Peugeot RCZ

It's the TT you have, when you are not having a TT.
Peugeot's sensual Audi lookalike, the RCZ, is one of the most beautiful and spectacular looking cars on the road at any price. Automotive art doesn't get much better than this. From the swooping arched roof with its unique double bubble roof and rear window, the RCZ is an epic headturner, shouting "Hey! look at me!".


Double Bubble roof/window


It's wider and a bit longer than the TT, and there's more room inside as well. Except for
the rear seats, useful only for pets or parcels. Leg room there is zero.
Most would never know the RCZ is based on the more humble 308 platform.
I'm surprised Peugeot doesn't sell more of these, especially when there are stirring 1.6 litre turbo engines on offer and the option of a wonderfully torquey turbo diesel.
I have driven all of them.

      This is the 1.6 litre six speed automatic, producing 115 kw and 240 nm, much less than the 1.6 in last week's GTi. When floored, the engine gets you away reasonably briskly accompanied by a nice growl from beneath the bonnet. Fuel economy averages just over  7 litres per 100 kilometres.
No steering wheel flappy paddles here, manual gear shifts all performed by the console lever. The RCZ's steering is much heavier that the 208 GTi, and requires more effort when
manoevering. That said, it points and turns eagerly into fast corners just as well.

        Driving the RCZ makes you yearn for the brilliant supple Peugeot ride of old.
The 19 inch wheels look fantastic, but they do nothing for ride comfort. The smooth looks of the car aren't matched in this area. There's far too much jiggling and shaking going on, over even mild suburban ruts and bumps. Unforgiving suspension is not a prerequisite for good handling Peugeot. You know how to do it, you've done it before. Please do it again and give us more comfort. 

 

Lets take time to look at another RCZ disappointment. Peugeot has removed one of the original RCZ 's most distinctive design features,the brushed aluminium arches defining the roof line. They've been replaced with dull matt black plastic. A major step backwards in my opinion, unnecessarily diminishing a styling feature that helped  make the RCZ unique.

Roof beam colour notwithstanding,the view rearward from the driver's seat is excellent thanks to thin roof pillars.
The heated leather seats are quite firm, but do a reasonable job, even on longer trips.

The quality of the interior trim and fittings is excellent, and I like the large analogue clock in the central dashboard. A flip up screen takes care of all your car setup and audio needs.A powerful sound system is icing on the cake. However, as I've found on numerous other  cars, having a chrome gear lever surround and chrome topped lever itself, is less than perfect on a sunny day. They act like a mirror, reflecting blinding sunlight, straight into your eyes. I had to resort to throwing a handkerchief over the console at times, it got so annoying. A more welcome brightness comes from the RCZ's headlights. The night piercing bi xenon globes also turn, to follow corners as you steer into them.

The RCZ's boot is huge, with more room than in some sedans. For those who care, your golf clubs will easily fit in there. There's also a small rear spoiler, that is operated either automatically at speed, or manually.

So if you long to be seen in a car whose very existence is to be noticed, the Peugeot RCZ could be the one for you.
Whichever of the three available models you choose, all are priced the same..... $58,990.
Peter Sellen.