Two plug-in hybrid SUVs
There is no doubt that plug-in hybrid vehicles are the best solution in this transition towards total electrification in which the automobile industry finds itself. Today we bring you two models with notable arguments to convince you: Peugeot 3008 Hybrid or Lexus NX 202, which is better?
Plug-in hybrid SUVs represent the best of both worlds: on the one hand, the versatility and versatility offered by SUVs and, on the other, the benefits of hybrid technology, which allows you to enjoy high performance with very low consumption and have a that ranges between 30 and 80 kilometers, as well as obtaining the ECO label from the DGT.
In this case, we have two relatively recent models, above all, the Japanese: on the one hand, the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid, a car that has been sold in Spain since 2020; on the other, the new Lexus NX, whose second generation we met last year.
Peugeot 3008 Hybrid
Peugeot offers two plug-in hybrid versions in the 3008 range: the Hybrid 225, with a 180 hp 1.6 Pure Tech petrol engine together with another 110 hp electric motor linked to the gearbox, for a combined power of 225 hp.
On the other hand, there is the Hybrid 300, with the same combustion engine, but with 200 hp and two electric motors, one with 110 hp and the other located on the rear axle, with 112 hp. In this case, the combined power is 300 hp.
It is the latter, the Hybrid 300, which has an all-wheel drive system, thanks to that second motor that moves the rear wheels. Instead, the Hybrid 225 only moves the front wheels. Both have an EAT-8 automatic gearbox with very smooth operation.
The 3008 plug-in hybrid uses the EMP2 platform, which allows you to spread the batteries across the bottom of the vehicle. In this way, it does not reduce space for the occupants or the trunk and, in addition, improves driving dynamics.
Both the 225 hp and 300 hp variants carry a 13.2 kWh capacity battery, which provides a range of 56 and 59 kilometers, respectively. It is standard, includes a 3.7 kW charger with which it takes about four hours to recharge the battery. That time can be reduced to 1 hour and 45 minutes with a 7.4 kW system.
At a technological level, Peugeot made a significant leap with this 3008, which is a restyling of the model that we met in 2017. The i-Cockpit that all the brand’s models are equipped with is well known, although here it goes one step further, by use a fully configurable 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 10-inch touch screen on the dashboard.
In addition, other noteworthy technologies are the latest-generation automatic braking and the Night Vision system, a novelty in a compact SUV in this segment that offers a clear vision of between 200 and 250 meters, regardless of light conditions.
The equipment is completed with elements such as the lane position assistant, the recognition of traffic signs, the adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go and seats with massage and the HiFi Focal system.
Lexus NX
For its part, the Lexus NX is a completely new model, the second generation of the Japanese compact SUV, which includes a plug-in option as its main novelty.
We know that Toyota and its luxury division, Lexus, bet on hybrid engines a long time ago. But they hadn’t made the move to PHEV technology. The NX is the first Lexus model to do so, with the 450h+ version. A conventional hybrid, the 350h, is also available.
The 450h+ is based on the same powertrain as the Toyota RAV4 PH, namely a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, electric motor and 18.1 kWh lithium-ion battery. The system produces a total of 306 hp, a power similar to that of the 3008 Hybrid 300, although the Japanese model has a higher electric range: 76 kilometers.
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According to the Japanese brand, it takes 2.5 hours to fully charge the battery, using a 6.6 kW power outlet, which is the maximum that the standard charger supports.
As for driving, the GA-K platform on which the NX is built has a center of gravity 20 millimeters lower than its predecessor, wider tracks and a more balanced weight distribution, which translates into better handling. To this must be added the greater rigidity of the chassis.
It also comes with the Lexus Driving Signature Package, a combination of driving comfort with steering, throttle and brake performance.
Conclution
Both models are similar in the type of philosophy: a compact SUV very equipped, loaded with technology and with a plug-in hybrid system. The Lexus is one or two steps higher in terms of completion, something logical, being a premium brand.
The care in the interior design, in the materials and in the level of adjustments is superior to the French model, without being this bad, at all. The capacity of the trunk is also greater, with no less than 545 liters, while the 3008 Hybrid is satisfied with only 395 liters.
We also see that the NX 450h+ has a clearly superior electric range than the 3008 Hybrid 300, with 76 kilometers compared to 59, according to the WLTP cycle.
All this would lead us to prefer the NX, but there are two things for which we opted for the French: the first is the price. The Lexus starts at 62,000 euros with the Executive finish, while the Peugeot starts at 49,800 euros with the Allure finish.
It is true that the price can be lowered with the MOVES III Plan, but the difference is remarkable. On the other hand, the NX uses a planetary gear automatic transmission that works as a continuous variator, while the 3008 Hybrid uses an EAT-8 torque converter transmission, whose operation is much better.
