Peugeot's pseudo-supercar

The new RCZ is intended to mark a new direction for Peugeot, says Steve Cropley in Autocar, and "pose the first French threat for years to the Audi TT and VW Scirocco".

The car certainly looks the part. It is "instantly impressive for its sheer road presence" and "looks much better, much more exotic" than any rival.

But that doesn't mean compromise on practicality. There is a roomy interior and "impressive" boot and on the road it's "fun to drive" with "neat handling". It's a "far prettier" car than anything else for the price.

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It really is a "stunner", agrees Jethro Bovingdon in Car. It has a look of a Spyker about it and, inside, "feels pretty special". It's basically "a fantastic-looking car based on a fairly ordinary platform", says Top Gear - all about style rather than performance.

"In the land of the tepid hatch, the pseudo-supercar is king. Peugeot's RCZ may just be 308 in a dress, but it's an immensely sexy dress that men like us would quite like to wear."

Fom £20,450. There are two 1,598cc petrol turbo models, and a 1,997cc turbo diesel.