Local brand handlers Nasim has done a brilliant job at providing us with very well specced and very well priced Peugeots that don’t require car buyers to fork out extra for a European alternative, something Malaysians have been forced to accept for so long.

The 206 Bestari started the ball rolling by providing something classy in the budget segment, but it was the introduction of the 308 that propelled Peugeot into the minds and shortlists of carbuyers, and into Japanese territory.

But I am going to be honest and say that the 308 doesn’t at all move me, someone who leans more on the Continental side of the argument when it comes down to Europe vs Japan. While the 308′s sheer value can’t be ignored, it doesn’t offer much to the keen driver – while the engines are good – strong, smooth, and quite fast in the Turbo’s case – every other driving aspect isn’t. Even the 175 bhp 3-door GT doesn’t really cut it as a hot hatch.

Shoulder to shoulder in the real world (against fellow European C-segment hatchbacks, not Civics and Corollas) the Pug is no where near a Golf Mk6 in overall ability and is unenjoyable to drive next to the Focus. The deal breaker for me is that awful “Porsche” auto ‘box, not so much for its lack of ratios (only four) but for the slack and being so clueless.

Casting a wider net, there’s still nothing in Peugeot’s current range that’s desirable to this writer – could the RCZ change this skeptic?

We were privileged to sample Peugeot’s latest pride and joy at the RCZ’s international launch in northern Spain last month, and here’s the report.

Continue reading after the jump.
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