Welsh Motoring Writers
  • Home
  • About us
  • News
  • Car Reviews
  • Blogs
  • Contact
  • Members
  • Blog

Peugeot 508 RXH

4/24/2012

 
Picture
No driver will ever put the 508 RXH through the tough test witnessed on its launch to the media.

But it served to illustrate the benefits of a four-wheel drive system based on its diesel-electric powertrain.

It climbed short 60° inclines with no trouble, and it coped with axle-twisting one-wheel-in-the-air antics.

The 508 RXH also looks the part of a semi off-roader with suspension 50mm higher than a standard 508 SW and plastic around the wheel arches.

Peugeot does not expect the 800 or so RXH buyers a year in the UK to take their vehicles off road, and its maximum towing capacity is a relatively meagre 1,100kg – 200kg less than the next best in the 508 family and 800kg lower than the near equivalent powered 2.2 HDi GT.
But luckily there is far more to the RXH than a nod to covering rough terrain or pulling a heavy trailer.

The car, which has a similar power output to the 508 SW 2.2 HDi GT, has CO2 emissions of 107g/km compared with the 154g/km of its conventionally powered sibling and, being a hybrid, avoids the 3% supplement on BIK tax.

Priced as a premium product at £33,695 on the road, it feels like an upmarket car, with standard satellite navigation, colour head-up display, automatic headlights, part-leather upholstery and electrically adjustable and heated front seats. And the elegant profile of the 508 SW disguises the extra height built into the car’s suspension.

Like the other Peugeot hybrid currently on the market, the 3008 Hybrid4, the 508 RXH uses a 163bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine that powers the front wheels. An electric motor, powered by a battery pack under the car’s luggage area drives the rear-wheels only.

Picture
There are four powertrain modes: automatic, sport, 4WD and ZEV.

Automatic optimises efficiency by managing the use of the electric motor and allowing the RXH to travel on only electric power as much as possible.

Sport allows maximum electric power to boost the engine, resulting in a maximum output of 200bhp, with the transmission optimised for performance rather than fuel economy.

Selecting 4WD ensures the electric motor and engine both remain in use, with battery charge optimised to ensure no interruption in drive to the rear wheels.

ZEV allows about two miles or so silent running at low speed, and on our test route our two-thirds charged battery allowed the RXH to travel for more than a mile before the battery depleted entirely and the engine was forced to restart.

This type of driving, with no engine noise, is very relaxing and easy to get used to around town.

The sequential electronic manual gearbox fitted to the Hybrid4 drivetrain (and also used in the 508 1.6 e-HDi) is often loathed by the likes of us motoring journalists, because of its staccato upshifts compared with a conventional torque-converter automatic, or a dual-clutch transmission.

And there is sometimes a worrying delay when trying to get the gearbox to kickdown for overtaking when relying on the technology to fend for itself.

However, Peugeot has improved the former has been improved through the electric motor partly disguising the gaps in traction between the gears when changing up, even more cleverly than was achieved in the 3008 Hybrid4. Unfortunately, kickdown can still be a problem.

Like a standard 508, the RXH is roomy and comfortable and its increased ride height makes it a little easier to get in and out. Ride comfort is compromised by over-sized wheels (as with many cars these days), resulting in generally good absorption of bumps marred by an occasional thump through the supple suspension as the tyres crash over a pothole.

Luggage space is less than in a conventional SW because of the hybrid components housed below the boot floor. A minimum of 400 litres, and a puncture repair kit rather than a spare wheel should still allow most luggage needs to be served, while the rear seats fold flat to further boost capacity.

The 508 RXH is an attractive and comfortable car. Even if its exceptionally good official fuel consumption of 68.9mpg can’t be repeated in real life (Peugeot suggested an average of 51.4mpg was achieved by its own staff on the test route, although some of the media achieved better), the 107g/km offers a large car for minimal BIK tax liability.

This will be what counts when it comes to tempting a few drivers away from premium badge cars.

By Simon Harris
First published in Fleet News.


Comments are closed.

    View by date

    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    June 2021
    December 2020
    August 2020
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    September 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    July 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    March 2014
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    July 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    October 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    May 2010
    December 2009
    October 2009
    August 2009
    November 2001


    View by tags

    All
    Alfa Romeo Giulietta
    Alfa Romeo Mito
    Aston Martin Rapide
    Audi A3
    Audi A6
    Audi A7 Sportback
    Audi Q3
    Bmw 520d
    Bmw 5 Series Touring
    Bugatti Veyron Super Sports
    Fiat 500 Twinair
    Ford Focus
    Honda Civic Type R
    Honda CR-Z
    Hyundai Ix35
    Infiniti Ex37
    Infiniti Fx
    Infiniti G37 Cabrio
    Jaguar Xf
    Jeep Grand Cherokee
    Kia Soul
    Kia Sportage
    Land Rover Discovery 4
    Lexus Ct200h
    Mazda3
    Mazda CX-5
    Mercedes-Benz C-Class
    Mini Countyman
    Mitsubishi Shogun
    Nissan X-Trail
    Peugeot 3008
    Peugeot 508 Rxh
    Peugeot 508 Saloon
    Peugeot Rcz
    Range Rover Evoque
    Renault Mégane
    Renault Mégane Coupe Cabriolet
    Renaultsport Clio Gordini
    Renault Wind
    Seat Leon Cupra R
    Seat Leon Ecomotive
    Skoda Octavia Scout
    Skoda Superb Estate
    Skoda Yeti
    Ssangyong Korando
    Suzuki Alto
    Suzuki Swift
    Toyota Avensis Saloon
    Volkswagen California
    Volkswagen Tiguan
    Volkswagen Touareg
    Volvo S60
    Volvo V60

    RSS Feed

© WELSH MOTORING WRITERS 2023