Peugeot 307CC

What we liked
>> Sleek, stylish design
>> Coupe and cabrio in one
>> Unruffled roof-down driving

Not so much
>> 100kW engine underpowered
>> Creaks and rattles beyond the norm
>> Lacks composure on rough roads

OVERVIEW
Peugeot's stylish 206CC coupe/convertible has been winning hearts and wallets in Australia since launch, so it was no surprise when the French company unveiled plans in 2003 for a bigger four-seat version based on the 307 platform. The 307CC is the successor to the soft-top 306 Cabrio and takes the number of 307 variants worldwide to five, including 3-dr and 5-dr hatch, and two confusingly similar 5-dr wagons: Peugeot swears they are two distinct bodystyles -- called SW and Estate.

The 307CC will command the least sales of the five, but its sleek hardtop body, which converts into a roofless convertible in less than 25sec, will guarantee it a lion's share of the limelight.

Peugeot believes the car will have special appeal with enthusiasts, as well as those drawn by its ability to be a roofless convertible in the summer and a hardtop coupe in the winter. We believe the 307CC certainly offers boulevard cred, and the fashion conscious will flock to it, but enthusiasts will be underwhelmed by its engines and its cruiser-biased suspension and handling.

FEATURES
The 307CC is built on the same underpinnings as other 307 models, and shares the same 2605mm wheelbase. The overall body has been extended 140mm, all of it in the boot area to better accommodate the folding metal roof. The car sits slightly lower on its wheels than other models, and the sleeker roofline means it is 40mm shorter than hatchback versions. Australians choose from two 307CC models, the 307 CC and 307 CC Sport.

Both cars are four seaters with the same external styling, only larger 17inch wheels and tyres give a clue to the Sport model. Pricing at launch is $49,990 for the 307 CC and $56,990 for the 307 CC Sport -- an automatic gearbox is available on the base model only, for an extra $2200.

Both models are powered by the same 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine also found in a number of other Peugeot models. The Sport model, however, gains variable valve timing on the intake side of the engine, which, along with other minor differences, boosts power from the basic model's 100kW up to 130kW. Torque is also increased, now peaking at 202Nm instead of 190Nm.

The base car is available with either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic gearbox; the Sport model comes only with a five-speed manual, though with slightly different gearing.

Cruise control is standard, along with climate control air conditioning, alloy wheels, in-dash single CD player, electric windows and mirrors, remote central locking, steering wheel-mounted stereo controls, rain sensing wipers, follow-me-home headlights, and of course the electric folding roof.

The more expensive Sport model will add rear parking sensors, car alarm, fold-in wing mirrors and a five-stack CD player, as well as more powerful engine and larger 17in wheels.

COMFORT
The front seats sit 40mm lower in the car to allow for the similar drop in roof-height. Headroom in the front is not a problem, even for the six-footers we tested. The driver's seat adjusts for height as well as rake, and the steering wheel tilts and telescopes, making it one of the first Peugeots in memory in which we could actually achieve a comfortable driving position.

Yes, the 307 CC does claim to be a four-seat convertible but no, the two individually sculpted rear seats are not comfortably appointed for adults. Short trips are a possibility, but it requires the front-seat passenger to sacrifice legroom so those behind may gain some. Headroom in the rear was fine for my 170cm frame -- just -- but not so for another lankier tester we squeezed in the back.

Getting into the rear seats with the roof down is not a problem and it's also quite easy with the roof up. The front seatback folds forward and the seat base slides to make quite a reasonable opening, but it still takes a little contorting to accomplish successfully. Early teens and younger will have no difficulties whatsoever.

Boot space is quite good with the roof up; Peugeot claims it will hold 350lt -- handy if you're carrying water. It drops considerably when you lower the top, to almost half capacity of 204lt. Still, it'd be enough for two fairly full duffle bags, or a week's shopping.

The 307 CC's interior differs substantially from other versions, not the least in its four-seat configuration. The instrument panel and dashboard layout are also changed to give the stylish drop-top exclusivity. Aluminium highlights throughout the cabin (door handles, instrument surrounds, air vents) combine with plenty of leather (seats, steering wheel, even the dash) to impart a stylish, upmarket feel.

SAFETY
Much of the 307CC's additional weight that so hinders engine performance has gone into increasing the rigidity and crashworthiness of the convertible when the roof is down. Body and door strengthening, structural reinforcing, dual front and side airbags combined with anti-whiplash active head restraints earn the 307CC four out of five stars in EuroNCAP independent crash testing.

The A-pillars either side of the windscreen have been strengthened to better protect occupants during a rollover, which Peugeot says occurs in less than one in 10 crashes. The 307CC also features a pop-up rollover bar behind the rear seat headrests. The larger A-pillars, however, do have a downside; they get in the way of driver vision during cornering, so get used to moving your head to look around them.

Active safety features include four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution. Peugeot's ESP Electronic Stability Programme combines this, ant-skid control and yaw control into the one module, designed to keep you on the straight and narrow whenever possible. Emergency Brake Assist is also fitted, which determines a panic stop and applies the brakes for maximum retardation. It also turns the hazard lights on to warn following vehicles.

MECHANICAL
The entry level 307 CC is powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine, which produces 100kW of power and 190Nm of torque. It accelerates from rest to 100km/h in a mediocre 10.9sec.

The 'hi-po' versions gains variable valve timing on the intake side of the engine, and a few other niceties that add 30kW to the peak power figure. Torque fairs marginally better, increasing to 202Nm, and the 0-100km/h time drops to a slightly more respectable -- but still unimpressive -- 10sec flat.

And flat is probably the best way to describe these engines, which suffer because of the 307 CC's significant increase in weight. But we'll get to that later -- if you can't wait, skip to the On The Road section below. Both models are available with a five-speed manual gearbox, though ratios differ slightly to suit the different engine characteristics.

Only the 100kW version is available with an automatic gearbox, which Peugeot admits will appeal to 70 per cent of Aussie customers. 307CC suspension is straight from the hatch, with spring rate and damper changes to suit the car's intended use and extra weight. Australian models come with 16in tyres on the base car, 17in on the Sport.

COMPETITORS
Hardtop coupe/convertibles are a growing market, with entries from Mercedes to Daihatsu and more on the way, though few are around the same price as the 307 CC. Immediate convertible competition for the 307 CC comes from other Europeans like Volkswagen (Golf and Beetle), Renault (Megane) and Citroen (Pluriel), which all have four seats. Holden's Astra convertible, with or without turbo, is another European-sourced convertible that's proving very popular despite its age.

This is clearly the most affordable end of the four-seat convertible market, with the bulk of the competition up at the headier heights of Audi, BMW, Merc, Volvo, Saab and others around the $100k mark. Coupe competition is broader, though few match the 307 CC's uniquely inspiring look, or its underwhelming engines.

ON THE ROAD
There's no doubt in our mind that Peugeot Australia will sell every 307 CC that comes it's way. It's a very alluring car, which successfully combines two distinct disciplines. It's also fundamentally flawed under the bonnet. Put simply, it needs more power.

The higher performance 130kW model makes peak power at 7000rpm, just 400rpm off redline, and while the engine is happy to rev, there's no real reward for getting there. This is clearly not an enthusiasts' car, and only just qualifies as a cruiser. Performance down low is weaker than it needs to be in a 1560kg car, and there's not enough torque to deliver that much-needed shove when brisk acceleration is required.

The 100kW engine, surprisingly, felt better than the 'hi-po' engine on low to middling revs. Having its peak power and torque delivered lower in the range has produced an easier car to drive at everyday speeds. However, this engine was not happy revving hard, and became coarse and counter-productive above 5000rpm.

What's perhaps more alarming is that the brakes fade on repeated applications. Even the Sport model's bigger 302mm front and 247mm rear discs didn't seem up to the task required of such a heavy small car. It needs bigger brakes, or more fade resistant pads.

It really depends on your intentions. Sporty drivers should shop elsewhere, this is Poser's Street. The engines are uninspiring and under achieving -- for a sporty car. In a city runabout they'd be on the money, but in a $50k prestige convertible, they're misplaced and out of character. Which really disappoints when you up the tempo, because, typically of Peugeot, the 307CC handles the compromise between sporty handling and cruiser comfort admirably. There's no denying it leans more towards the cruiser side of the spectrum, and at higher speeds or over sharper bumps the suspension takes a little while to catch the body.

On urban roads and freeways, the 307 CC's ride is nothing short of billiard table smooth, and its roof-down performance is fantastic. Wind turbulence and noise levels are practically non-existent below 100km/h.

The 307 CC's body sits quite flat in corners and there's plenty of grip to be used, especially from the bigger 17inch Pirellis we tried. The 307 CC feels more tied-down in the rear than other Pugs, possibly due to the extra weight, making it ever-so slightly less agile but nonetheless a very rewarding and safe car to punt around.

We like the variable assist power steering, which conveys just the right amount of feedback for effort. It's weighting is good and the accuracy couldn't be faulted. The cheaper car's 16in tyres do dull the feel, however.

Overall, it's a package anybody shopping for cruiser cred could fall in love with. Both engines' performance is suspect and build quality is not what you'd expect from a European car, but it's also one of the few hardtop coupe/convertibles on the market for that price.