Peugeot 308 CC cabriolet (2009-2014)

The Peugeot 308 CC is the French brand's entry into the compact convertible class, and it has an electrically operated folding metal hard-top. A need for somewhere to store the folded roof makes the car's styling slightly awkward with the roof up, but it looks smart with the roof down. Inside, there's plenty of standard equipment and enough room for four adults in the classy cabin, although space in the rear seats is limited. Also, the complex roof adds weight, which means the 308 CC doesn't handle quite as well as the standard hatchback model, and the engines need to be worked harder to make progress.

The most economical engine in the line-up is the 112bhp 1.6-litre e-HDi diesel, which returns 60mpg and emits 116g/km of CO2, resulting in annual road tax of £30. Because of the CC's heavy weight, the 1.6-litre petrol engines struggle, returning less than 40mpg and CO2 emissions of 167g/km.

Even the most powerful engine (a 1.6-litre, 120bhp petrol) feels overcome in the 308 CC due to the extra weight of the folding roof. The emphasis is clearly on cruising rather than driving thrills – the steering is light, while the gearlever feels loose and slack when changing gears. In bends, the CC grips reasonably well, but it's not a car you'll drive for enjoyment. The brakes offer impressive stopping power, though. The new 112bhp diesel engine is the one to go for, as it's smooth and quiet, while also being very cheap to run.

The 308 CC has a stiffer body than the hatchback, but it still shakes and rattles when the roof is down. Put the roof up, and the CC is as quiet as the 308 hatchback. In general, the soft suspension makes it an excellent long-distance cruiser, although it can become unsettled over rough tarmac.

Because of its oversized rear end – necessary to store the two-piece roof – the CC offers a spacious 465-litre boot with the roof up. But when it's lowered, capacity drops to a small but still useable 266 litres, while loading and unloading through the narrow gap below the roof mechanism is tricky. Optional one-touch electric front seats slide forward to allow easy access to the rear seats, but although the 308 CC is a four-seater, the cramped rear seats are only really suitable for short journeys. The electric roof takes 20 seconds to go down.

The 308 CC offers real peace of mind when it comes to safety. It was awarded a five-star rating by crash-test body Euro NCAP. All models come with six airbags, ISOFIX child-seat mounts, electronic stability control and pop-up roll bars that activate in the event of a crash. Peugeot's reliability record isn't particularly strong, but the CC's build quality appears to be first-rate.

There 308 CC is available in three trims levels: Sport, SE and GT. Air-conditioning, alloy wheels and a CD stereo are standard, while SE adds cruise control, climate control, automatic headlamps and wipers. Top-spec GT trim includes leather seats, a tyre-pressure warning system, parking sensors and Peugeot's Airwave neck heater, which blows warm air from the front headrests around your neck so you can enjoy top-down motoring even when it's cold.