Peugeot Polygon review: I wanted to hate driving this car, but here’s why I don’t
Car changing is a big deal
News editor Jamie Edkins has driven the Peugeot Polygon, a concept car which features a clever new steering system which we’ll see on a production car in the next year. Here are his initial thoughts.
A few years ago, Tesla introduced something called a steering yoke on the Model S. It looked like something off a spaceship, and I hated it. It was fine in a straight line or around a gentle bend, but as soon as you had to cross your arms over in a tight space it became a clumsy, awkward mess.
Ever since I first drove a Model S with a yoke, I’ve been put off the idea that we need to reinvent the wheel. It’s worked very well for over a century, so why change it now?
So when Peugeot invited me to Bicester to try out its new Hypersquare steering system in the Polygon concept, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit skeptical of the technology. After a day driving the car, have I changed my tune?
What is the Peugeot Hypersquare?
The Hypersquare is Peugeot’s new steering yoke, and despite the name it’s actually rectangular. It made its debut in the Polygon concept, a radical-looking hatchback which previews some new design features and technology which you’ll see on Peugeot’s future production cars.
This slim rectangle features rear-mounted paddles to control things like your indicators, lights and horn, and it’s connected to Peugeot’s new steer-by-wire system. This means there’s no physical steering column connected to the front wheels, it’s all controlled using sensors and electric motors.
The benefit of this is you can go from the centre to full lock in just half a turn, meaning you never have to take your hands off the yoke. That’s where the Hypersquare differs from Tesla’s yoke, because the Model S still used a conventional steering system which required you to take your hands off the wheel and cross them over.
Driving the Peugeot Polygon concept: first impressions of the Hypersquare
To see how the Hypersquare performs in real life, I had a go at driving the Peugeot Polygon concept around a small handling course. It was tight and twisty, with plenty of hairpin bends to really put this new steering system to the test.
I thought it would take a while to get used to; in my head it would feel twitchy and hyper-responsive. But I actually took to it almost immediately.
The steer-by-wire system is speed-sensitive. At low speeds the steering is quicker and more direct, making it easier to make those tight turns. But as you speed up it gets more relaxed, so it’s not darting around at the slightest touch.
That all sounds very complicated, but in simple terms I found the Hypersquare to feel much more natural than I was expecting it to. And Peugeot set up another test to really bring things to life.
Peugeot Polygon vs Peugeot E-208: the future vs the present day
After a few laps of the track in the Polygon, I then went out on the same course in the current Peugeot E-208. I’ve always thought the E-208 handled very nicely, but the Polygon made it feel like I was at the helm of a container ship.
Bends which the Polygon went around with a casual quarter turn of the Hypersquare required a bicep workout in the E-208 as I furiously twirled the wheel. I was amazed at how antiquated it felt compared to the Polygon.
And it was the same story when I tried a parallel parking manoeuvre. Being able to slot the Polygon into a space with such little input made the whole ordeal so much more relaxing.
Trying the Hypersquare in the real world: production prototype drive
The Peugeot Polygon is just a concept car, but the Hypersquare isn’t some pie-in-the-sky fantasy. Peugeot will launch this feature on a new production car within the next year, and I got to drive a prototype E-2008 which is fitted with the Hypersquare on a closed road.
Slinging a cool-looking concept car around a handling course is one thing, but testing this system in the real world is another. I couldn’t exceed 20mph, but the route we took was a pretty good simulation of driving through an urban area.
And I continued to be really impressed with the Hypersquare. Weaving around parked cars and traffic calmers is a breeze when you barely have to move your arms, and parking manoeuvres are easy as well.
So it works very well around town, but I’ll be interested to see how well the Hypersquare works at higher speeds. The endless tunability of an electronic steering system unlocks great potential when it comes to handling on a country road, but I do wonder if having no physical connection to the road will dull the sense of engagement.
Peugeot isn’t the first brand to bring steer-by-wire to market, and I’ll be driving the new Lexus RZ soon which uses a very similar system. This should give me a better idea of how these setups perform, so keep an eye on Carwow for a review of that car.
Peugeot Hypersquare final verdict: has this car changed my mind?
I’m a bit of a traditionalist, and I therefore scoffed at the idea that the steering wheel needed reinventing. Driving the Tesla Model S a few years ago solidified my prejudices, but the Peugeot’s Hypersquare has started to turn my head.
I think the issue with Tesla’s yoke was the execution; it basically chopped a steering wheel in half and called it a day. This meant it looked very cool and futuristic, but as soon as you tried a three-point turn you ended up grabbing at the air for bits of the wheel which didn’t exist.
The Hypersquare is different because it’s not just a funny-shaped steering wheel. The technology behind it makes it so you don’t actually have to take your hands off at all, and I was seriously impressed with how natural it felt straight off the bat.
After a day of testing, I’m now really excited to drive a production car with the Hypersquare fitted. I reckon it’s a really cool bit of tech which will actually make daily driving more enjoyable.
Car change? Carwow!
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