Peugeot RCZ 2010 Review

Peugeot RCZ

What we liked
>> Attractive pricing; generous standards list; reasonable options pricing
>> Resolved ride, smooth braking, sporty steering
>> All models provide decent drive... decisions, decisions!

Overall rating: 3.5/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 4.0/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 3.0/5.0
Safety: 3.0/5.0
Behind the wheel: 4.0/5.0
X-factor: 5.0/5.0

About our ratings

OVERVIEW
-- Ca plane pour moi
Nobody could call Peugeot a boring brand. Producers of the first retractable metal roof, successive sporty GTi models and avant garde styling even for its daily drivers like the 407... And that's just in the automotive arena. Search 'Peugeot' and you'll uncover history of a company committed to innovation.

The RCZ was designed to remind us of this. It's unarguably gorgeous and its styling will be a standout for years to come. Peugeot admits it too tried Audi's TT tactic by making an audacious offering, which has now brought over a decade of 'affordable' excitement to buyers of the German brand.

But in its step up to the glam game, Peugeot has made its version even more affordable and attractive, and better equipped for the price. The plan works for us...

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
-- Tempting, top-to-bottom
Peugeot representatives wouldn't reveal pricing at the RCZ's international launch in Spain however, implied a ballpark figure of $70K. To which we said: huh?! Happily, they listened and at $54,990 for any version in the three-model lineup, the gorgeous coupe is even more tempting.

Peugeot defines the models based on their mechanicals. The 200 and 156 petrols (for 200 and 156 horsepower respectively -- 147 and 115kW) are indistinguishable externally to follow a one-spec, one-price policy. All are well-equipped in standard form and options -- offered in packages or in part -- are reasonably priced.

The packages start with the 'Monaco' kit, for $2700 and consisting of high-end JBL sound system and directional bi-xenon headlights. The $3000 'Elan' pack includes 19-inch 'Solstice' black alloys, and black-painted roof arches, door mirror surrounds and front grille.

Two 'Sportif' personalisation packages are available; for $4000 each. Both include 19-inch alloys in 'Sortilege' design; black-painted brake calipers, side mirror surrounds and grille; carbon roof in gloss finish and roof arches in black chrome finish, but the buyer can choose between black or silver alloys. With this kind of outfitting on offer, chances are no two RCZs will be the same... on local roads at least. Our allotment is only around 400 per annum.

Before you tick any option boxes, the standard-fit list includes leather trim with heated seats for front passengers, front and rear fog lights, and hill start and parking assistance.

Standards also include luxury-fit items normally attracting high additions to the pricing of some luxury brands. The RCZ comes with heated and folding door mirrors with courtesy lights and dipping function with reverse gear selection, rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone climate control air-conditioning, electrically adjustable front seats (with memory function for the driver's seat) and full-length aluminium door sills.

MECHANICAL
-- Horses for courses
Potential owners should contemplate usual driving duties and requirements because Peugeot has all bases covered with the RCZ lineup, from efficiency to comfort to sport...

For full mechanical details read our international launch review, but in short: The RCZ is offered with turbocharged and direct-injected 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engines, in two states of tune, or a single 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel option.

The top-flight 200 and HDi are offered with six-speed manual only, while the more sedate petrol 156 version comes with a six-speed auto which adds to consumption figures despite its lower output. The 156 wants 7.3L/100km in a combined cycle whereas the 200 version uses 6.9L/100km. The turbodiesel sips just 5.3L/100km. Figures are according to EU testing.

Good-looking 18-inch alloys come standard on all models though 19-inch wheels are also available in a different spoke design, for only $600. The RCZ gets disc brakes all around: 302 x 26mm (ventilated) up front and 290 x 12mm at the rear. The 200 model (and those fitted with the optional 19-inch alloys) come with 340 x 30mm discs up front.

Front and rear suspension designs are derived from the 308 but RCZ gets its own suspension setting and tweaks based on the European and UK 308 GTi variants. In the RCZ, the 147kW model's handling and stability are enhanced by the addition of an extra (lower) anti-roll bar in the front end.

PACKAGING
-- Room for two
This is a remarkable car at almost every angle. It's rather complete nuts and bolts-wise, and as mentioned well-equipped, but its style and curves cut the most effect.

Peugeot has built the world's most beautiful Le Mans Prototype sportscar in the 908 FAP HDi, complete with roof to follow the Automobile Club l'Ouest's request for closed-top LMP cars. We particularly like the fact the RCZ's roof contours mimic its spectacular stablemate. Peugeot explains the rear screen is made by laying heated-til-soft glass over a mould then monitoring its cooling to minimise stresses.

Magna Steyr does the finishing job from 308 'donor' chassis to RCZ. Peugeot's Platform 2, as used by the 308 models (hatch, CC and new 3008 crossover), underpins the RCZ but front (1580mm versus 1526mm) and rear (1593mm; 1521mm) track dimensions are wider in the sporty coupe, and its height (1362mm) is lower than the CC's (1426mm). Peugeot says the RCZ therefore has a lower centre of gravity than the other 308-based models.

Cargo room is good for a coupe, at 384 litres with rear seats in use. But as mentioned in our launch review, accommodation for rear passengers is too limited for regular use. Peugeot knows this and advises the space is for "occasional" passenger transport. Meanwhile, it serves as a good place to carry a laptop case etc, and when pushed, can buckle-up two more willing occupants... much better than the cubby holes in two-seater only models.

The rear seat space is in many regards a moot point. The RCZ is very much aimed at coupe buyers who value the intimacy of a compact cabin. Those rear seats are no better or worse than Audi's TT and close to BMW's 1 Series coupe. The one area the BMW offers more amenity is a touch more head and leg/foot room.

Though we were not overly impressed with the cabin finish at the international launch, coming back to the RCZ's interior seemed more pleasurable. Perhaps this is because we spent more time behind the wheel rather than in the passenger's seat where more of the hard plastics can be observed.

SAFETY
-- Safe 'n sexy
The RCZ has not been crash tested but Peugeot expects the car will earn the same five-star safety rating as the car upon which it is based: the 308 model. Stay tuned...

Its active bonnet should garner credit in the pedestrian safety stakes and front occupant protection will rate as well as other Peugeot models. We're assured a baby seat can be placed in the rear "occasional' seats, via the standard-fit anchorage points.

The coupe has reinforced side members and stiffeners have been added to its long doors, while at the rear a beam is used to absorb impact and ensure "a good level of reparability".

The RCZ comes with dual front, and front passenger head and side airbag protection as standard, so too stability control, brake assist and electronic brake force distribution.

COMPETITORS
-- Cover model
Peugeot Automobiles Australia (PAA) named Nissan's 370Z, BMW's 1 Series coupe, Audi TT and Benz's CLC as rivals for the RCZ. On looks alone, none come close to the pretty Peugeot.

Clever pricing by PAA means the $64K-plus TT and Zed are easily undercut, but equally clever pricing for the 1 Series and CLC means the Germans are temptingly close – at least on paper. The crunch comes when you try speccing the Benz or Beemer to a comparable equipment level to the RCZ... C'est impossible [Ed: or at least tres expensive!]...

The 156 version is quite hearty and sounds as good as the rorty 200. Like the 200, it is responsive from low revs and has good mid-range power. In fact, there's less to separate the two petrol engines in day to day driving than one might think. If you're limited to auto-only don't dismiss the RCZ just because the 'big' engine is not available.

The 156's six-speed auto is responsive and smooth in down and upshifts, and offers manual mode via well-located shift pattern (no steering wheel paddles are offered)... This makes us think it's a pity the six-speed auto isn't offered at least in the diesel model, too – turbodiesel and auto usually go very well together.

As mentioned in the international launch review, the RCZ's steering response matches German, Italian and compatriot front-wheel-drive sporties. The coupe has good stability and balance in corners, and the sharp steering complements its sporty set up. Front-end grip is especially confidence inspiring.

The roads around Palm Cove were all-but as smooth as those in Spain and we couldn't detect any untoward noise from the suspension. If anything, road noise was less noticeable during the local launch even though the cars were shod with the same Continental rubber.

The coupe is comfortable and spacious up front with generous legroom and good vision throughout the cabin.

The RCZ's cockpit is very driver focussed with easy-to-read, chrome-ringed gauges, flat-bottomed steering wheel and attractive surrounds for the manual or auto shifters. The standard leather trim feels high quality and double-stitching for the dash and door trim adds a touch of class... Dare we say it: like no other small Peugeot before.

As for its 2+2 claim: this is not the first two-door offering with compromised rear accommodation. Though Peugeot expects the RCZ to be the first sportscar for many buyers, anyone who's owned a two-seater will know how handy extra space can be, even if only occasionally, and the feature should attract customers from one sporty to this other.

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