ABM_1 - Flipbook - Page 27
REVIEW
PEUGEOT 308SW
adequate for a car this size, especially
with the instant response provided by the
electric motor.
Diesel models use a 1.5-litre
turbocharged four-cylinder, with a
conventional eight-speed automatic
gearbox. Power is 132 PS, slightly less
than the hybrid, but the diesel torque
makes gentle acceleration at higher
speeds
feel effortless.
As it is not a plug-in hybrid (PHEV),
it does not suffer from the typical
PHEV downsides – namely a higher
purchase price, less boot space and the
need to charge in order to access the
best economy.
That being said, the lack of a charging
port does compromise fuel economy and
taxation benefits. While PHEV buyers
enjoy a BiK rate of 8%, the hybrid has a
rate of 28%, approaching the 32% of the
car powered by the black pump.
Retail prices of the two cars are similar
too. At £37,625 the hybrid 308SW in toptrim GT guise is actually £600 cheaper
than a comparable diesel model, yet it
packs more power and a more
complex drivetrain.
With the diesel costing almost as much
as the PHEV and EV versions, buyers will
have to be fully paid-up members of the
Anti-Spark Plug Club to choose it.
Around town
In urban areas, the diesel is clearly
outclassed. The engine is slow to respond
and the automatic gearbox is indecisive.
Driving with start-stop turned on makes
exploiting gaps in traffic difficult, with the
engine needing time to fire into life.
This kind of environment is where the
hybrid shines. It typically moves off
under electric power, giving swift and
drama-free acceleration at traffic lights.
The electric motor also helps disguise
turbo-lag, which is noticeable in both
the diesel model and also the nonhybridised versions of this engine. It has
regenerative braking, which makes for
pleasant, smooth deceleration. However,
regenerative braking stops at 12mph,
which can feel unnatural, almost as
if the gearbox has an unusually high
creep speed.
The dual-clutch gearbox is much more
decisive and the hybrid system is wellintegrated, with a keenness to turn off
the petrol engine whenever it can.
While the diesel has a characteristic
clatter under load, the hybrid’s three
cylinder is muted and generally fades
into the background.
The 308SW is a pleasant enough car
to drive and is easy to place on the road,
with good visibility and a standardfit reversing camera. The steering has
a whiff of arcade game controller to
it, with very little weighting and fairly
vague responses. It is not dangerous
by any means, but it does take some
getting used to.
Applying half throttle in both cars gives
the impression that they are quite zippy.
However, the second half of pedal travel
seems to yield very little more in terms
of acceleration, which was likely done to →
Diesel torque
makes gentle
acceleration at
higher speeds
feel effortless”
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AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS
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