As previously Meganes, the latest version of the Renault family hatchback aims to attract buyers with style and technology. So, is the winning formula?
Auto Trader Verdict:
The latest Renault Megane no matter the best car in the hatchback class families, because it falls a bit short on quality, practicality and driving manners. That said, it's still pretty attractive proposition. It looks great, it's affordable to buy and run, and comes with the kit. For many buyers, that will be enough.
Need to know:
The new version of the five-door family hatch Renault
Built on the platform of the Nissan Qashqai, packed with luxury kit
On sale now, with the range starting from £ 16,600
What is that?
The latest version of the compact family hatchback Renault, the car which, traditionally, has been something of an also-ran in its class. It has never been short style, but never have the comfort and class of a Volkswagen Golf, or fun and frugality of the Ford Focus. As a result, the outgoing model was never really hit that many chord with British car buyers demand, or with us.
In theory at least, the new car seems to a much better start in life. It is built on the same platform with Kadjar Renault and Nissan Qashqai, the best cars of their kind (although the compact SUV) to drive, and uses pretty much the same range of engines. Renault also has to think hard about the type of buyer it wants to attract, and for that, the new car is absolutely packed with technology and flamboyant style.
You might recognize the C-shaped headlamp design, complete with LED daytime running lights on every model, on the other Renault models recently. There is much more interesting than that, with all sorts of curves and creases, which leads to elongated tail lights that stretches almost right across the back.
What is it like?
In the car, the process is dominated by a portrait of the infotainment system touch screen of 8.7 inches. At least, they were in the mid-range Dynamique S cars and above; lower-end models get the same screen 7.0-inch landscape found in other small Renault. The composition of the portrait immediately give the cabin a high tech feel, and the extra screen size does not make the R-Link 2 system easier to navigate, though still not the most intuitive system of this type.
Elsewhere in the cabin, it was a bit hit-and-miss. There are several ingredients that truly impressive display in some places, but in some others, you find it harder, plastic shine damaging the overall feeling of quality. Wonderfully sculpted seat supports and has bags of adjustment, but a small rear window and thick pillars mean your rear visibility is somewhat limited. While in the front seats have pockets of space, the rear seat is tight for both headroom and legroom - anyone over six feet tall will struggle on both counts - and legroom are also in short supply. Moreover, while the boot is a decent size at 434 liters, there is a lip which is so great that you will need to muscle heavy items on top, and rear seats do not go near the flat when you fold them down, leaving a big step and a small slope ,
It is a similar mixture of positive and negative when you hit the road. The Megane car is not the most comfortable and cosseting of a kind, also not the sharpest or most thrilling, but it did the job half decent in both areas. Suspension enough that you will not wince more chewy bumpy road, but there is enough firmness to make the car feel controlled and stable in corners.
There is no shortage of grip, good, but unfortunately, the steering is not actually handling any favors. It feels very secluded, and when you leave the drive mode selector (available on all but the entry-level version, changing the behavior of the steering, throttle and engine noise) in Comfort, featherlight weight can have you hanging around in your path. Selecting Sport mode dumps a bunch of artificial-feeling of heaviness into it, and although this does not make the steering more interesting, at least extra resistance makes the car feel a little more stable.
That said, the diesel engine fitted to our test car was a highlight. This 108bhp 1.5-liter diesel is the same used for cracking effect in many other cars of the Renault-Nissan alliance, and it was just as successful here. Indeed, not a ball of fire in the speed department, even when you rev it out, but the low-down torque which generously makes it very flexible and easy to drive. The fact that it was also impressive smooth and quiet it really helped her relaxed nature, so it's best to just sit back and adopt a lazy, short-shift driving style. It's just a shame that notchy, long-throw gearshift is not a little more satisfying.
We can definitely see why you might. We will not pretend that the Megane is the best car in the family hatchback class, because it has a drawback in many areas. But, if the leaders of classes that are too general or too conservative for your taste, then we can understand you choose Renault chic-looking.
If you do, you'll enjoy a generous amount of standard equipment. Entry-level Expression + model is equipped with alloy wheels, cruise control, air-con, four electric windows and a stereo DAB with Bluetooth, while upgrades to the Dynamique Nav trim gets you nav (obvs!), Climate control, automatic lights and wipers, keyless entry, rear parking sensors and parts of imitation leather upholstery. Dynamique S Nav makes your screen portrait, front parking sensors and a reversing camera, while Signature Nav has a full leather trim and LED lighting; GT Line Nav gets a sporty body kit; and, GT Nav has four wheel steering and twin-clutch gearbox.
On top of that, being a Renault, Megane will be one of the safest cars in its class. It has received the maximum five-star rating from Euro NCAP, and all versions come with six airbags and a tire pressure monitoring, while all but the entry-level version also has a lane departure warning and lighting / low-beam automatic high. Strange, then, that the autonomous emergency braking (standard-fit on many rivals) remaining on the list of choices for all versions.
1.5 dCi Dynamique S tested here costs £ 20k, so that useless piece cheaper than rivals like the Focus and Golf. The car also returned to official figures of 76.4mpg and 96g / km, which is quite impressive with class standards and will make the Megane affordable to run.
A word of warning, though: if our experience is anything to go by, it will be a version lower-end Megane which make the most sense. We also tried the £ 25,500 GT 205 version, which is the sportiest version is currently available and supported by a 202bhp 1.6-liter petrol. It's really not up to much, because it has no involvement of speed and hot hatches, but has a punishing journey. Our advice? Stick with Megane models more simple, and you will be much better.
Key facts:
- Model: Renault Megane 1.5 dCi 110 Dynamique S users Nav
- Price: £ 20,400
- Engine: 1.5-liter diesel, a six-speed manual
- Power / torque: 108bhp / 192lb ft
- 0-62mph: 11.3secs
- Top speed: 116mph
- Economy: 76.4mpg
- CO2 / BIK tax liabilities: 96g / km / 19%
- Boot space: 434 liters
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