Road Test: Peugeot RCZ

"Now that's what you call a sexy machine," a neighbour quipped when I pulled up in my Peugeot RCZ, writes Trish Whelan.

"And it drives as good as it looks," I grinned back.

This was the petrol version of the stunning RCZ sports coupe and last week I was the second motoring journalist in this country to get behind this particular wheel which added to the feel good factor of the day.

Peugeot say the RCZ is 'a triumph of style and technology'. I could add a few more accolades to that claim.

My test car was the 1.6 petrol 200bhp turbo charged sports coupe, priced at €42,695 and with 159g/km C02 is in Tax Band D for annual road tax of €447. Yes, it's quite thirsty as it returned an average fuel return of 7.8 L/100kms during my test days over all sorts of roads. It's pricier than the 2.0 HDi 163bhp diesel version priced at €37,395 and in Band B of €156, as you are paying for all that extra horsepower. Both engines meet Euro 5 European emissions standards.

The RCZ is simply stunning, exuding style inside and out. The car's beautifully sculpted round body shape sets it apart from anything else on the road. It's no wonder it was voted the Most Beautiful Car of the Year.

It heightens your senses from first glance to driving at full throttle. It sits low to the ground and so has a low centre of gravity which also aids handling.

The particular style of the rear roof makes for extra rear headroom as well as providing for a larger rear window giving more light into the back of the cabin. It's a very stylish addition as is the chromed arch at the sides of the car which helps emphasize its coupe shape.

The interior can only be described as a 'class act'. From a great driving position, to the luxury of materials and trim, the practicality of the dash, everything is as it should be in a premium car.

White leather sports seats with integrated headrests enveloped you in great comfort while offering support all the way up to the back of the head. The luxurious feel is continued with the use of leather on the dash and doors. I especially liked the 24-hour analogue clock in the middle of the dash, between the vents.

There's a cut-off to the base of the steering wheel which looks sportier and gives the driver more knee room. The steering is beautifully balanced which means you don't even think about it when you are driving. Side doors are big and heavy and come with sweeping silver handles and very big door bins up front. Here I must add that my 6ft 2-inch passenger had to remember to duck his head while getting in and out due to the very steep rake of the windshield and door frame. Side mirrors fold in when you blip the remote to lock the car.

Stylish indented dials are easy to read with well spaced white numbers on black. In between is the trip computer, quite large in this case, which can be set to show your current speed in big digital figures. It also shows you how many kilometres are left in the tank.

You won't fit four adults in comfort in this car, unless they are very small, as there's very little knee room behind. But the boot is bigger than expected, accommodating quite a few suitcases. Unfortunately there's no spare wheel, just a below-floor compartment area with a sealant in case of a puncture.

The RCZ is well soundproofed so very little noise comes through into the cabin when out on the road.

My test car handled very well especially when cornering and I had full confidence in its ability at all times. Much of this is down to its low centre of gravity, as well as all the high-tech stuff on board. Beautiful acceleration added to my enjoyment.

Standard equipment includes ESP, Traction Control with Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Electronic Brake Fore Distribution (EBD), and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA). Other features on my test car were parking sensors, cruise control with a speed limiter, Bluetooth connectivity, front seat heaters, and a two-memory function for the driver's seat.

The RCZ breaks new ground for The Lion Brand as it is the first of its type in the Peugeot range to break away from the familiar '0' or 'double 0' name. It is manufactured by Magna Steyr in Austria for Peugeot.

I believe that the bulk of RCZ sales will come from young professional women who look for flair and performance in their car. This little number certainly fits that bill.

Competitors include the Audi TT, BMW 1 Series Coupe and the Mercedes SLK.