Renault

Megane/Megane Sports Tourer

The Megane range has it all. It boasts excellent safety ratings and great specifications throughout. These cars are guaranteed to stand out from the crowd and there is a wealth of choice when it comes to body styles, engines, transmissions and economy. Now available as a plug-in hybrid too.

Test Drive

Renault Megane Estate E-TECH Plug-In Hybrid – first drive (2020)

Offering all the practicality you could wish for along with great driving dynamics, the Renault Megane estate has always been a fleet driver’s dream car and now the appeal grows significantly with plug-in hybrid technology added to the mix.

The latest 2020 Megane Sport Tourer has undergone quite a physical transformation too. It boasts new bumpers, fresh LED headlights, new alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera plus new screen layouts inside the car.

The Megane Estate Plug-In Hybrid is powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine, along with two electric motors and a 9.8kWh battery. It is priced from £30,685 and can sprint from 0-62mph in 9.8 seconds and, according to WLTP figures, emits 30g/km of carbon emissions and can deliver 217.2mpg.

The electric driving range is 30 miles, but those low emissions bring all manner of financial rewards, including zero Vehicle Excise Duty costs and a Benefit in Kind rating of 10 per cent.

The cockpit is ultra-modern in its design and the interior is clutter-free and spacious with lots of techno treats to explore. Creature comforts on our test car included an all-new 9.3-inch vertical multi-media screen, a 10.2-inch fully customisable TFT digital instrument display, full smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, a Bose sound system, navigation and lots more.

The vehicle is fitted with an F1-inspired multi-mode clutchless gearbox that delivers swift, smooth acceleration and there is a regenerative B mode to capture energy during braking and deceleration – this is then fed back to the battery for later use.

The driver can choose from the multi-sense driving modes called Pure for zero-emissions all-electric driving, MySense which is selected for best hybrid driving and Sport which delivers more power from the engine and electric motor combined.

Out on the open road, the car delivers ample grip meaning long sweeping bends can be attacked with confidence. It accelerates swiftly through the transmission and there is a constant stream of power on tap for overtaking slower moving vehicles. It cruises effortlessly on fast-moving dual carriageways and is pretty agile in busier town centres although you will need a longer than average parking space.

Comfort levels are good and there is ample space in the back of the car for a trio of adults to stretch out. The boot can swallow 447 litres of kit and there are a number of handy storage compartments scattered throughout the car too.

Charging the vehicle from zero to 100 per cent takes three hours and any customers purchasing the Megane Sport Tourer E-TECH Plug-In Hybrid will be offered a free home charging kit as standard.

And as one would expect, the car is packed with safety kit, including active emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, distance warning, E-call, blind spot warning, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, a full suite of airbags and lots more besides.

The Megane Sport Tourer E-TECH Plug-In Hybrid, which is available in Iconic and RS Line trim levels, also boasts a comprehensive five-year, 100,000-mile warranty along with an eight-year battery warranty.

Test Drive

Renault Megane GT Nav 205 EDC

Developing the formula for a successful sporty hatchback is a daunting prospect these days – it must look pretty awesome with cutting edge styling and it needs to deliver blistering driving dynamics, yet customers also demand practicality and reasonable pricing along the way.

Thankfully Renault seems to have got all the ingredients spot on with the five-door Megane GT model, which at £25,500 (£28,575 with options) ticks all the right boxes.

It looks striking from any approach thanks to sporty, flowing lines which are complimented by 18-inch diamond cut ‘Daytona’ alloy wheels, full LED headlights, twin rectangular tailpipes, tinted windows and tailgate, front and rear body-coloured GT bumpers, LED daytime running lights and plenty of Renault Sport and GT badging.

Move inside and the interior is beautifully laid out with two-tone blue and grey Alcantara upholstery along with flashes of neon blue on the gearstick and door inserts and a GT emblem on the flat-bottomed sports steering wheel.

Techno treats and creature comforts are plentiful and include a seven speaker BOSE sound system, an 8.7-inch upright touchscreen with TomTom LIVE satellite navigation system and voice control. There is a DAB digital radio, full connectivity capabilities, Bluetooth, automatic dual zone climate control and lots more besides.

The sports seats, despite being quite body-hugging, are both supportive and comfortable and the Megane GT boasts a modern design with all dials and controls perfectly positioned for driver usability. Well, all the controls apart from the automatic gearshift markings which are over on the passenger side of the gear lever and it means leaning across to see if you are in D, R, N or P. That I did find quite sloppy.

But that gripe aside, the car was everything I had hoped it would be. The 1.6-litre, 205bhp petrol driven engine propels the Megane GT from 0-62mph in just 7.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 143mph. The official efficiency figures show it can deliver combined fuel economy of 47.1mpg with carbon emissions of 134g/km.

Admittedly, the car may not be the fastest sports hatchback on the market, but it’s certainly a class act when it comes to handling. In busy traffic, it cruises along effortlessly and the hands-free parking system makes very light work of finding a tight space to squeeze into. But in all honesty, it’s out on the open road where the car bursts into life. The acceleration through the 7-speed automatic gearbox is both rapid and smooth with steering wheel-mounted paddles if you fancy taking more command.

There is a 4Control all-wheel steering system that adds extra stability on challenging roads and you can select from different driving modes – Comfort, Sport, Neutral and Perso – the latter allows the driver to adjust the throttle, steering and engine tone to suit personal tastes. And as one would expect, the road-holding is super grippy which means tight bends can be attacked with confidence at pace.

There is a little engine and road-surface noise at higher speeds, but generally the cabin remains well insulated.

Obviously, the car has to be practical enough to double as a family vehicle too and the Megane GT does that very well. Rear legroom is plentiful for back seat passengers who also have enough elbow and head space. In addition, the car has a generously-sized boot with a capacity of 384 litres. This can be increased to 1,247 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat.

Renault has packed the vehicle with a raft of safety specifications, including anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency brake assist, electronic stability programme, hill start assist, adaptive cruise control with distance alert and numerous airbags.

All in all, the Megane GT is a fabulously well-equipped all-rounder. It looks stunning, performs superbly, yet it maintains many practical and family-based values –all for a reasonable price-tag too.

Road Test

Renault Megane Sport Tourer GT line dci 130

Renault has really raised the bar with its Sport Tourer model – it looks fabulous, is packed with technical wizardry and boasts fuel efficiency that will mean trips to the filling station are few and far between.

It all sounds too good to be true, but after a week-long test drive it was very hard to pick fault with this model.

If I had to be really fussy then the glovebox is a bit cheap-looking and the central bin is not that usefully-shaped, but that is me being as critical as I can.

And that’s because everything about the car shines.

It is guaranteed to turn heads thanks to its neat elegant lines, tinted windows, 17-inch dark chrome alloys, dark chrome fog light surrounds, LED daytime running lights, along with roof rails, door handles and door mirrors in a contrasting colour to the bodywork.

The interior is equally as impressive and all occupants are treated to plenty of room to stretch out with lots of leg, head and elbow space in the back.

The generously-sized boot is low loading and the capacity can be increased even further thanks to 60:40 split-folding rear seats. Extra facilities include side pockets and under-floor storage.

Once inside, it’s hard not to be impressed with the sporty design to the Megane. Creature comforts include dual zone climate control, TomTom satellite navigation, a good sound system with CD player, AUX-in and USB connectivity, parking camera with sensors, push button stop/start, cruise control, and automatic headlights and wipers.

There are aluminium sports pedals, a snazzy dash with GT line embossed on it and subtle reminders throughout that this car is no ordinary Megane.

And when it comes to performance there is certainly nothing ordinary about the car.

The 1.6-litre diesel-powered engine delivers plenty of punch as the car moves smoothly through the six-speed manual transmission.

The road-holding is excellent, but the real wow factor is the Megane Sport Tourer’s incredible lack of thirst.

Boasting combined fuel economy of 70.6mpg means trips to the fuel station will be few and far between and that’s a vital selling point these days with pump prices always on the increase.

Renault has kitted out the Megane with a wide range of safety features, including anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, traction control, electronic stability control, understeer control, six airbags and a great alarm system to keep away any uninvited attention.

The Megane Sport Tourer is quite a car. Its looks are guaranteed to turn heads, it’s packed with techno treats, handles beautifully, can carry incredible loads and has a fuel gauge that barely moves – all this for £23.6k.

Test Drive

Renault Megane Coupe Cabriolet Dynamique TomTom 1.9 dCi 130

With unpredictable British weather as it is you need to have a coupe cabriolet that can raise or lower a roof in seconds – enter the Renault Megane CC.

With distinctive styling, especially that larger-than-life rear end and see-through roof, the Megane CC has all-round appeal that is not just limited to the summer months.

And that’s because with the roof up and rain hitting you from every angle, the Megane CC feels like an everyday saloon car thanks to its safe, solid and sturdy design.

But with that little ray of sunshine on the horizon, the roof can be lowered in seconds at the push of a button and wind-in-your-hair, fun-time driving is instantly available.

Priced at £22,815 with a few optional extras, the Megane CC is packed to bursting with quality features and first class technology. The comfortable seats are easily adjusted to find that perfect driving position and all controls and buttons are at your fingertips.

Creature comforts include automatic headlights and rain sensing wipers, keycard hands-free entry, a great sound system with MP3 and Bluetooth connectivity, dual-zone air conditioning, TomTom sat nav, cruise control and plenty more besides.

The road-holding and general all-round performance was very hard to find fault with. The 1.9-litre engine provided plenty of power, and acceleration through the six speed manual transmission was excellent.

Storage space is a little limited in the boot due to the area being partially sealed off to accommodate the roof when lowered.

And elsewhere there were not that many options either as the glove box was rather small. However, that criticism aside, the Megane CC is a really great car.

Visibility is excellent and because of its strong build quality, it feels very safe and reassuring for all occupants.

And, of course, Renault has fitted the vehicle with plenty of top notch safety specifications such as anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution, electronic stability control with anti-skid regulation and understeer control, numerous airbags and Renault’s anti-intruder device to keep uninvited attention at bay.

All in all, the Megane CC has plenty of appeal – it offers great spec levels, fun but safe handling and performance, good economy and a very appealing asking price too. – what more could you wish for?

Test Drive

Renault Megane Dynamique 1.9 dCi 130

French designer Renault has never shied away from a challenge and has always been at the forefront of new technology.
A prime example of this seemingly natural flair for dynamism is the latest versions of the Megane.

It’s true that over the years Renault has thrust some really visually-challenging vehicles in our direction, but nowadays the streamlining and beefy good looks are generally a lot more aesthetically pleasing.
The hatchback version of the Megane supplied for the test drive was filled to bursting with classy features and its looks mean it is guaranteed to stand out in a crowd.

First impressions are vital and the general appearance of the Megane passes on all counts.

Another plus factor that is quickly discovered is the great level of technology throughout. The Megane uses a keycard which means keyless entry and there is a stop/start ignition button.

The dials, levers and controls are perfectly placed with several features accessible from the steering wheel. The only element that may take a little adjusting to though is the central speedo dial. Instead of the traditional line pointing to your current speed, there is a digital display showing the speed in numbers.

Elsewhere, everything is very user-friendly, including the ultra efficient dual-zone climate control and ear-bursting sound system.
My only criticism – which is a slim one – is that I found I had to lean slightly to the left to see the clock properly.

The cabin is light, bright and airy and there is ample space for four adults to travel in comfort. The luggage area is plentiful too.

The drive itself is extremely responsive with the 1.9-litre engine delivering plenty of oomph both in and around town and out on the open road. The six-speed gearbox meant acceleration was excellent and with a host of safety features, the all-round appeal of the Megane is clear to see.

Despite visibility through the rearview window being a tad limited due to its narrow depth, generally the all-round view is good.

All in all, the Megane is a great vehicle which delivers on many counts and with the variety of spec levels and engine types on offer there has to be a Megane to suit all tastes.