Test Drive: Drastically Different Personalities Despite Hybrid Tech? Full Experience of Peugeot 3008 and Citroen C5 Aircross Revealed

As the train entered Hualien, the scenery outside the window began to slow down. The city gradually faded behind, replaced by vast stretches of mountains. The train occasionally plunged into tunnels, briefly plunging the view into darkness before emerging into a different light. The benefit of not driving myself was the quiet luxury of gazing out the window, letting the mountains, clouds, and distant coastline slowly enter my field of vision.

For this trip to Hualien, I didn’t drive—I took the train. This gave the journey an interesting start: first, surrendering myself to the train to arrive in Hualien; then, stepping into the driver’s seat to take control of the next leg of the journey. Waiting for me were two SUVs from France, yet with completely different personalities: the Peugeot 3008 and the Citroen C5 Aircross.

Peugeot 3008. (Provided by Baojia United)

Both vehicles are equipped with the 2026 model year’s newly upgraded P2 Hybrid powertrain, yet they deliver entirely different rhythms of travel. One suits mountain roads, the other rural paths; one makes you grip the steering wheel tighter, the other invites you to slow down. This test drive event, organized by Baojia United under the theme “EN ROUTE! La Vie en Route | French Daily Life, Starting Now,” began right here.

Peugeot 3008 on Mountain Roads: Makes You Want to Drive More

The air in Hualien feels different from Taipei—less urban rush, more openness brought by mountains and sea. Sitting in the driver’s seat of the Peugeot 3008 and driving along Highway 9 into the mountains, the greenery outside deepened with every mile.

The first thing I noticed was the natural synergy between the 3008 and the mountain roads. The small-diameter steering wheel delivers direct steering response, allowing the front end to quickly follow the driver’s intent through consecutive curves. Turn left, and it responds immediately; the next right-hand bend requires minimal hand movement. This sensation is hard to describe with just the word “agile”—it’s more like the car is willing to communicate with you. Curve after curve, the rhythm between car and driver gradually aligns.

The small-diameter steering wheel of the Peugeot 3008 enables direct steering response. (Photo by Liu Hsin-i)

As the road began to climb, the 2026 model year’s upgraded P2 Hybrid system in the Peugeot 3008 started to show its presence. With 145 horsepower of combined output, what impressed me wasn’t an exaggerated sense of acceleration, but the seamless power delivery when the electric motor engages.

On mountain roads, you frequently encounter uphill climbs, lifting off the throttle, cornering, then re-accelerating. During these moments, the electric motor provides timely torque assistance, reducing hesitation during re-acceleration. Press the pedal, and the car moves forward smoothly—no dramatic surge, but a continuous, natural flow. Switching to Sport mode makes the throttle response even more aggressive, turning my initial intention of enjoying the scenery into a focus on the next corner’s line.

Perhaps this is the most interesting thing about the Peugeot 3008: it doesn’t force you into aggressive driving, yet it makes you want to drive more.

Leaving the Mountains: A Different Way to Travel

If Highway 9 is the stage for the Peugeot 3008, then County Road 193 feels like a story prepared for the Citroen C5 Aircross. The moment I switched vehicles, my mood naturally slowed down. The road was no longer cut by one curve after another, but instead passed through fields, villages, and valleys, with distant mountains quietly resting at the edge of vision.

Only when I slowed down did I realize Hualien’s true charm often lies not in planned attractions, but in a roadside rice field, an old house, or just a few seconds when sunlight hits a hillside. At that moment, the personality of the Citroen C5 Aircross naturally surfaced.

Citroen C5 Aircross. (Provided by Baojia United)

If the Peugeot 3008 is about enjoying the “driving,” the Citroen C5 Aircross reminds you to enjoy the “journey.”

Citroen C5 Aircross in the Countryside: Makes You Want to Feel More

Citroen has always placed “comfort” at the heart of its brand identity, and this drive along County Road 193 made that tangible.

Hualien’s rural roads aren’t perfectly smooth—small vibrations and uneven surfaces remain. Yet the PHC® Magic Carpet hydraulic suspension system in the Citroen C5 Aircross softens these impacts, not eliminating them entirely, but preventing them from being directly transmitted into the cabin. Combined with the Citroen Advanced Comfort® seats, the body naturally relaxes during the drive.

As the fields roll past outside, the interior maintains a quiet, composed rhythm. In that moment, I realized that the “comfort” Citroen speaks of might not just be a product feature, but a lifestyle attitude.

Some roads don’t need to be rushed; some views are worth lingering over.

Citroen C5 Aircross. (Provided by Baojia United)

Same Hybrid Technology, Two French Personalities

The most fascinating aspect of this test drive is that despite both the Peugeot 3008 and Citroen C5 Aircross sharing the 2026 P2 Hybrid system, stepping into each feels like entering two completely different worlds.

The Peugeot 3008 is like a mountain—defined, rhythmic, and evoking a desire to keep exploring.

The Citroen C5 Aircross is like a field—soft, expansive, inviting you to slow down and savor the present moment.

The C5 Aircross cabin design avoids flashy decorations, focusing instead on minimalist elegance. (Photo by Liu Hsin-i)

The Peugeot 3008 draws your attention to the next curve; the Citroen C5 Aircross draws your attention to the scenery outside. One pulls the driver into the journey; the other makes the journey itself more comfortable. These two personalities perfectly mirror Hualien’s most captivating dual landscapes: mountains and fields, speed and serenity.

Experiencing Hualien’s natural atmosphere and comfort with the C5 Aircross. (Provided by Baojia United)

The train brought me to Hualien; the cars brought me into Hualien

Before returning, passing Hualien Station again, I suddenly felt this journey had formed a complete arc. On the way here, I sat on the train, watching mountains and rivers slowly drift by—doing nothing, just waiting to arrive. In Hualien, I took the wheel. From the mountain curves of Highway 9 to the rural villages of County Road 193, I began deciding how to move, where to slow down, and how to enjoy the scenery.

The train brought me to Hualien; the Peugeot 3008 and Citroen C5 Aircross brought me deeply into Hualien in two entirely different ways.

We think we’re just moving, but memories form—perhaps a curve, a forest, a country path, or a moment sitting in the car, watching sunlight slowly fade. The car will eventually reach its destination, but what’s truly worth remembering is the time spent on the road before arrival.

Peugeot 3008. (Provided by Baojia United)

Hualien’s mountains and scenery make this road worth driving slowly.

Starting from a test drive: Bringing French daily life back into everyday living

The French design, driving dynamics, and comfort experienced on this Hualien trip aren’t limited to mountains and fields.

To help more consumers experience the French style of Peugeot and Citroen in daily life, Baojia United is offering the “EN ROUTE! La Vie en Route | French Daily Life, Starting Now” limited-time purchase promotion in August, valid until August 31, 2026. Customers who complete registration during the campaign period will receive a 5-year/150,000 km factory extended warranty across all models. Selected models also enjoy low monthly payment plans, upgraded compulsory vehicle insurance, or accessory upgrade benefits—including an integrated electronic rearview mirror with dashcam or PROFILM full-car heat insulation film. From purchase plans to driving protection and daily equipment, everything is upgraded.

For Peugeot and Citroen, French life doesn’t have to happen on distant journeys. Sometimes, it’s hidden in the moment you grasp the steering wheel each day.

If this trip to Hualien allowed me to experience the distinct personalities of the Peugeot 3008 and Citroen C5 Aircross through actual driving, then the next