Niche lustre
There’s a lot that the isn’t It’s not your normal upright crossover even though you sit slightly high It’s not an estate despite its long wheelbase and big boot It’s not quite a fastback yet the hatch tapers down elegantly Peugeot already makes one of each of those the SW and so there’d be little point in replicating them So maybe the is pointless Or maybe as Pug hopes you’ll just like it because you like it
It’s the design see And boy there is a whole lot of design going on here plastic cladding creases vents dips and bumps and flicks and flaps Fortunately the proportions are good so the doesn’t quite collapse under the weight of all these visual flirtations If you do like it you won’t hit usability snags The silhouette is less bluff than a crossover so it slips through the air more economically And thanks to the long wheelbase it’s notably leggy in the back seat and boot
The alike dash and infotainment are stylish too and work well even if the latter takes a bit of learning Same for the driving position to see the dials over the top of the rim you’re obliged to sit a little upright with the wheel set a little low That’s how I drive all cars so I’m happy
That small wheel makes the steering feel sharp but the suspension rolls a bit perhaps because of the raised body So at first you can overdo the steering especially in the heavier PHEV version and have the car lolling around Use smaller more gradual inputs and it’s actually engaging and fluent The ride is actually pretty taut If you want pure comfort get a Citroen C X see p a car of similar format
More driver adjustment is needed for the PHEV powertrain In petrolelectric hybrid mode it’s reasonably brisk yet smooth and quiet if you use the throttle progressively But jab it as between sharp bends or out of a roundabout and it’ll bang down through the gears and make a fuss And the override paddles are ineffective as the system wrests back control after a couple of seconds Real world it does mpg after the or so EV miles are exhausted so unless you plug in diligently on cheap night electricity economy isn’t that great But if BIK at just eight per cent is your concern have at it
Otherwise I’d get the litre pure petrol version It’s a thumping kg lighter so can pretty well keep up And though that absent mass means the ride is a little more jittery it steers more naturally There Saved you at least or about a month You’re welcome