Renault Megane driving review
The Renault Mégane has always flown under the radar and hasn’t enjoyed the same limelight as, say, the Volkswagen Golf. It is already in its 19th year since its debut in 1995 yet the Mégane has never been one of the most outstanding cars- until this year that is…
Although, a stylish and oh so ”French” upmarket car, the Mégane needed an impressive upgrade to stand out among its rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf in the compact hatchback segment. At first glance I wasn’t sure that the new Mégane would be able to do this, but after driving two of the new models – it changed my mind about the Mégane completely.
The design of the new Mégane is definitely quite sensuous. The imposing centrepiece diamond-shaped badge dominates the black grille serving to underscore the brand’s new design identity. Front LEDs complement this and add the final touch. However, the changed look is just the beginning for this fresh revision to the French brand’s compact car.
With the new Mégane, Renault introduced 3 new models with two new sister derivatives – the 81 kW Dynamique (of which the engine is carried over from the previous generation), the 97 kW GT Line Turbo and the range topper- the GT Turbo sporting 162 kW. The aim of the two sister derivatives is to meet the same expectations of design and technological advancement but with different priorities to suit the driver’s needs. One must also note that Renault ranks as the top performing brand in terms of fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions.
Efficiency: Renault quite successfully downsized the engine without compromising on performance. The Mégane GT-Line is fitted with a brand new 1.2 litre Turbo 97 kW engine with exceptional fuel efficiency (5.4l/100 km, 124 g CO2/km).
Performance: The Mégane GT Turbo 162 kW (2,0 litre) was engineered by the Renault Sport team and includes exclusive features such as integrated live navigation and keyless locking/unlocking system.
Driving the 1,2 l was a surprise, it has a fair amount of grunt and you would recon it’s actually a 1,4 l or even a 1,6 l. This makes sense though, as the aim of the GT-Line is efficiency. You don’t notice you’re driving a 1,2 l, but you realise it with the relative low fuel consumption (Renault claims 5,4 l /100 km). The GT Turbo is of course for people who want to opt for a more sporty model. This model features the same engine as the Megane RS, but with a slight lower amount of turbo boost. The interior of the GT Turbo and the GT Line are nearly the same, with the GT Turbo boasting some sportier cloth and leather seats.
On the road, both the Mégane models are quite lovely to drive. The wheel provides a positive and direct response with a decent grip. The car handles really well, and the driver feels very confident. Inside, the dashboard retains a clean, simple look – you can clearly see the French inspiration. However, some of the inside gear is difficult to use, especially for the driver. It’s not that easy figuring out the control toggle just next to the hand brake (and also quite awkward to accidentally touch the person’s leg next to you every time you try to activate the GPS or change a song). Other than that, the interior is very stylish and spacious – as the Megane is known to be a lot more spacious than the Clio.
The new Mégane doesn’t disappoint in the safety department. All versions of the new Mégane range come standard with six airbags: front, side and curtain (with anti-submarining airbags an addition to the coupé derivatives); ABS coupled with Emergency Brake Assist; cruise control plus speed limiter and Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with electronic anti-slip regulation (ASR); 3-point Isofix seat anchorage on side rear seats.
Also standard across the range are intelligent technologies ensuring the most updated and intuitive on-board experience, like dual-zone climate control, fingertip controls behind the steering wheel, integrated navigation system including Live services, Bluetooth connectivity, USB port, auto locking / unlocking system and rear park assist.
All derivatives of the new Mégane MY2014 range are available in five-door hatch or three-door coupé variants and these two body shapes offer exactly the same specifications with the recommended pricing also identical.
The pricing of the new Mégane range is as follows and it includes Renault’s five-year/150 000 km warranty complemented by a standard five-year/ 90 000 km service plan.
-New Mégane MY2014 Dynamique 81kW hatch or coupé R249 900
-New Mégane MY2014 GT-Line Turbo 97kW hatch or coupé R279 900
-New Mégane MY2014 GT Turbo 162kW hatch or coupé R329 900
The Renault Mégane may be for those with an acquired taste, but I think Renault definitely made the right move with the upgrade of the new Mégane. Renault as a brand is also starting to catch up in SA with other great models like the Clio and the Sandero- and now the new Mégane is joining this lovely line-up. It changed my whole outlook on the Mégane, and anyone that is looking to spend this kind of money on a hatch should absolutely consider this new stylish and tasteful French car.