Peugeot has locked in which plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) it’s bringing to Australia.
The recently refreshed Peugeot 3008 will be offered in all-wheel drive Hybrid4 guise, while the front-wheel drive 508 Hybrid will be available exclusively in the fastback (sedan-like) body.
Both models are set to launch in the fourth quarter of 2021.
That means the less powerful, front-wheel drive 3008 Hybrid and the 508 Hybrid wagon aren’t on the table, despite the local arm previously indicating these versions would be heading Down Under later this year.
The 3008 Hybrid4 will be the performance hero of the 3008 line-up, with a total system output of 221kW of power – that’s almost 100kW more than the 3008’s existing petrol and diesel powertrains.
The Hybrid4 uses 80kW electric motors on each axle and a 13.2kWh lithium-ion battery, mated to a 147kW turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine.
Total electric range is 59km on the stricter WLTP test cycle.
The 508 Hybrid shares its plug-in hybrid powertrain with the front-wheel drive 3008 Hybrid that won’t be coming here.
That means a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with 132kW of power, mated to an 11.8kWh lithium-ion battery and an 80kW electric motor.
Combined system output is 165kW, with an electric driving range of 54km on the WLTP test cycle.
Claimed fuel use is 2.1L/100km on the combined cycle.
Drive is sent to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission, and Peugeot says the 508 Hybrid is able to travel at up to 135km/h without switching on the petrol engine.
Notably, the 508 Hybrid has the same boot capacity as petrol-only models despite the fitment of a large battery pack, with 487L of space.
Electric cars and SUVs outsold their plug-in hybrid counterparts in 2020, with Australians buying 1685 plug-in hybrid models but 1755 electric models, not including Tesla which doesn’t report its sales figures.
Some companies, like the Volkswagen Group and Toyota, have also opted not to bring their plug-in hybrid vehicles to Australia.
Despite this, there’s a growing number of PHEV models coming to Australia, particularly SUVs.
The 3008 Hybrid4 will give Peugeot a rival to the stalwart Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, of which a redesigned model is due in 2022, as well as the recently launched MG HS Plug-In Hybrid.
Other rivals will include the delayed Ford Escape PHEV, now set for an early 2022 launch, plus premium-brand rivals like the Volvo XC40 Recharge Plug-In Hybrid.
There’s also a Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV due in 2022, plus the recently revised Mini Countryman Hybrid.
The 508 will have less competition.
The only other electrified model in its segment is the Toyota Camry ‘self-charging’ hybrid though with the 508 currently priced at $57,490 before on-roads and the PHEV certain to carry a premium, the Toyota isn’t exactly a direct competitor.
While we don’t yet know what the 508 Hybrid will be priced at, it could slot in between the likes of the Camry Hybrid and luxury brand plug-ins like the BMW 330e (from $84,990 before on-roads).
The introduction of the two plug-in hybrid models comes before Peugeot Australia introduces its first all-electric models in 2022.
While it hasn’t confirmed just which EVs it’ll bring here, it has a growing stable to choose from including the e-208 hatch, e-2008 small SUV, and e-Expert, e-Partner and e-Boxer vans.
MORE: Peugeot 3008 news and reviews
MORE: Peugeot 508 news and reviews
