Renault Megane | Video Review | CarsIreland.ie

Published on 4 August, 2016

Improvements are not just skin deep and there has been a noticeable increase in cabin space, with a boot that has grown to a Golf and Astra-beating 434 litres.

Overview

Overview

This is a shape you've probably been seeing a lot of in your rear-view mirrors lately.As part of an impressive showroom refresh – Renault have upped their game considerably in the style stakes in recent years. From the eye-catching Captur, to the hugely successful Kadjar, and even the suddenly funky little Clio, that bold diamond lozenge seems to be getting bigger, bolder, and more popular everyday.That styling Renaissance continues with the arrival of this all-new 4th generation Megane

Around for more than twenty years – in various different shapes and sizes , it looks like the Renault design team have finally hit the nail on the head with this one. Longer, lower and sportier than before – the all-new Megane is suddenly, in our humble opinions of course, one of the best looking hatchbacks on the market.

Interior Gallery

Improvements are not just skin deep and it's now more spacious in the cabin, with an increase in rear leg room, and a boot that has grown to a Golf and Astra-beating 434 litres. The Megane has all the basics right too, with cup holders in the right places, and all CarsIreland storage tests passed with flying colours.

Standard equipment is generous and all models will get  get air conditioning, cruise control with a speed limiter, LED daytime running lights, Bluetooth and USB connectivity.The mid-spec Dynamique Nav adds dual zone climate control, automatic lights and wipers, a part-leather interior and SatNav. With a starting price of just under €24,000 that's likely to be the volume seller here.It also gets an additional safety pack with some great driver-assisting features like lane departure warning, road sign recognition and automatic high beam adjustment. It's also a full 5-star Euro NCAP car.

 Renault have also followed the lead of a lot of competitors with the introduction of this sporty 'GT line' spec. Which essentially makes it look like a high-performance hot-hatch, without the high-running costs. For a starting price of just under €26,000, you get a lower, wider honeycomb air intake, a profiled rear diffuser, optional 18 inch alloy wheels and the little GT badges on the front and rear.Then inside you get sports seats with blue stitching and this bespoke GT line steering wheel made from full grain nappa leather might just just be the nicest steering wheel I've ever held, premium class included.The R link entertainment system is brilliant to use – it's slick and responsive this one is equipped with SatNav, DAB digital radio, Bluetooth and all the latest connectivity so you can stream music from your phone.

The engine line-up will mirror that of the Kadjar, with a 1.2l petrol, a 1.6l diesel, and the trusty 110hp1.5l DCI - which will be the obvious choice for most with its incredible fuel economy of  (3.9l/100km) and €180 tax bill There's also a tasty 1.6l 205hp high-performance GT model complete with a new '4Control' four wheel steering system. A diesel GT is on the way next year, as well as a Hybrid version which promises to reduce running costs further again.

There has been a marked improvement in the handling and the new Megane is quite an enjoyable car to drive. The lower, wider body gives it more grip, and a slightly firmer suspension combined with a sharper steering set-up makes for some good fun on windy roads. Good sound insulation in the cabin and a smooth power delivery makes it feel smooth and refined on long motorway stretches too.

Renault reliability has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years and electrical bug bears are no longer the major issue they once were. The five year 200,000km warranty should add further peace of mind. One area where it may struggle in comparison to competitors is future resale values. Although in the age of PCP, that's not such a major issue these days.

The C segment is a notoriously difficult one to compete in and in order to do so a car needs to be either cheaper or better than what's out there already. Starting at just under €19,500 – the new Megane manages to both undercut its main rivals, and bring a lot more to the table besides a low asking price.

Facts & Figures

Sinead McCann

Sinéad is our resident car tester who has the unenviable (-ok, slightly enviable) task of reviewing all the latest new cars to hit the market. You can follow her on Twitter @smcani and on Instagram @whatshedrives