Because these are the hottest looking coupés on sale in the UK right now. The Alfa Romeo Brera may have been on the market for over five years, but there's no denying that it's still drop dead gorgeous, and cuts a dash next to newer rivals - like the Peugeot RCZ. The French fancy has been around for almost a year in the UK, and it's arguably the best looking car you can buy. But how do they stack up in reality?
How are they similar?
Aside from the handsome exteriors, they're both fairly similar when it comes to engines and performance. The Peugeot under test has a 1.6-litre turbocharged THP petrol engine, while the Alfa gets a 1.7-litre turbocharged unit. Both are designed to give punchy performance without compromising fuel economy.
They're pretty similar when it comes to performance, too. The Alfa has the edge, as its engine pumps out 200bhp (the Peugeot has 156bhp) and there's an extra dollop of mid-range shove. There's little between them when it comes to initial acceleration though, as the Alfa will hit 62mph in 7.7 seconds, while the Peugeot takes only slightly longer at 8.0 seconds flat.
Open the door of either and chances are you'll like what you see. Alfa Romeo is renowned for its handsome interiors and the Brera's is no different, with circular instrument pods, a dash angled towards the driver and sumptuous tan leather seats, it's a lovely place to sit. The RCZ is more conservative in its appearance, with darker materials and stitched leather, but it's a huge improvement on Peugeots of old and a genuinely pleasant place to be.
How do they differ?
We've already mentioned the Alfa's extra power, which is very noticeable. The Brera's extra poke is most obvious when the car is already up to speed and the turbo has kicked in, so there's plenty of pace from around 3,000rpm onwards.
In contrast, the Peugeot is lighter on its feet. It's not slow, but it seems more brisk than fast, as the 1.6-litre engine is happy to rev and enjoys a little encouragement. There's also a lot more communication through the steering and the ride is more pliant, where the Alfa's seems a little ham-fisted.
So which one would we have?
No question - it's the Peugeot that gets our vote. The superior build quality inside and more nimble handling make all the difference. There's little in it as far as looks go, though. Both cars are seriously handsome, so it really is down to personal taste on that front.
