The Peugeot RCZ GT coupé is one of those 'image' cars whose whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Drive one for a few days and you’ll soon get used to its performance and handling — one of the RCZ’s greater virtues is that it’s beguilingly easy to enjoy — but it’ll take you much longer to get used to how onlookers react to the car.
They stare. Those who don’t know what it is presume it’s worth three or times the actual £24k Peugeot dealers charge. Those who do know its identity still marvel at the fact that Peugeot, a French full-line manufacturer best known for small hatchbacks cars and commercial vehicles, should do something as affordable and special as this.
What is it like?
The car has been a considerable hit in the UK and France since its 2010 launch, so rather than risk spoiling a great recipe the company has restricted itself to bringing it up to date by giving it the new corporate grille and introduced new, thinner headlights to match.
Losing the previous generation “wide-mouth frog” look has brought car in line with the new family face and preserved the RCZ’s status as one of the best-looking cars on the road.
Our test car was the top performance THP200 GT version, complete with the 197bhp, 1.6-litre turbo engine that remains a bit of a landmark among downsized engines in Europe. Although there are no significant mechanical changes, the 2013 edition still drives very nicely. The range-topping GT comes with a Sports Pack that includes a short-throw gearlever and a smaller steering wheel (optional on lesser models).
With its generous power on tap, plus a generous spread of torque that starts well below 2000rpm, the car has decent performance without being truly stunning, because its kerb weight is close to a hefty 1400kg, an unfortunate characteristic of recent Peugeots. The new 208 and the forthcoming 308 will both be considerably lighter.
Still, the 0-60mph sprint of 7.5 seconds feels brisk, and given the space the RCZ will achieve a top speed not far short of 150 mph. The engine sounds smooth and refined, and feels strong at the top, but also has a wide torque band that makes the car flexible and easy to drive in town.
Handling is neat and the car corners flat, with typical front-drive, fail-safe handing. However the combination of considerable width and a low seating position (the RCZ GT’s front and rear tracks are wider than the donor 308 hatch) mean you need to take care not to kerb the somewhat exposed alloy wheels.
Faults? The audio stack isn’t very intuitive in use (we found connecting a phone especially difficult) and the lack of a DAB radio is an important drawback in a British-sold luxury coupé. The rear seat isn’t much use, even for kids, because knee-room is restricted and the roofline is so low. On the other hand the driving position and seating for the driver is top class, and the front passenger travels first class. What is more, the boot space is big in area (if shallow) when you fold the rear seats down.
Should I buy one?
We like the Peugeot RCZ, especially now its elegant front matches the rest of the elegant shape. It looks particularly good value, goes well, and its slippery shape and low frontal areas give it unusually good fuel consumption, even when cruising fast on the open road.
It makes a strong opponent for the pricier, marginally better-driving Audi TT, and looks better to boot. Peugeot calls it one of its “special” cars. They’re right.
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