Renault Mégane moves up

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What is it?

This is the third generation of Renault Mégane and is a concerted effort by the French firm to up the stakes in build quality and driving manners. Gone are the Marmite looks of the previous Mégane - along with its ass-shakin' rump - in favour of a more straightforward hatchback style for the five-door model. However, Renault has not given up completely in the style stakes and the new three-door model is called 'Coupé' to distinguish it from the five-door. It also comes with a sportier set-up to appeal to those looking for an affordable, good looking coupé. Both hatch and Coupé come with a range of petrol and diesel engines, and there will also be a new 140bhp 2.0-litre petrol unit arriving shortly after the Mégane goes on sale, which uses a CVT (continuously variable transmission).

Is it any good?

If you loved the shape of the previous Mégane, then the new hatch could be a bit of a disappointment in the looks department. However, in every other respect, the new Mégane hatch is a far better car. Build quality is much improved and the Laguna-style dash has much more visual appeal, as well as being well thought out and functional. Only the mix of colours on the top-spec Privilege models is slightly questionable, but for space and comfort, the Mégane sits alongside the best in class. It also has a large, well proportioned boot thanks to the normal hatch rather than its predecessor's notch-back affair that limited cargo room. There's even enough room in the three-door Coupé, with its 43mm lower roofline, for two adults to get comfy and a decent boot.

Finding a good driving position is easy as all Méganes come with a height adjustable driver's seat and two-way movement for the steering wheel. This can be appreciated all the more as the new Mégane has plenty of steering feel and bags of cornering grip to make it one of the better cars in the small family class to drive. It's not quite as nimble as a Ford Focus, but it gives the class leaders something to ponder when it comes to comfort. The Renault soothes grazed road surfaces with real polish, which makes it great on country roads and ideal for long distance drives. In the Coupé, which sits on firmer suspension that has been lowered by 12mm, the ride is not so accomplished, feeling too brittle and unsettled on even billiard table smooth roads.

To begin with, Renault has a line-up of three petrol and three diesel engines. There are two 1.6-litre petrol units, in 100- and 110bhp forms, with the less powerful engine attached to a five-speed manual gearbox. Every other engine in the line-up has a six-speed manual as standard. There's a big jump to the other petrol engine, a 180bhp 2.0-litre turbo, which accelerates both the Mégane hatch and Coupé from 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds. While the 2.0-litre has reasonable low- and mid-rev oomph, it becomes too raucous at higher revs should the driver want to make the most of the available performance. Mégane Coupé buyers who prefer petrol power only have the choice of the two more potent petrol engines.

The diesel options will make up a large proportion of Mégane sales and Renault has fitted its 1.5-litre turbodiesel in 86- and 106bhp guises. They record 118- and 120g/km of carbon dioxide respectively, so they will be easy on road and company car tax. Both of these diesels also manage 62.8mpg to put them on a par with the best of this class. Buyers looking for more go but still decent economy would do well to look at the 1.9 dCi 130 turbodiesel, which provides 0-62mph in 9.5 seconds along with 55.4mpg and 134g/km CO₂ emissions. A new 2.0-litre turbodiesel will join the Mégane ranks shortly after its launch in 150- and 160bhp forms, with the less powerful version used in conjunction with a new six-speed automatic gearbox. The more powerful 160bhp turbodiesel will use a standard six-speed manual 'box. We tried the 1.9 dCi 130, which is quiet, flexible and smooth.

Should I call the bank manager?

If you were considering one of the small family class leaders - Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Volkswagen Golf - it would be worth putting in a call to the bank manager and your nearest Renault dealer. Prices of the Mégane hatch have crept up and start at £13,995 for the 1.6 100 Expression. There are also Dynamique and Privilege trims, while the Coupé costs £400 more than its equivalent hatch model. Renault says the increased prices are easily outweighed by the revised engine range and generous standard equipment count. All Méganes come with air conditioning, CD stereo, six airbags, ESP and electric front windows, while the Coupé adds alloy wheels to every model.

Summary

Renault may have lost some of the previous Mégane's cheeky looks with the arrival of the third generation of its small family hatch, but the new Mégane is a significantly better car. The five-door hatch is refined, comfortable, spacious and well kitted out with luxury and safety gear. It's well worth a look if you're in the market for a car from this sector. The Coupé is less convincing, though we've only tried the 180bhp 2.0-litre model. Its engine is too coarse and the ride unremittingly jarring, even for a supposedly sporty car. Stick with the five-door and you won't be disappointed.

Alisdair Suttie