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CAROLINE GETS MOTORING Bunclody native Caroline Kidd brings us reviews of the latest new cars to arrive in Ireland. Caroline is the founder and editor of the online automotive magazine Changing Lanes and a jury member for Irish Car of the Year. Find out more about her editorial and commercial copywriting services at
www.changinglanes.ie
PEUGEOT 3008 HYBRID Plug-in hybrid has been one of the major themes of the motor industry in recent years as car manufacturers scramble to meet the needs of a changing market. Sales of petrol plug-in hybrids in Ireland have been growing steadily, accounting for over 7% of the new car market in 2021. With every new model launch, the pond of plug-in hybrids available gets bigger. And while recent news that the €2,500 grant for these vehicles will be removed from 1st January 2022 dims their sparkle somewhat, plug-in hybrids remain a sort of halfway house to full electric vehicles, an opportunity to get used to the idea of plugging a car in, charging a battery, and driving more efficiently into the future. In 2020, Peugeot Ireland launched a series of new ‘electrified’ models on the Irish
Peugeot 3008 Hybrid
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market including full electric and plug-in hybrid models. The French brand had already witnessed a revival in the market thanks to the launch of a trilogy of popular SUVs and a move upmarket. The Peugeot 3008 mid-size SUV is of course a particular highlight of the lion brand SUV trio – a former Irish Car of the Year and European Car of the Year award winner. Now Peugeot has added a hybrid to the 3008 range. Comfortable and practical, the 3008 competes in the sweet spot of the market where the family SUVs reside. Updated for 2021, Peugeot’s bestseller now has slightly revised exterior styling. The new look gives it enough modernity to stay stylish and relevant. The updated range kicks off from €35,585
for a 1.2-litre Puretech petrol with 130 hp. The diesel range kicks off from €36,560 for a 1.5-litre diesel, also with 130 hp. The new hybrid range starts from €44,845 and is now the most powerful of the range with 225 hp. There are three trim levels for Ireland – Active, Allure and GT – with lots of equipment from entry into the range. On the outside, the 2021 Peugeot 3008 has a new frameless front grille and gloss black air intakes, while the headlights, daytime running lights and indicators all use advanced LED technology across the range. At the rear, Peugeot’s trademark three-claw taillights and new sequential indicators provide a contemporary look. Inside, the new 3008 SUV features Peugeot’s next generation digital i-Cockpit® technology with a 12.3” digital head-up instrument panel, a compact steering wheel and 10”
