering wheel.

A small amount of steering wheel backlash is evident when pushing fairly hard through bumpy corners, but the tyres provide plenty of grip with the car ultimately adopting a push under steer attitude… the front wheels lose grip pushing outwards through a corner with less steering reaction.

As expected from a Peugeot and despite rudimentary front strut/rear torsion beam suspension, the 2008 GT Hybrid delivers a comfortable and controlled ride over a wide range of surfaces and driving styles although with four adults on board the car’s dynamics change a fair bit as it moves closer to its engineering limits.

During our week with the Pug, we clocked over 1000km and recorded an average combined fuel consumption figure of 5.6 litres/100km which is pretty good all told – but nowhere near the 4.4 claim from Peugeot – and it’s the pricier 95RON premium unleaded that stings a tad.

Driven carefully, the 44-litre tank could provide a range of about 780km.

Inside we found the steering wheel obscures the lower instrument console readouts even at the lowest point of adjustment, but the rest of the digital display is large format, logical and easy to understand.

A decent size centre touchscreen controls many functions, and it too is relatively easy to use once you become familiar with the menus. A bank of toggles underneath is for often used features.

We found the front seats somewhat tight as they are smallish to fit within the Pug’s compact dimensions and access can be a chore if you are semi-large of stature exacerbated by the small door aperture and jutting edge of the dash.

There’s a generous amount of load space at the back and rear seat room is pretty good for a vehicle this size.

Unlike the previous Peugeots we have been cycling through of late, this one was willingly driven due to its decent performance, features, appearance and ease of set up.

There are the usual ADAS nannies to deal with, but if you forget, they are nowhere near as intrusive as what you get from many other brands which stridently take control.

It’s a bit exey though especially when you look at what’s on offer elsewhere many of which are more powerful, just as well featured and more mainstream which can be a big plus when you trade-in.

It all depends how much importance you place on so-called French flair and being different.