| Week at the Wheel | Peugeot RCZ GT |

Inside & Out:

It's all down to personal taste, but we reckon that the Peugeot RCZ coupé is easily a contender for the best looking car on sale today. Its best angle is from the back, as the muscular, bulldog-style rear end cuts a dash, and you can even see the haunches sticking out. The front is a little less distinguished and more generic Peugeot with the large boomerang headlamps.

The French firm's build quality has come on in leaps and bounds with its most recent models, and the RCZ's cabin is a truly pleasant place to sit. Gone are the questionable Peugeot plastics of old, in favour of stitched leather, pumped-up dial pods and top-notch premium materials. It's hard to believe you're sat in a Peugeot - the ambience seems closer to something fast and Italian - but well built.

Engine & Transmission:

Peugeot's 1.6-litre THP engine has done the rounds through its line-up and it's punchy enough for such a car without compromising on fuel economy. In THP GT guise, the RCZ feels brisk rather than properly fast - figures of 0-62mph in eight seconds flat and 156bhp feel about right. The engine, though turbocharged, is keen to rev and smooth in its application.

The six-speed manual gearbox doesn't have the shortest or sportiest of actions, but it's tight enough and very smooth, which befits the Peugeot RCZ's grand tourer status.

Ride & Handling:

There's a lot of adjustment for the driving position, so anyone who has been put off low-slung coupés in the past because of their size or shape won't be made to feel left out here.

The chassis is firm - perhaps a smidgen too much so for UK roads, but not to the point of being especially uncomfortable - and there's much more feedback through the steering wheel than any Peugeot in recent history. It's not quite a 205 GTi, but the weighty wheel action, plentiful grip and exploitable chassis are a lot of fun. There's the usual hint of front-wheel drive understeer when you push it to the limit, but it's all controlled and well telegraphed. The only real downside is visibility though the thick A-pillars, which hamper your view when cornering.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:

GT models with the 1.6-litre THP petrol engine currently start at £23,245, which, next to an entry-level Audi TT (admittedly faster) at £27,130, renders the Peugeot a relative steal. It's becoming a popular sight on UK roads already, but the Pug's exclusivity factor is still streets ahead of the Audi's.

This spec adds 19-inch alloys (an inch bigger than the Sport's rims), electric and heated leather seats, front parking sensors (Sport gets just rear ones) and automatic lights and wipers, while dual-zone climate control is also standard. Not at all bad for a sports coupé that undercuts the TT.

Overall:

It's a bold statement, but we reckon the Peugeot RCZ is one of the most desirable cars on sale today. The looks alone are enough to reel in the punters, but fine handling, a sumptuous interior and sensible pricing all work in its favour. If the 1.6 is too lethargic for you then there's always the 2.0-litre petrol with 200bhp, or a 2.0-litre diesel for those who prefer smaller fuel bills to all-out pace. It's been a long time coming, but Peugeot has returned to top form with the RCZ.