If you’re looking for style, old school drivability and some good economy, the 2022 Peugeot 508 GT Fastback Plug-In Hybrid should definitely be on your shopping list.
Feeling decidedly sleek and sporty, its front wheels are driven by two dynamic sources of power.
Combining a 133kW turbocharged petrol engine and an 81kW electric motor for an impressive 165kW of power, it’s good for a little over 50km in pure EV mode thanks to its 11.8kW battery. The overall fuel economy is a smug 2.2-litres/100km.
That said, to achieve optimal efficiency, you’ll need to fully charge every night. An alluring LED pulse on the charging kit keeps you informed of progress and adds a taste of the fast approaching electric future.
On the other side of the power equation, the 8-speed gearbox is both smooth and responsive. You can dial in your driving style to match your mood too. There are even steering wheel mounted paddles to manually change gear should you wish.
Peugeot’s now iconic compact steering wheel adds to the responsive feel and the configurable 12-inch digital instrument cluster is a thing of beauty. A 10.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system is tucked nicely into the dashboard.
Its most satisfying display is the power infographics, complete with a regenerative braking visualisation and range meter. The entire system is simple and easy to use, with minimal interaction required to complete most functions.
That’s because the brushed metal piano-key quick controls are an absolute delight, giving tactile and effortless shortcuts to the complexity of options the car has to offer, visualised via the screen.
Tap the sound system key and you can enjoy the goodness of decent sound, and if you grow tired of Siri or Alexa via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the built-in voice control is remarkably useful for shortcuts, visualisations and navigation.
The interior has stylish Nappa leather seating, as you would expect from the French marque, a feature in itself, and for your tired back and bum, a multitude of massage and heating options.
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Electric folding exterior mirrors feature courtesy LED lighting, which is a small but highly functional feature, that’s great on dark nights and in narrow car parks. In a somewhat surprising result, the luggage space in PHEV is also the same as the normal 508 GT.
We say surprising because you’d expect the batteries to normally eat into that space, not so here, meaning there’s 500-odd litres of boot space that can be increased to in excess of 1,700-litres when the split-fold rear seats are down.
David Abrahams