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our test drives or view them all

Peugeot 308CC 2.0 HDi GT 140

PEUGEOT was the first with a powered roof cabriolet in 1934 – so it’s only right the French manufacturer should be still leading the industry in affordable dropheads.

The new Peugeot 308CC went on sale in April with first deliveries to customers in early June – and motorsnorth was lucky enough to get its hands on the first in the north.

My two-litre HDi turbodiesel in GT trim test sits at the top of the nine model range, but at £24,595 it still delivers space, refinement, performance and a slick 25-second roof in a great value package.

At its heart is the latest generation HDi – an advanced oil burner with 140bhp and 260lb.ft of torque available from 2000rpm. But what makes this neat four-seat coupe-cabriolet all the more appealing is the ease with which it drives and its economy.

Despite precious few miles on the clock of the test drive car it still managed to average 54mpg over 250 miles of mixed town, A9 and West Highland driving – significantly better than the car’s official 47.9mpg.

In profile the 308CC is not the most beautiful coupe in the camp. The boot bustle a little on the fulsome side and with the two-piece solid roof in place there’s a pronounced “hump” in its fore and aft line.

But there’s a reason for that. The rear quarters are large because there’s a lot of space under the lid and the roof sits high to ensure good cabin space.

And when it comes to carrying capacity it’s brilliant. Even with the large hood assembly tucked snugly under the boot lid there’s still enough space for 266 litres of luggage below a safety screen to prevent you overloading the car when driving roof down. With the roof in place, cargo space jumps to a mighty 465 litres – that’s 45 litres more than you get on the 308 hatch.

Peugeot is pushing hard with this CC. It’s certainly its best folding roof effort to date with good stiffness control in the body when the roof is open and a snug feel with good space in the back when it’s closed.

Dropping the roof for a 100-mile drive to the west in recent hot weather proved two things – the deep windscreen easily shields the front seats from buffet without a deflector up to 60mph and sunburn is a serious risk when you have a wafting breeze around your head and neck and forget, as I did, to “factor up” with sun cream. Boy, did I pay a heavy price!

As a compact grand tourer, this 4.4 metre coupe-cabriolet ticks the boxes. The doors are on the large and heavy side and the front seat belts are an awkward reach to the B-pillar, but comfort, refinement, practicality and a solid roof to seal out the elements for the majority of the year are all top notch.

On the road, it handles well for a heavy car - no lightweight at almost 1.7 tonnes. Steering lacks ultimate feel, but the front-drive CC tracks accurately and corners with little roll.

The GT comes with electrically adjustable and heated leather front seats. They have such a range of adjustment it actually took me an age to set them and the tilt and rake steering column up perfectly for my own frame. But once you’re there the driving position is great and the seats are well contoured. The front seats tilt forward with a lever and also move forward and down electrically to ease access to and from the rear seats. But the clever bit is a simple push button that powers them back again to precisely where the driver left them. My only gripe here was the firm thigh bolster that intruded a little too easily and dug into the back of my leg.

The interior is excellent - apart from a lack of storage cubbyholes and a glove compartment that's so small even the handbook can't fit in.

But Peugeot’s new found dash quality is stunning. The instruments are large and well positioned but the white background can make the fine needle points difficult to see in a bright sun. However that’s a minor complaint – the fact is that the switchgear, layout and materials used to create the 308 CC’s dash are superb and carried over from the rest of the impressive 308 range.

The 2.0 HDi GT is the most expensive of the nine models, but you can enjoy refined open air motoring from a whisker under £20,000 for an entry-level 120bhp 1.6 VTi petrol model. Other trim levels include Sport, SE and top-lining GT.

And one aspect of CC ownership worth taking advantage of is Peugeot’s generous servicing package offer. Pay £199 and you’ll receive five years or 50,000 miles free servicing – a pretty good peace of mind add-on to the standard three-year or 60,000 mile warranty.

The test car was fitted with Peugeot’s new Connect Sound RD4-1 Radio/CD audio pack. A bit of a mouthful but able to deliver great sound on the move – however not if you are a radio fan! The 308CC’s antenna is buried in the boot spoiler. It’s a neat styling solution that hides it from sight – and radio signals! Try as I might, on the A9 and A82 I could not get a reliably strong signal – it was forever fading and disappearing completely where most cars remain strong.

It’s irritating – but not something that will worry you if you’re an iPod or MP3 user because the JBL system’s sound quality is exceptional.

Believe me there is no substitute for a metal rod sticking up into the slipstream if you want uninterrupted Robbie Shepherd! Then again...!

The well-appointed GT can be specified with the turbocharged petrol THP 150 or HDi 140 turbodiesel engine. GT features include leather trim, a windstop, 18-inch alloys with bum-numbing 40-section low profile tyres that made the car a little too firm for my liking, tyre pressure sensor, front and rear parking aid and Peugeot’s Connect JBL HiFi pack.

The GT also comes with Peugeot’s Airwave temperature controlled neck heating system – a hot air delivery through the top of the front seats at neck height controlled by a pair of three-position switches between the driver and front passenger. It may have been copied from Mercedes’ SLK but it works brilliantly on chilly evenings with the roof down.

Metallic paint is an option costing £400 and automatic transmission is available on SE trim models with petrol or diesel power, and power outputs ranging from the 110bhp, 136bhp and 140bhp HDi family to petrols including the VTi 120bhp and both 140bhp and 150bhp THP turbocharged petrols.

This is a well-built addition to the coupe-cabriolet sector. From its outstanding interior to its tough plastic nose and front wings, the 308CC is roomy, drives well, has an extensive safety kit and is exceptionally economical.

Rating: 8/10

FINAL THOUGHT: Forget the shuddering old Peugeot CCs of the past – the sign of the lion has solved the solid roof weaknesses that once plagued its powered coupe-cabriolets and now has a snug coupe that is good to drive. Open or closed the new 308CC is a far better car than those that went before. And for sheer luxury and overall performance the 140bhp range-topping two-litre HDi GT takes a lot of beating.

Peugeot 308CC 2.0 HDi GT 140

• Price: £24,595
• Capacity: 1997cc
• Power: 140bhp
• 0-62mph: 11.1 seconds
• Maximum speed: 129mph
• Economy: Combined 47.9mpg; Urban 36.2mpg
• CO2 emissions: 155g/km
• ESP: Standard
• Insurance: Group 12