- Doors and Seats
2 doors, 4 seats
- Engine
1.6i, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
88kW, 160Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 6.5L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Peugeot 207 CC
Topless honours
Peugeot's 206 CC was never in danger of being described as brilliant but it earned significance as the first to bring the folding hardtop roof - initially available only to cravat-wearing buyers who could also afford hired help and a helicopter - to a wider audience.
Now the folding hardtop roof is well represented even in the market's lower reaches. Holden's Astra has one, the 206 CC's big brother, the 307, has one, and Ford's Focus is about to get one. Even Mitsubishi's diminutive Colt is in on the caper.
It fair to say the new 207 CC will have to fight a little harder for its place in the history books. Shortcomings, such as the previous-generation 206 CC's shaky body, compromised accommodation, and dubious driveability won't be offset this time around by pioneer status.
Of course, how the 207 CC cuts the mustard as an overall package will matter less on the sales chart than its style, value and the virtues of its topless set-up, and in these respects the Peugeot looks good.
The 207 CC is a distinctive piece of work, even though real blokes would rather eat their own heads than be seen in something this cute. But the range-topping Turbo tested here, with its 17-inch wheels and schmick detailing, manages the feat of looking more bespoke than you'd expect of a sub-$40,000 vehicle.
And while the CC isn't the cheapest folding hardtop on the market - that honour goes to the Colt - its $34,990 starting point is competitive, especially when you consider the Pug offers a considerably more generous serving of toys than the $2000 cheaper Mitsubishi.
The roof, too, has advances over the 206; the fiddly manual roof latches are replaced by a fully powered, one-touch set-up.
At 25 seconds it's not the quickest going, but it's not the slowest, either, and its ability to operate at speeds up to 10 km/h is a plus.
With the roof down at low speeds, the CC delivers a pleasing open-air experience. But on the open road it pays to raise the windows because the seatbelts are prone to annoying buffeting through corners.
Some mild scuttle shake, too, is still apparent on lumpy surfaces, although it's certainly nowhere near as bad as the wobbly 206, or the Colt for that matter. But with the roof up, and the powered latches pulling the whole structure together, the Pug feels satisfyingly tight, together and rattle-free.
The CC's road manners are basically on the money. However, its good agility, grip and predictability are compromised by the steering, which is strangely weighted and lacking in feel.
There's no getting around the Turbo's 1.6-litre direct-injected turbo four, though, which has bags of smooth, lag-free power wherever you need it. And it's economical, consuming just 7.9 L/100 km during the test.
Less endearing is the long, sloppy throw of the mandatory five-speed manual. But tall drivers will rejoice at being able to attain a comfortable driving position, a shortcoming of the 206 well addressed by the 207.
The pitiful back-seat accommodation, though, remains. Peugeot rather optimistically claims it's suitable for children but anyone with a conscience will just use it as an extra luggage repository.
The 207 CC falls comfortably short of perfection. However, to leave it at that would be to sell it short because it's a huge jump from the 206 and not at all terrible to drive.
From this initial sampling at least, it seems other sub-$40,000 convertibles should watch their backs.