COVER Peugeot 508 PSE vs BMW 330e

MODELTESTED: BMW 330e xDrive M Sport Pro Touring

PRICE: £50,985 ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl PHEV, 288bhp

IT’S not often that a BMW undercuts a comparable Peugeot on price, but before options the 330e xDrive M Sport Pro Touring starts from £49,435. While the Peugeot’s price is pretty much what you’ll pay, it’s possible to load the 3 Series with options, and the car you see here costs £56,675 with extras. These include the £1,900 Tech Pack (including a head-up display, a Harman Kardon hi-fi, wireless smartphone charging and gesture control) and the £1,950 Comfort Plus Pack (a heated steering wheel and electric front seats, among others features).

Design & engineering

WHILE the Peugeot is outwardly � score 4.3 sporty in appearance, the BMW is much more subtle. Sure, this M Sport Pro Edition trim gets a high-contrast black finish for the grille, window trims and 19-inch alloy wheels, not to mention an exclusive paint finish (one of three unique options available). But otherwise, it’s largely the same 3 Series Touring that you’ll find anywhere else in the range.

The same applies inside. The cabin is simple and a little less adventurous than the 508’s, but the driving position – slightly offset pedals aside – feels more sporty and natural than its rival. The quality is flawless, too, while ergonomically it’s very logical.

So outwardly, while the 330e Touring looks quite conventional, there’s still plenty of performance potential on offer under the bonnet. Its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine is bigger than the Peugeot’s, but with one electric motor to the 508’s two, the system output is 67bhp and 110Nm down.

The BMW’s hybrid technology is helped by a 12kWh battery, which offers a 34-mile EV range based on WLTP figures. By the same measure, the 508’s 11.5kWh unit is only good for 26 miles.

Running costs

54.1mpg (on test) £65 fill-up/£510 or 12% tax

Practicality

Boot (seats up/down) 410/1,420 litres

Performance

0-62mph/top speed 5.9 seconds/139mph

Detail

LED headlights are bright; Oxide Grey paint is one of three M Sport Pro choices

Driving

IN pure performance already seen that 508 terms, we’ve is the superior � score 4.4 car here. But driving enjoyment is about much more than numbers, and the BMW proves to be the more accomplished car to drive.

The chassis feels better balanced through the turns, which combined with a more naturally weighted steering rack, means that the 330e inspires more confidence when you’re pressing on.

It lags behind the Peugeot in a straight line, but it’s still not slow, either. Throttle response is keen, and with the electric motor and petrol engine on song together, there’s plenty of shove. The power tails off a little at higher speeds, though, and the engine sounds rather flat. Aside from a little jerkiness in full EV mode, where you can feel the automatic gearbox skip from one ratio to the next, the eight-speed auto is far more responsive than the Peugeot’s and much less intrusive, too.

Best of all, there isn’t any trade-off to that sharp handling when it comes to comfort. The Peugeot’s ride is less settled than the BMW’s; where the 330e flows over a decent road, the 508 pounds into each bump a little more harshly. Along a country road, the way the Peugeot reacts to imperfections makes you feel like you’re having to put in a lot more effort to cover ground at a largely similar rate. On a

BMW 330e Touri

We find out if established premium brand’s estate can resist the challenge from Peugeot’s more expensive newcomer

Performance

BMW is less lively than the Peugeot, but a 5.9-second 0-62mph time is still rapid