Peugeot has to be applauded for bringing the RCZ to market - it was originally introduced at the Frankfurt motor show as a mere concept car with no plans to shift it into production, but the response was so positive that the car was brought to market refreshingly unchanged.
Based on the 308 hatchback, the car is aimed at the VW Scirocco/Audi TT end of the market for driving enthusiasts who place an importance on styling. Peugeot has managed to eke a pretty decent sports car out of its humble family hatch, cementing its recent run of good form.
At first glance the RCZ looks like a copycat Audi TT, but the styling is quite subtly attractive. For once the ridiculous Peugeot face works on a car, hitting just the right note of aggression, and the curvaceous double-bubble roof looks good too. The car's curious forward-leaning stance lends it a dynamic air too.
The handling is dependent on the engine you choose here - the 163bhp 2.0-litre diesel unit is a great motor, but takes away some of the precision found in the top-spec 200bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. That car gains some chassis and suspension tweaks which make the RCZ just that little bit sharper.
The top-spec car soaks up bumps without any of the back-shattering shenanigans you can get in other sports cars. In all versions, the RCZ is an entirely satisfying car to drive, and whilst the diesel is economical we'd plump for the 200bhp petrol every time - it brings out the car's sportier side.
The interior is a good effort by Peugeot too. It is definitely a 2+2, the rear seats occasional affairs for children. The rest of the time they make a good rear shelf or can be folded down to make the already large boot even bigger. The driver and passenger get a decent amount of room between them and the dashboard is made of respectably upmarket materials.
The interior is loosely based on that of the 308, but has been changed enough to make it feel special. It usefully adds to the theatre of the RCZ, and we would even go so far as to say that it trumps the Audi TT's cabin in the quality stakes too.
The RCZ is a really good effort from Peugeot, and shows a step forward for the marque in nearly every respect. This is a genuinely desirable car.