Peugeot 308 hatchback 2014 review
The all new Peugeot 308 has taken a step in the right direction by being more practical, more economical and arguably more desirable than the model in replaces.
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A tiny engine is being used to stir extra spice into Renault's Megane. The base car in the French family now has a 1.2-litre turbo engine instead of the previous 2.0-litre four.
However it comes with added punch and fuel economy that's improved by more than 25 per cent.
VALUE
The new starter car is the Megane Authentique TCe 130 at $20,990. It's the headline model in a slimmed-down 2014 line-up with more emphasis on the sporty edge that's worked so well for Renault Sport models.
There are a GT220 Megane hatch and wagon in the middle of the range (see below). There are also a diesel Megane Authentique hatch at $25,990 and a Megane Dynamique wagon - claimed as the cheapest of its kind - at $29,490.
The cosmetic package of the GT Line is also expected to be popular with buyers. The changes come as Renault reports a 53 per cent improvement in sales for the first half of 2014, including for the first time delivering more than 1000 in a month, in June.
This is chiefly due to the new Clio and the ongoing bait provided by RS models that have even taken some of the sales gloss off the latest Subaru WRX.
"In Europe, Renault is a mainstream brand. We will continue to move towards emulating this in Australia," says Renault Australia managing director Justin Hocevar.
The line-up changes accompany a minor cosmetic tweak bringing the Megane into line with the new "corporate face", already on the Clio.
Renault is also using the arrival of the latest Megane to emphasise the car's value, with capped-price servicing at $897 for three years, compared with $657 for a Hyundai i30 and $1639 for a Honda Civic.
"The perception that it is expensive to service a Renault is false. This is a lingering misconception. All the previous stigmas of the Renault brand are now in the past," says Hocevar.
The key car in the new line-up is the TCe 130 - Renault persists in using the horsepower figure in model names even though France uses kilowatts - so that's where I spend most of my time.
I drive it initially in six-speed manual guise, then with Renault's efficient dual-clutch "EDC" manumatic, over some rough and rugged roads in the far north of NSW. To be honest, I would never pick it as a 1.2 or a turbo.
It's got more than enough performance for the Megane package, although paddle-shifters would be handy in the EDC car. Renault has always done great seats and suspension and the latest package is still brilliantly in tune with Aussie conditions.
It's easy to overlook the new front-end styling - it escaped me at first - but the value package is pretty good despite prices that sit above the class champions.
Vehicle | Specs | Price* | |
---|---|---|---|
Dynamique | 2.0L, PULP, CVT AUTO | $8,800 – 12,430 | 2014 Renault Megane 2014 Dynamique Pricing and Specs |
Expression | 2.0L, PULP, CVT AUTO | $7,700 – 10,780 | 2014 Renault Megane 2014 Expression Pricing and Specs |
Sport Edition | 2.0L, PULP, 6 SP MAN | $7,920 – 11,220 | 2014 Renault Megane 2014 Sport Edition Pricing and Specs |
(base) | 2.0L, PULP, CVT AUTO | $13,750 – 18,150 | 2014 Renault Megane 2014 (base) Pricing and Specs |
$11,990
Lowest price, based on 9 car listings in the last 6 months