Peugeot 607 Reviews

...one of the biggest operators on the Gold Coast after purchasing the Zupps new and used car businesses.The listed Automotive Holding Group sold the businesses for $4.5 million but Mr Von Bibra will pay about $15 million for the vehicles that come with them.The Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Subaru and Peugeot dealerships will now come under the Von Bibra Auto Group banner, making it a rival for Gold Coast vehicle heavyweights James Frizelle's Automotive and Sunshine Automotive.Mr Von Bibra, who runs the business with his son, Wade, said yesterday he had been looking around for an investment opportunity for the Von Bibra Auto Group since its Tweed car yard was sold 12 months ago. "We want to grow the group,'' he said. "There is a lot of negativity around at the moment but we think the opportunities on the Gold Coast are excellent.''However Mr Von Bibra acknowledged the poor economic climate, saying it had delivered the car yards to him at the right price. "It is hard times in a lot of places,'' he said. Mr Von Bibra said Wade, 32, was doing a good job of building the business and the acquisition would help him ramp up the operation."It is his baby now and he has been doing an excellent job for the past 18 months,'' he said. The company is in the process of building two new showrooms at Robina and constructing a $6 million service facility nearby, with further expansion possible. AHG managing director Bronte Howson said selling Zupps would allow greater focus on the company's Brisbane dealerships."The sale of these Gold Coast dealerships is part of the restructure of the Queensland operations,'' she said. AHG is a public listed company based in Perth and has about 170 dealerships Australia-wide. John Zupp sold the business to AHG about five years ago but retained the real estate. 

But Peugeot wants to take it to a new level. It says Volkswagen has most of the ingredients of success - except expensive ownership costs. Peugeot Australia director Bill Gillespie believes Peugeot can follow Volkswagen's lead but return value to Peugeot owners with cut-price ownership costs. As part of a repositioning of Peugeot, he says: "We need a balance between being an aspirational marque and one that is affordable.'' "It's not easy to achieve. Volkswagen is one that has found the balance and that's what we aim to follow. "It's why we have introduced our `assured service' plan. "If you compare the cost of servicing a Golf and our 308, you'll see that by 60,000 the Golf has cost $2600 to service. "The 308's cost is $990 - that's fixed servicing at $330 a year for the three years of 60,000km. It's a point of difference for us. "The low cost to own our cars is changing the way people see Peugeot and now make them consider buying a Peugeot. ''The assured service program will continue for the new 208 which is expected in showrooms in September. Peugeot Australia plans sales of about 6500 vehicles this calendar year - its sold 5220 in 2011 - on its two Mitsubishi SUVs, the 4007 and 4008, and its new mid-size 508 range plus the 208. But while cloning Mitsubishi SUVs has led to a hike in buyers for Peugeot, the flirtatious cross-country deal is set to end. The 4007 - a clone of the Mitsubishi Outlander - ends in January 2013. Gillespie says Peugeot will make its own large SUV for sale in 2014. There are no details of the new SUV but it is likely to share components with the 508. Meanwhile, the popular ASX-based 4008 will continue until the new General Motors and PSA Peugeot Citroen alliance begins in 2016. The two SUVs have helped to prop up Peugeot during times when the 508 and outgoing 207 had supply issues. " The 508 was one of the victims of the Japanese tsunami,'' he says. "One part of the gearbox came from a factory affected by the tsunami, so production was delayed.'' Peugeot has overcome some supply issues to boost fleet sales - now 13 per cent of Australian Peugeot sales compared with 6 per cent in 2011 - though Gillespie says he doesn't want to see Peugeot become a fleet company car. "It's mainly user-choser sales that we're winning for fleets,'' he says. "Part of the appeal of our cars comes from making them a better car than previously, and helped by the high Australian dollar's exchange rate. "The 508 GT is way, way underpriced compared with Audi and BMW models - and the GT offers a lot more. "It's also about $1000 less than a Volkswagen Passat, so when you add in the service program, the Peugeot is a much better deal.'' While Australia is expanding its Peugeot range - and dealerships with another three sites opening in Sydney in the past three months - it has pulled back on the higher-tech models. Gillespie says the lauded 3008 Hybrid4 and 508 RXH hybrid cars are off the table - at least in the medium term - for Australia. The 3008 Hybrid4, touted as the world's first mass-produced full diesel hybrid, is now on sale in Europe. It has a 122kW 2-litre turbo-diesel driving the front wheels and a 28kW electric motor on the rear axle. The average fuel consumption is 3.8 litres/100km. The 508 RXH uses a similar drive layout. Peugeot previously said it planned to have the two hybrids in Australia for the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney in October. Gillespie says the 3008 will be trialled in New Zealand with view for a sale and believes the backtrack on the 508 version for Australia may be based on the technology's durability in hot weather. GM and Peugeot's parent company PSA announced in March they would share platforms and vehicle development. It will end PSA's association with Mitsubishi, Ford, BMW (which has now aligned with Toyota) and Fiat (now with Chrysler). It is also a slap in the face for GM subsidiaries in Europe, Opel and Vauxhall, which are direct competitors of PSA.  

Let's get something straight. The 4008 might be a successor to the 4007 soft roader but the two cars really have nothing in common. The 4008 does however have quite a lot in common with Mitsubishi's ASX of which it is almost a copy  apart from the styling.The two companies were looking at a merger back in 2008 but the deal fell over. It did however give rise to some shared projects: the Outlander-based 4007 was one and now the smaller ASX-based 4008. Some would suggest the car's Mitsubishi heritage is a positive that will instil confidence in the brand and attract punters that would not ordinarily shop Peugeot.DESIGNAll exterior panels, apart from the doors are unique to the 4008. The off-road character has been accentuated with a vertical grille, body sill protectors and prominent wheel arch protection  wheel arches that accommodate larger and fancier 18in wheels. The interior exudes a rich feel with soft touch surfaces, piano black trim and chrome highlights.MECHANICALSSame 2.0-litre four cylinder petrol engine that produces the same power and torque at 110kW and 197Nm. Same 6-speed CVT style continuously variable auto, with paddle gear shifters and the same instruments and switch gear inside. All wheel drive is standard, but two-wheel drive can be selected. It's a case of spot the difference.WHICH ONE?So, the question becomes which one? Based on price and length of warranty you'd have to pick the ASX (with 5 years on the drivetrain).But it's not that easy because the Peugeot is covered by fixed price servicing for the first three years. Service costs are capped at $330 a year for the first three years and that includes a valet service.PRICESSurprisingly, the French chic does not command an exorbitant premium. Prices for ASX start at $25,990 while the 4008 kicks off at $28,990. But the gap narrows to $1500 at the top of the tree, with $36,990 for the Aspire and $38,490 for the top of the range Allure.But, before you go racing for the door, check out the spec sheet because there's some significant differences  like the fact satnav is standard on the Aspire but a $1495 option with the Peugeot. The Aspire also boasts a hi-end 9-speaker Rockford-Fosgate audio system, complete with separate subwoofer.SAFETYBoth are fitted with seven airbags and both come with an array of safety systems including a reversing camera. The ASX scores five stars and there's no reason to believe the Peugeot though not tested yet would not attract the same rating.DRIVINGThe CVT transmission while convenient doesn't do the car any favours. It doesn't feel as powerful as the figures suggest and you need to select manual mode to really get it moving. Thankfully paddle shifts are provided to make the job easier.Where's the hell is the diesel? Mitsubishi offers a diesel and Peugeot which is renowned for its diesels offers one overseas, but there's no suggestion that it will bring one here? Fuel consumption is rated at 8.1 litres/100km (we were getting 7.8). Good to see a full sized spare in the boot, but it's limited to 80km/h.VERDICTLooks good, more stylish, particularly the strong front and the effect is underlined by the larger cavity filling wheels. But the performance is average and it needs satnav and an audio upgrade to keep pace with the Mitsubishi.

VALUE from $42,990VALUE from $54,990Making the S60 look horribly over-priced, the Allure is standard with front and rear parking sensors (and parallel parking measurement), heated door mirrors, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, quad-zone climate control, rainsensing wipers, daytime running lights and much more.At $12,000 more than the Peugeot, the Volvo is awfully pricey. It gets, as standard, all of the usual equipment such as Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, electrically adjustable front seats and leather. But satnav is a $4K-plus option and it gets only rear sensors. Front sensors add $325. Hmmm.TECHNOLOGYTECHNOLOGYThe 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel makes 120kW/340Nm with almost 80 per cent of the grunt available from just off idle. The smooth six-speed automatic helps with impressive fuel use of 5.7L/100km. Its electrically assisted power steering is miles better than the Swede's.The 2.0-litre five-cylinder turbo diesel puts out 120kW/400Nm via a six-speed Powershift transmission - Ford's excellent take on a DSG. Fuel use is 5.7L/100km. The electrically assisted steering is far too disconnected. For $4175 you can add Volvo's active chassis control, Four-C.DESIGNDESIGNInside and out, Peugeot's designers have excelled and the 508 in either sedan or wagon guise is stunning.There isn't a single hiccup in the design. There's a heap of room front and rear and the quality of the materials is impressive, as is the boot space, 497 litres.The S60 has a swooping coupe-like look. The dash layout is pretty good but it lacks the quality look and feel of the 508's interior. There's decent room front and rear and ample steering and seating adjustment, yet you never feel totally comfortable behind the wheel. Boot space is only 380 litres.SAFETYSAFETYIt has a five-star ANCAP rating and six airbags as standard. Passive safety elements complement its active systems. The steering column and brake pedal are collapsible and there are seat belt pre-tensioners, stability and traction control among many other items.It's a Volvo, so just how safe is it? The S60 gets a five-star ANCAP rating and, as standard, City Safety (to avoid rearenders at up to 30km/h), six airbags, stability control, ABS with Ready Alert Brakes, seat belt pre-tensioners and Intelligent Driver Information System.DRIVINGDRIVINGThe typically French well-damped ride doesn't fall apart when you ask more from the car. There's barely a shudder on coarser bitumen. The steering is well weighted, the brakes are strong, all adding to the sense the 508 is more expensive than it really is.The chassis allows for spirited driving with impressive body control. Plenty of grip, too. The brakes are strong, even if the pedal is a little dead. The wellmatched engine and gearbox deliver strong, smooth oomph to flatten hills and make overtaking a cinch.FINAL POINTSFINAL POINTSVerdictThe 508 makes sense fiscally, it makes sense visually and in a driverly sense. As for the Volvo, well, it's good, but the Peugeot really does hit it for six.  

Australian will have to wait for Peugeot to perform hot weather testing on its two hybrid models before we get them here. Peugeot has a 3008h Hybrid4 model available overseas and is planning to release the 508 RXH diesel-hybrid. However, Peugeot Automobiles Australia spokeswoman Jaedene Hudson says neither is yet confirmed for Australia until hot weather testing has been completed. She could not confirm where the hot weather testing is being done. "They haven't come out here yet, but that's not to say that they won't," she says. "Once that is completed we can decide when we can take them. "We might take one, or both, or none." Peugeot currently only sells the "mild hybrid" 508 and 308 which have fuel-saving auto stop-start systems. Meanwhile, she says fuel-efficient diesel models are popular, representing a large proportion of their sales. "We were among the first with diesel technology and we continue to develop and redevelop the technology," she says. Sales of Peugeot are down 11.8 per cent so far this year to 1744, but Hudson says they are not panicking. "We had a lot of stuff to sort out at the start of the year with demo models," she says. "We sold a lot of demos which are not counted in the official figures because they're not new regos. We've now refreshed our demo fleet and there are plenty of demo models available." She says the early supply problems for the new 4008 compact SUV have been rectified and sales are on track for 900 by the end of the year. Hudson also expects the new 208 light car coming in October to finish the year off with a high. The slightly bigger and 150kg lighter 208 features a new 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine, plus a new interior with touch screen, redeveloped smaller and lower steering wheel and a higher dashboard "so you don't take the eyes off the road as much", she says. In the latest round of Euro NCAP testing, the Peugeot 208 received a maximum score as well as high pedestrian protection results. Australia will not be getting the 408 to be released in November, leaving a gap left by the departure of the 407. We also won't be getting the 301 which is only to be produced for left-hand-drive markets. However, we may get the Urban Crossover Concept which debuted at the Beijing motor show in April. The vehicle is built off the 208 platform and is even smaller than the 4008. Hudson says it's only a concept, but if it goes into production it would be the kind of car Australians want. "That small segment is definitely increasing in sales," she says. "The 4008 is going well, especially in two-wheel drive. "I guess it's the younger generation that want something bigger than a hatch but with off-road capability. It's the 30-40 age demographic that are quite affluent, like the urban lifestyle but also like the great outdoors. "They also like the high ride height and SUV styling." She says there is no official name for the concept vehicle at this stage, but it is likely to be 2008.  

The new Peugeot 301 has been specifically designed to appeal to a wide customer base attracted by four-door sedans

Although it’s one of Europe’s longest-established brands in Australia, French carmaker Peugeot has been in the doldrums recently with a limited vehicle range, supply problems and an ageing buyer base suppressing sales.The company is looking to stage a revival in 2012 led by two all-new models both aimed at younger buyers. We’ve just attended the launch of the first of this pair, the 4008 SUV. It will be joined later this year by the new 208 city hatch.The 4008 is one of three vehicles produced from a joint venture between the PSA Peugeot Citroen group and Mitsubishi, being built on the same platform as the Mitsubishi ASX.The other two are the slightly larger Peugeot 4007 / Mitsubishi Outlander and the all-electric Mitsubishi iMiEV and Peugeot iOn. Citroen variants of all three vehicles are also produced but we know of no plans for them to come to Australia at this stage.PRICE AND EQUIPMENTWith a price range of $28,990 to $38,490 the Peugeot 4008 offers excellent value for a European SUV, or more correctly a European-styled SUV. Peugeot lists its main competitors as Nissan Dualis (from $24,990), Mazda CX-5 (from $27,800), Subaru XV (from $28,490) and Volkswagen Tiguan (from $28,490). Strangely its Mitsubishi ASX twin (from $25,990) is not seen as a direct rival, supposedly because of its lower equipment levels.Adding to the Peugeot’s value equation is the Assured Service Plan that places a $330 capped price on all services during the first three years of its life. The plan applies to all buyers, be they private, business, fleet and or government and is transferable if the car is sold. Two equipment levels are offered, Peugeot 4008 Active (with 2WD and AWD, manual and CVT) and 4008 Allure (AWD and CVT only).Standard on all models are seven airbags, ABS brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Program, front foglights, 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, reversing camera with a rear-vision mirror display, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth telephone and audio, USB and auxiliary sockets, climate-control air conditioning, coloured multifunction monitor and a full-sized spare wheel/tyre.For an additional $5000 the Allure provides xenon headlights, leather trim interior, 18-inch alloys, power and heated front seats.DESIGNWe found the styling of the ‘French’ SUV that much more appealing than the ‘Japanese’ one especially the large, vertical grille that gives it an imposing stance on the road.Inside is a soft texture fascia and lacquered piano-black centre console which add a gentle ambience. The controls are large and well-placed with an instrument panel that’s back-lit day and night, unlike some others that, very inconveniently, turn off when the car enters a tunnel. There’s good head and legroom in all five seats. Maximum boot space is 416 litres with the rear seatbacks in place and 1193 with them lowered.TECHNOLOGYA little surprisingly for a company with a long history of diesel engines in this country, Peugeot 4008s only come here with a 2.0-litre petrol. The problem is that diesels are not yet mated to an automatic transmission, something the local Peugeot people consider all but essential for local buyers.Incidentally, the larger Peugeot 4007 does come with a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel with manual or DSG automatic transmission but only with 4WD.The four cylinder petrol engine generates 110 kilowatts of power at 6000 rpm and 197 Newton metres of torque at 4200 revs and is mated to either a five-speed manual or continuously variable transmission (CVT).As is now the norm in the small SUV segment the 4008 comes with the choice of two or four-wheel drive. The former wasn’t available for our launch road test but we’ll report on it when we carry out our extended test in a few weeks.The Peugeot 4008’s 4WD system comes with three modes: 2WD for urban conditions and lower fuel consumption, 4WD with electronically controlled torque distribution between the front and rear axles, and 4WD Lock for conditions that require maximum grip.DRIVINGOur test drive took us on a 300 km route to the north of Sydney with an even spread of motorway, rural and dirt roads. The 4008 cruised smoothly on the freeway with the additional soundproofing above that on the ASX doing its job and providing a relaxed, comfortable trip. The next section of the route was on some enjoyable back-country roads where the Pug handled at least as well as other similarly sized SUVs that we’ve driven.On the downside we found the steering to be a little too wooden for our tastes and we had our usual issues with the irritating noise from the CVT under hard acceleration.With only AWD models available for our test, Peugeot included a moderately demanding 60 km section of dirt road between Wollombi and Wisemans Ferry to display the off-road credentials that the company feels should distinguish the 4008 from its softer competitors. Apart from a number of pot holes that send shudders through the car, it handled the conditions without any real problems.Our biggest issue came in the latter stages of our test when we had to climb up the steep slope out of Wisemans Ferry on the Hawkesbury River and the little petrol engine was really found wanting. On two occasions we needed to drop back to first gear to keep it moving.VERDICTThe Peugeot 4008 and Mitsubishi ASX share most of their mechanical components and underbody parts and have a similar styling theme, all external panels, with the exception of its doors and roof are different. 

After persevering with the Noddy-style 3008 “mum-bus'' for a long time, Peugeot now has a butt-kicker in the small SUV segment thanks to an alliance with Mitsubishi.The “model sharing'' arrangement has already yielded the 4007 for Peugeot built on the Mitsu' Outlander platform, and from that was spawned another, smaller vehicle called the 4008 due here in July.VALUEPeugeot Australia's pricing for the newcomer starts at $28,990 for the 2WD, manual base model. The Allure is available in 4WD with CVT only for $38,490. Generous comes instantly to mind as Peugeot Australia strives to get on buyer's shopping lists, as both models get a full size steel spare but satnav is optional in a package costing an additional $1495.The Active model features stuff like 16-inch alloys, multiple steering wheel controls, Bluetooth phone and audio, auto wipers and headlights,  auto dim mirror, climate control, cruise, privacy glass and a full size spare. The Allure gets more including leather, xenon headlights, 18-inch alloys, power adjust heated front seats and more.DESIGNThough considered “European'' the new 4008 actually rolls off a Mitsu' factory in Japan with its own distinctive style and character. It represents the best of both worlds Euro style and flavour/Japanese build quality you can't really go wrong. The lineup is fairly simple... two grades, Active and Allure, one engine, two transmissions and 2WD or AWD. Peugeot offers a couple of optional “packages'' specific to each grade.It has to rate right up there in the style department along with Kia's handsome Sportage and well ahead of the others. Not as macho-looking as Subaru's XV the 4008 shows a more sophisticated, elegant look to its flanks. The front looks powerful, the profile dynamic and the rear athletic. It's stands out on the road with chrome body hardware highlights and LED daytime running lights.The interior has a typical classy European look to it with a stylish dash featuring chrome highlights and piano black fascia, soft touch panels at every point and comfortable seats. There's room inside for four, five at a pinch and a reasonable amount of luggage.TECHNOLOGYThe engine is straight out of a Mitsubishi catalogue a 2.0-litre, twin cam, four cylinder, petrol four with variable valve timing on the inlet and exhaust sides for efficiency gains but no direct fuel injection. Maximum outputs are 110kW/197Nm with the best fuel economy from the base 2WD manual car rated at a respectable 7.7-litres/100km.A diesel powerplant is under consideration possibly with a six-speed auto option. The transmissions are a five-speed manual in Active only and a stepped CVT optional in Active and standard in Allure which is also only available all wheel drive. The AWD system has a four wheel lock-up mode for slippery conditions as well as 2WD and variable split torque 4WD It's all selected by a dial on the centre stack.SAFETYPeugeot has put safety at the top of its 4008 agenda with all variants scoring five stars and a reversing camera. This is on top of numerous other primary and secondary safety features.DRIVINGSurprisingly good for a little petrol SUV offering decent performance and fuel economy, easy highway cruising and low interior noise levels thanks to liberally applied noise suppression material within the body. It offers a comfortable ride with a sporty edge though cornering limitations are clearly defined.We found the CVT equipped model to be a more satisfying drive as it efficiently captures available power and is almost imperceptible in operation. You feel good driving 4008 partly because of the handsome “expensive'' appearance that puts the compact Pug ahead of the Audi Q3 and BMW X1 at half the price. Can't argue with that.VERDICTYummy mummies are gonna love this one and so will the dads. Low-cost fixed-price servicing is a major consideration. The 4008 is a bit of class at an affordable price.

The first thing the other half said when he first saw Peugeot's new SUV was: "Gee, it looks like that Mitsubishi ASX." He'd be right. And unsurprisingly, the next question was the one on everyone's tongue: "Why would you buy the same car with a different badge?"Why indeed. For $3000 less, you can get the shared chassis/engine/gearbox combination from Mitsubishi. In a few more months, you will be able to buy yet another version with a Citroen badge on its bonnet. But as it turns out, three grand buys you more than a badge and the cachet that comes with it. And in the competitive compact SUV market, it's the fruit inside and out that wins the buyers, not its beating heart and bone structure.VALUEFor a Euro SUV, the price point is pretty impressive. The base Active manual starts at $28,990 in 2WD form, with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) costing $2500, and on-demand, lockable 4WD a further $2000. Standard features include cruise control, dual-zone air-con and air-cooled glove box, parking sensors and a reversing camera which flashes up in the rearview mirror, and a six-speaker stereo with steering wheel buttons, Bluetooth and auxiliary connections.It sits on 16-inch alloys, but for $1000, the Active can be optioned with the Allure's two-tone 18-inch alloys and chrome side skirts; a pretty persuasive argument. The Allure is available in 4WD with CVT only for $38,490 - almost $10K more. It strangely misses out on standard sat-nav, but gets leather electric and heated seats and trim, chrome highlights, piano black trim on the doors, and those huge 18-inch alloys.The only options available are metallic or pearlescent paint ($800/1300), leather trim and electric heated seats on the Active ($3500), and the centre-mounted sat-nav and multimedia centre on both models ($1495). Peugeot Oz is also offering a capped price service plan that stays with the car, not the owner; $330 a year for three years or 60,000km.TECHNOLOGYUnfortunately, there's nothing new about the Mitsubishi-sourced 2.0-litre four-cylinder; the manual is only a five-speed, and the on-demand AWD system, which switches quickly enough, still has overt front-wheel-drive characteristics. Peugeot is lauded for its diesel technology, so why a conventional 2.0-litre four? Simple: no auto. Not yet, anyway. The excellent Peugeot RCZ coupe has both options, but the manual-only diesel accounts for just 10 per cent of sales. Plus, compact SUV sales are about 80 per cent automatic. So Peugeot saw no reason to offer the engine here - yet. We should see a diesel and six-speed auto in about a year's time.DESIGNThe 4008 is quite sleek and resolved, while retaining a French essence and air through individual and up-spec treatments both inside and out. Look a little closer, and the design lines such as squared-off wheel arches, relocated license plate recesses and soft-touch interior panels and trim set it apart from the Mitsubishi. In fact, only the door panels, roof and rear glass are carried over from the ASX; everything else is pure Pug. It also manages to avoid that 'adolescent kid with braces' look of some of its stablemates, such as the polarizing 3008 people-mover/crossover, or the bulky imposition of the outgoing Outlander-based 4007 mid-sized SUV.SAFETYFor its five star rating, the Pug works with seven airbags, a well-calibrated ABS and traction/stability control, hill holder, rear parking sensors and reversing camera. The ABS is sharp, but the stability control is buried pretty deep, and didn't dull all engine power delivery for seconds after coming on either - all good attributes in off-road applications. There is also a full-sized spare, though the 16-inch steel wheel is rated to 80km/h in the 18-inch shod cars.DRIVINGGiven those 18-inch rims, firmer spring and damper rates and recalibrated ABS and steering, we were a touch skeptical when turning off the beaten track and onto potholed, corrugated dirt roads south of Sydney on the local launch earlier this week. Only a few years ago, one wouldn't dream of taking an 18-inch-shod softie onto unsealed roads covered in potholes and cut up by causeways.But surprisingly, the car is quite deft both on and off the road with more speed than would be typically used by its buyers, provided you set it up and balance it for each corner. Body control is admirable, and while the steering is a little artificial in its speed detection, it is easy to drive if you drive it smoothly without any sudden jerky moves. The paddle-shifters on the CVT are easy to use, and the manual has a nice throw and seemed well-geared.In fact, the limiting factor to its cornering dynamics seemed to be the all-terrain tyres; simply not bitey enough on the hard-packed dirt with a layer of dust, and tending to give up a little at the front in faster corners. The trade-off on tarmac is a tendency is to push incrementally, not squeal or fold under, and the 225/55 profile has enough rubber to absorb without extricating mercury from molars. The 16-inch alloys and 215/70 rubber were not available to test, and will likely dull the steering and handling, but possibly offer more front-end bite on dirt depending on the rubber.While the ride and handling is a pleasant surprise, the drivetrain is disappointing in contrast. Neither the manual nor the CVT can hide the obvious hole in the torque, which leaves the car slowly building speed, brick by boring brick, until it climbs over the 3500rpm wall. It does acquit itself well once the wheels are rolling, but in this era of turbocharging small fours and excellent diesels with mounds of low-down torque, the conventional two-litre with a relatively peaky power and torque band (110kW at 6000rpm, and 197Nm at 4000rpm) is frustratingly weak from standstill or on steep inclines.Add four or five passengers and some luggage to its 1375kg - 1470kg kerb weight, as is this car's demographic, and your ears will no doubt fill with the whine from both engine and gearbox as they nab power from the peak, and no extra Pug padding in the uprated cabin will stifle it. You could add double-figure fuel use to that mix as well. But in the end, some may not notice nor care about such things. The downsides of slower initial acceleration can be countered by lofty specification and equally down-to-earth pricing, making the once unattainable Euro SUV a genuine proposition.VERDICTA solid SUV with decent spec and a distinctive look. It's no revolution, French or otherwise, to the compact SUV segment, but a diesel auto would be - will be - a different story.

The curvy sports car has picked up its third Sports Car of the Year Award from UK’s Diesel magazine. It seems good things come in three and the Peugeot has ticked the right boxes - economical, practical and a real eye turner. DieselCar editor Ian Robertson cited the RCZ’s “road-hugging stance, curvy shape and swoopy grooved … an instant head-swiveller. Performance defines a sports car, while styling delivers the wow factor. The RCZ has both in spades.” A key cue of the ‘wow’ he refers to is the Peugeot RCZ’s  signature double-bubble roof and rear windscreen set off by aluminium roof arches. The award was given to the diesel variant, which carries a 120kW/340Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, that claims economy of 5.3-litres/100km.  Peugeot global product manager is understandably chuffed at having to make room for one more title on the RCZ’s trophy shelf. “The RCZ turns heads wherever it goes, as does our awards cabinet which is bristling with accolades demonstrating its appeal,” Blundell says. Other awards it’s nabbed include: