Peugeot 308CC 1.6 THP 150 GT

Peugeot isn't short of experience when it comes to folding hard-tops and the 308CC is another quality product. Don’t expect a particularly engaging drive or sporty good looks though, this is a rather heavy car and it drives like one too. And at £23, 495 for the top-spec model driven here, it’s starting to encroach on more premium territory.

British buyers love convertibles – despite the changeable weather! Luckily, Peugeot is billing its new 308CC as the cabriolet for all seasons. So hows does the newcomer shape up? We jumped behind the wheel for the first time on UK roads, before it hits showrooms this summer.

With its two-piece folding hard-top in place, the 308CC feels just as insulated from the elements as any fixed-roof car, and shields the passengers well from road and engine noise. It doesn’t have to be warm and sunny to get the top down either. A new Airwave heat scarf system built into the beautifully contoured seats, gently wafts warm air around you neck to keep out the chill. Turn the air-con to hot, crank up the heated electric seats and as long as it’s not raining, wind-in-the-hair thrills don’t have to be exclusively for the summer.

We’ve already driven the 2.0-litre HDi 140 and found it underpowered for a car with 1,600kg kerbweight. But the smaller-capacity turbocharged petrol engine tested here gives the car a more spritely character. It revs freely with a satisfying mid-range punch and you can even make out a rasping exhaust note with the roof down.

But this is far from a sports car. Turn in to a corner and the feather-light steering feels lifeless, while the body wallows and pitches before settling down. Where this car excels however is as a long-distance cruiser, thanks to its supple ride, four useable seats and large 465-litre boot.

The unusually proportioned styling won’t be to everyone’s taste, but it certainly commands attention on the road. The interior, on the other hand, is fantastic. With a stylish sloping centre console, gadgets galore and fit and finish that would make more premium manufacturers blush, it’s a superb place to spend time in.