Feel the elements

The Peugeot's 308CC 2.0-litre diesel is strong and refined. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Talk about timing - Peugeot's 308CC goes on sale in mid-winter. So it was appropriate that we drove this convertible with the electrically-folding hard-top roof during an unseasonably blustery south-island day, complete with blasts of rain.

What's new?
A longer, wider, body with wider track and more cabin space - albeit a lower height overall for a sleeker silhouette.

All the side protection is incorporated into the front seat, with head and chest airbags as well as dual fronts - hence the five-star crash test rating. And there's an air-scarf that wafts hot air across your neck to offset top-down chills.

The company line
Peugeot NZ Divisional Manager Simon Rose acknowledges these are interesting times, but says he has a solid dealer network with good financial backing. And "a business this size means we can move pretty swiftly," which means if you want it, he can get it here quickly. "We'd like to go back into growth in 2010 largely due to our product strategy," he says. That means not just sticking to current Peugeot favourites, but adding the 4007 SUV co-developed with Mitsubishi, and the Partner mini-van with its pleasantly car-like cabin and road manners.

What we say
Certainly this car is stiffer than before, with less scuttle shake and what should be a reliable roof. It feels much better than its 307 predecessor, which already was a lot better than its 207 and earlier 206CC siblings.

The 2.0-litre diesel is strong and refined, and the 308CC is undoubtedly stylish. But it's pricey, at an unconfirmed starting price of $59,990 - more than VW's classy Eos coupe-convertible. Rose says actual RRP will depend on the exchange rate when it's delivered.

On the road
If you're after topless motoring, shave your head or give up on rear passengers and buy the optional wind-stop. You'll then find ride comfort is good, though our drive route wasn't sufficiently demanding to comment on handling; expect sensible, not sensational.

The roof is easy to operate, rising or dropping fully in around 20 seconds. And the engine's smooth and responsive, though it's hardly a ball of fire. Fitting a six-speed auto instead of a manual transmission is no doubt an acknowledgement this is a lifestyle, not a sporting car.

Why you'll buy one
Diesel offers fuel-frugal motoring with suitably grunty engine response in a stylish package. The 308CC delivers refined roof-down summer motoring and roof-up winter warmth in a car as quiet as those with a solid, instead of folding roof.

Why you won't
The CC may look racey but it isn't. It's pricey. And though it does nominally have four seats, you'll need masterful origami skills to get any but the smallest children to fit back there.