Replacement for the world's best selling small coupe´ cabriolet, but can the Peugeot 207 CC offer more for the keener driver than its predecessor the 206? We find out...
Price: £14,795 (without options)
On sale: Now
0-62mph: 10.7 seconds; top speed 126mph
Average fuel: 43.5 mpg
Standard equipment: Dual-zone air conditioning, electrically folding, colour-coded wing mirrors, leather-trimmed steering wheel, radio/CD player, parking aid, Thatcham alarm, carpet mats and an athermic windscreen.
Tiscali verdict: Smarter looking and better to drive than the 206. But, the rear seats are still pointless and it's not that fast. 7/10
The Peugeot 206 CC, launched in the UK in 2001, brought a Coupe´ Cabriolet electric, steel folding roof into the price range of everyone. Despite selling over 46,000 examples over the past five-years, the 206 CC earned a reputation for its compromised driving position, questionable build quality and its overtly feminine styling which was more attractive to women. Bigger and less obviously feminine, with its slanted headlights and wide mesh grille, but how does the 207 CC compare against small convertible rivals? We find out.
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£14,795 seems a competitive price for the 207 CC 1.6 Sport, especially when you consider that the MINI Cooper Convertible costs £14,960 and the MINI has a canvas roof! The standard kit on our 207 CC 1.6 GT included pretty much all the equipment you'll ever need. Many of these will be expensive options on the MINI. Longer, wider and taller than the 206, there's plenty of space in the front and the revised pedal layout means that taller drivers won't get cramp in their feet - this was a big problem in all 206 models and the CC. It's a shame then that the back seats are such a joke. Peugeot describe them as only suitable for short journeys, and it had better be a short trip.Even with the front seats even only part-way back there's no legroom! Bootspace is good considering it's coupe-convertible bodystyle. There's more than enough room for a weekend's squashy bags.
Our 207CC GT was powered by the 120bhp, 1.6-litre 16V engine shared with the latest MINI Cooper; mated with five-speed manual transmission. It's a revvy unit, and despite the extra weight of the metal roof and mechanism, 62mph comes up in 10.7 seconds, with a top speed of 126mph. It's disappointing then that the five-speed gearbox has such a springy feel and is imprecise in use. It also lacks a sixth gear when compared to the MINI. The clattery idle can also be alarming at first.
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With an overall fuel economy figure of 43.5 mpg, the 207 CC is surprisingly frugal, but if you're after even better economy figures the 110bhp 1.6 litre HDi diesel is probably the model for you with a combined figure of 54.3 mpg.
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The 207 CC might be a convertible, but there's still the full compliment of safety kit, with driver, passenger and head-chest airbags fitted as standard. The 207CC hasn't been crash tested yet, but much of its structure is shared with the 207 hatch which received a five-star rating in recent Euro NCAP tests.
Check out the video Take a look at the latest video road tests here.
So what's it like to drive then? Compared to the old 206, it's the refinement and solidity that are most obvious at first with the 207. Performance from the 1.6 litre engine is strong and there's minimal body-flex at speed with the roof down. Overall it's a good looking and fun to drive - I just wish it had a better gearbox and was more practical!
Fancy a closer look? Check out our Peugeot 207 CC gallery
