Renault MEGANE II 1.9 dCi90 DIESEL RANGE
Renaults First Euro IV Diesel Engine Offers Company Buyers A Way Of Sidestepping The Chancellor. By Andy Enright
On the face of it, Renaults first Euro IV complaint diesel engine should be a cause for celebration. This powerplant allows company car users to sidestep the three per cent benefit in kind taxation surcharge that non-compliant cars attract. The dCi90 engine fitted to this Megane might make the
Renault a more attractive target for user-choosers but has the French company missed the boat?
After all, most of Renaults key rivals have been offering Euro IV compliant diesel engines for quite some time. Not having one in the line up at the launch of the Megane II seems like an unforgivable own goal. Still, better late than never. Does the dCi90 engine cut the mustard? Its certainly clean enough, churning out just 145g/km of carbon dioxide.
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Part of this cleanliness can be attributed to the fitment of the six-speed manual gearbox from the more powerful 1.9 dCi 120 unit. This transmission allows for very relaxed cruising and also means that its easier to plug the
Renault into the meat of the torque curve at each opportunity. Research has shown that many diesel drivers actually use their gearboxes very poorly and rely on the low down lugging power of their engines instead of dropping down a cog.
Drive in this lazy manner and higher emissions are the inevitable result as unburnt hydrocarbons exit the combustion chamber. The dCi90 when driven sensibly will return a combined fuel figure of 52.3mpg. On a longer run, you can expect to see anything up to 62.
8mpg whilst even in town, the car will manage a very frugal 38.7mpg. Drive with a little less moderation and the Megane will notch off the sprint to 60mph in 12.7 seconds and run on to a top speed of 108mph.
The peak 92bhp power figure is generated at 4,000rpm, although the engine does its best work further down the scale, the peak torque of230Nm kicking in at 2,000rpm.
"Late to the Euro IV party, Renault has to overcome the inertia factor among corporate buyers"
Pricing starts at £13,890 for the Expression five-door hatch or the Dynamique three-door Sport Hatch. Sport Saloon versions cost a little more - from £14,450 in Expression guise - while the Sport Tourer estate starts at £14,700, again in Expression trim. These figures are approximately £1,800 model for model more than equivalent trim 1.4-litre petrol models.
Over the course of a typical three year/30,000 mile ownership period, the diesel will save around £600 in fuel over the petrol car and residual values are broadly similar. As a car for the private buyer, the Megane dCi90 would appear to make little sense. There are many customers who prefer the power delivery of a diesel engine and also enjoy the fact that they have a far longer range than their petrol counterparts, meaning less tedious fuel stops. What also counts in the Meganes favour is the fact that sales to date have backed Renaults gamble on that adventurous shape.
The first year on year sales figures show a growth of some 26 per cent. Although time will doubtless dilute its impact, its still something of a kick to flip open the garage door and be greeted by a car that looks like an escapee from a motor show stand. Renault have a name for this effect. X Appeal and claim that this has been responsible for encouraging sales.
Of course, selling diesels in the UK isnt a tricky job at the moment with more than 40% of all new registrations drinking from the black pump. Ride quality is good, the Megane remaining composed through corners and dismissing rolls, dips and humps with disdain, but cats eyes and expansion joints can occasionally send a jolt through the cabin. Most of the time, however, youll merely be astonished at the Meganes refinement; road noise and trademark diesel engine thrum are muted to almost silence. The steering takes a little getting used to, but once youve become accustomed to its strong self- centring action, it makes a better overall impression.
More than the styling, more than the driving experience, for many the biggest surprise will come when they drop into the drivers
seat of the Megane II. The design is neat without being gratuitously radical, but the real revelation is the great strides forward made in terms of quality of materials and finish. Its almost as if a Renault designers company hack was rear-ended and he got an
Audi courtesy car for the week. Soft feel plastics, quality fabrics and a cohesive design philosophy means a not-so-fond farewell to old-school Renault interiors, many of which were built with the visual drama and structural integrity of a film set.
Genuine innovation is much in evidence. Take Renaults anti-submarining airbag, a device which leaps forth from the seat cushion to protect the pelvis. This replaces the traditional (and some would say uncomfortable) hump at the front of the seat and is a neat solution that provides both comfort and unparalleled safety, effectively making it impossible to slide beneath the seatbelt in the event of an accident. Like the Laguna II, the Megane features a card rather than the traditional key, and multiplex wiring systems ensure that all of the usual refinements such as rain-sensing wipers, cruise control with speed limiter and automatic headlamps are available.
Spend more and you can even specify a full-length sunroof and Carminat satellite navigation. The Megane 1.9dCi 90 strikes us as something of a mixed bag. Theres little doubt that it possesses a very good engine and a stylish shape.
Factor in some decent equipment levels and you would seem to have a winner. The problems lay in the cars rather high price differential over its equivalent petrol counterpart and the fact that without a EuroIV complaint powerplant in the range to date, Renault will have to overcome the inertia factor when converting company car buyers. Thats a big ask.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Renault Megane II 1.9dCi90 diesel range
PRICES: £13,890-£15,200 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 5-6 [est]
CO2 EMISSIONS: 145g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 108mph / 0-60mph 12.7s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 38.7 (extra urban) 62.8 (combined) 52.3mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side, curtain and anti submarine airbags / seatbelt pre-tensioners / ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [5dr] Length/Width/Heightmm 4209/1777/1457
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