Peugeot 207 CC 1.6 HDi Sport

	Refinement is great with the hood up, and there’s not too much buffeting when it’s folded, either. Thanks to some chassis strengthening, stiffness is pretty good, too

But Peugeot is aiming to bring some sunshine into our lives with this: the new 207 CC. The replacement for the best-selling 206 CC, it’s in showrooms now, starting at £14,795. We have already tried the diesel model in European spec (Issue 948), but this is our chance to put the car through its paces in the UK.

If ever there was a drop-top ideal for Britain’s unpredictable climate, it’s the 207 CC. With a folding metal roof that can be raised or lowered in 25 seconds, the Peugeot allows you to make the most of our inclement weather. It’s attractive as well. The old model’s design was a bit fussy from some angles, but with a rakish windscreen and sweeping roofline, there’s less of a rear-heavy look than on the previous car. Also, the chunkier, lower stance has added some much-needed sportiness to the design.

Inside, further leaps forward have been made. The dashboard is clad in a dark, tactile, soft-touch material – and this contrasted well with the optional red leather seats of our car. What’s more, thanks to a reach and rake adjustable steering wheel, the 207 CC’s driving position is spot-on.

However, rear space isn’t one of the convertible’s virtues. The back seats are only really good for squashy bags, and once the roof is down, the boot is a tiny 187 litres. It gets better with the hard-top in place; maximum luggage room is 449 litres, which is more than in a 3-Series Convertible.

Refinement is great with the hood up, and there’s not too much buffeting when it’s folded, either. Thanks to some chassis strengthening, stiffness is pretty good, too. But there’s still some shake over big bumps.

Dynamically, the new car is better than before. It’s not a grippy hot hatch, but it rides well and corners with composure. Only the vague electric steering is a disappointment.

Chassis strengthening has added 200kg to the kerbweight, though, and even with 240Nm of torque, our 110bhp 1.6-litre diesel was lacking in low-down urge. As with all 207 CCs, the diesel gets Peugeot’s loose-feeling five-speed manual gearbox, although the car still manages to offer decent in-gear pace for overtaking. Add in 54.3mpg economy, and the HDi makes a good case for itself. Buyers can also opt for normally aspi­rated and turbo 1.6-litre petrol units.

Equipment across the line-up is generous. Our base Sport comes with 16-inch alloys and air-con as standard, while the GT adds climate control, white-backed instrument dials and an MP3-compatible CD stereo.

And of course, every model gets that electric folding roof – essential for catching the all-important, but brief, rays of summer sunshine.

Rival: Mitsubishi Colt CZC
There’s no diesel, but the Colt has two good petrol engines, looks great and offers a folding hard-top. As with the 207, it’s not spacious, but it’s a more exclusive choice.