IT'S impossible not to draw similarities between the Peugeot RCZ and the Audi TT with their sleek sports coupe streamlining and smooth lines.

And although the RCZ can't quite match up to the German marque's performance and all-wheel-drive capabilities it does have some real advantages of its own.

For starters, it's cheaper, more exclusive and in my opinion better looking, especially after its recent facelift.

While buyers can choose from a range of alloys and roof arches to personalise their particular model, this car featured black arches, a black front grille, black brake calipers and coloured door mirror covers to give it a sophisticated and slightly menacing look.

It also came with twin tailpipes, a sculpted double bubble roof, LED lights and a muscular stance.

The sporty theme is just as apparent inside the RCZ with Alcantara/leather sports seats, metal pedals, a leather dashboard and door inlays, plus a soft touch leather multi-function steering wheel.

For a compact coupe there is bags of room up front although the very limited space in the back means it is only suitable for children and they are likely to get a bit fidgety and claustrophobic on a long journey.

Storage options are also impressive thanks to a deceptively large boot with a capacity of 309 litres which can be increased further with the rear seats folded flat.

Techno treats are plentiful and include automatic dual-zone air con, Peugeot's Connect sat nav system, an excellent sound system with USB connectivity, Bluetooth and a foldaway colour screen.

Another bonus with the RCZ is that is drives as well as it looks.

The 1.6-litre petrol-driven engine with 200bhp delivers plenty of power and the car's low, sporty stance results in excellent road-holding meaning tight bends can be attacked with confidence. An active rear spoiler deploys into two positions depending on the speed of the car.

The six-speed manual transmission is smooth and responsive and although there is a fair amount of road surface noise at speed, it is only to be expected with a sports coupe.

You can also expect to feel the occasional bump and dip along the way even though the suspension and sports seats both help to iron out the creases.

Performance stats are also good with a 0-62mph sprint time of 7.6 seconds and a top speed of 146mph. According to Peugeot, it can achieve combined fuel efficiency of 42.2mpg and has carbon emissions of 155g/km.

Safety features are comprehensive and include anti-lock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution, emergency brake assist, electronic stability programme, tyre pressure sensors, numerous airbags along with an alarm and immobiliser to keep uninvited attention at bay.

All in all, the new RCZ is quite a catch. It looks beautiful, handles exceptionally well and has a price-tag that won't break the bank either.