The concept of a hybrid vehicle is no longer new. We have Toyota to thank for the broad acceptance of cars that run on electric as well as petrol power.

In an instant you’ve got an all-wheel drive family crossover vehicle- Iain Dooley

However, it’s the choice of engine that has put some people off. Petrol power is fine if the fuel is cheap. This goes someway to explaining why Toyota – and Honda – hybrids have been so successful in North America. Sadly our ‘special relationship’ has yet to extend to convincing our cousins across the water that diesel is better.

And that is why diesel hybrids have been absent from the price lists; the American market is the biggest and the most influential.

That is about to change, however, with the introduction of Peugeot’s 3008 Hybrid4. Based on a standard 3008, Peugeot has connected an electric powertrain to the car’s rear wheels. In an instant you’ve got an all-wheel drive family crossover vehicle, but you’ve also got a car that can travel for a mile or so on electric power alone. In the right conditions it will also pull away from rest in electric mode, reducing the amount of fuel you use and boosting throttle response.

So how does it all work? In simple terms the 3008 Hybrid4 packs a conventional four-cylinder diesel motor under its bonnet. In this case its Peugeot’s higher output 163 bhp unit.

At the back is the aforementioned electric motor arrangement. This motor can deliver up to the equivalent of 37 bhp. The battery pack is automatically charged without the need to plug it in somewhere like with a conventional electric vehicle. The regenerative process happens when you’re off the throttle, and is most obvious from the stronger than usual engine braking – around town it’s noticeable that you need to use the brakes less when coasting to a stop.

The two power units’ connection with the real world is by Peugeot’s clutchless manual gearbox.

This will be a familiar unit to Peugeot fans and, while it does have its quirks, with the addition of electric power the automated gear changes feel smoother than in a conventional car.

Out on the road the 3008 Hybrid4 behaves almost like a regular 3008. The immediate tell-tale sign is when you turn the key, as not much happens in the noise department. With the default start-up mode electric, it is possible to pull away with just the distant whine of the electric motor. If the car detects more power is required, the diesel engine fires into life. From then on it’s just like driving a diesel-powered 3008 that is until you stop as that’s when the engine stops. Move off and, if there’s enough battery charge, you’ll power away in electric mode and start the automatic power-juggling cycle again.

If there’s one thing the hybrid variant does share with its conventional 3008 cousin, it is a rotary controller allowing you to change transmission modes.

To counter the need for a genuinely costly all-wheel drive system, Peugeot adopted a traction control system dubbed Grip Control. The Hybrid4 model goes a step further; you can switch between all electric (EV), power, auto and 4x4 modes.

Of course, ‘forcing’ the car into EV mode will only last for as long as there’s sufficient charge in the battery, which means driving gently to achieve the ‘couple of miles’ goal. The flipside is the power mode, which unleashes everything the 3008 has for maximum acceleration and performance, while the 4x4 modeengages the rear axle for added traction on slippery grass and muddy tracks. Predictably, leaving the car in the auto mode seems to work well during general driving duties.

The technical competence demonstrated by the 3008 Hybrid4 is but one element of its appeal. Peugeot readily admits that its focus is on company car drivers as, with the base specification car outputting 99g/km CO2, the tax benefits will be attractive. Also, there’s the ability offset the full cost of the car against company profits in the first year of ownership.

Not bad for a five-seat, 200 bhp high-rise hatchback with the same kit as a regular 3008 plus Peugeot’s recently improved build quality and premium cabin ambience.

Sure, the hybrid model won’t suit everyone’s needs, but it’s a bold first step in the realm of diesel-electric hybrids and shows plenty of promise.

At a glance

Top speed
118mph

0-100km
8.5 seconds

Economy
70.5mpg

C02
104g/km when on 17-inch wheels. 99g/km CO₂ when on 16-inch wheels.

Engine
2.0-litre diesel unit developing 163 bhp. Electric motor develops 37 bhp.

Transmission
Six-speed automated manual transmission as standard, driving the front wheels. Electric motor drives rear wheels.