Renaut Megane 2012 Review

Anyone think the small car class is underdone for choice? No, I didn't think so. Three and five-door small cars are running rampant in the marketplace, sourced from all four points of the compass and with petrol, diesel and hybrid drivetrains.

Renault has updated its Megane with a little diesel with a six-speed double-clutcher, available in Dynamique or Privilege spec - we're in the former.

VALUE

The Dynamic is priced from $27,490 - a $1500 price impost over the petrol-powered equivalent, with a features list that's really not missing much. 

The cabin is trimmed with cloth predominantly, with a leather-wrapped reach'n'rake adjustable steering wheel and gear shifter, 16in alloy wheels (with a full-size steel spare wheel slung under the bum), dual zone climate control with rear vents, power windows, a 60/40 splitfold rear seat backrest,  a four-speaker sound system with auxiliary and USB input as well as Bluetooth phone and audio link, power-adjustable and folding exterior mirrors.

The test car was also fitted with satellite navigation - a $1490 option.

TECHNOLOGY

The turbodiesel now in the hatch is an 81kW/240Nm 1.5-litre SOHC 8-valve direct-injection intercooled turbodiesel engine with a particle filter, which is not anywhere near the diesel outputs from the class leaders - Ford, Mazda and Holden all have mid300s for torque and over 100kW of power.

The Renault makes up ground with a six-speed dual-clutch automated manual gearbox, which claims 4.5 litre per 100km and 117g/km. The Megane also gets the flat credit-card -like key with smart locking features and keyless ignition.

It's handy to be able to walk away and have the car lock itself, or unlock by touching the handle, although a couple of times it didn't always work as you'd think and you'd have to press the unlock button on the card - a first-world problem.

DESIGN

Gone are the angular looks of the old car's front and the rump is far less pronounced - think Sharapova instead of Williams - it is a more attractive and cohesive look than that of the previous generations. The cabin has an open feel about it, with the driver getting a digital speedo that might not be to all tastes.

The sound system controls - on the dash and the stalk behind the helm - would take some getting used to. The chrome trim highlights on the front doors look good but are hard on the driver's right leg, which rests against it. Rear head room is adequate but leg room isn't.

SAFETY

A five-star NCAP car (Renault was the first to gain that ranking many moons ago), the Megane has stability control, anti-lock brakes with emergency brake assist, as well as dual front, front-side and full-length curtain airbags. The safety features also include automatic headlights and windscreen wipers.

DRIVING

The little French hatch is behind the eight ball for outputs and but for the lighter kerb weight would be a genuine slug. Fuel economy numbers make up for it to some extent, but for now there are more lively diesel alternatives that can acheive similar numbers.

The little diesel is a chuggy powerplant but the cabin is reasonably well-insulated from it - but it's still not the quietest. The chassis compromise between ride and handling is pleasant, one of the better balanced set-ups in the segment. Cabin space is not abundant, particularly for the legs of rear passengers, but bootspace is good - the full-size spare is slung outside the car, under the more-svelte rump.

Seating is comfortable for the driver, who checks speed on a digital readout that some mightn't like but I got used to; the sound system controls (on the dash or stalk) are less easy to like. The instruments and centre display have been given an effective cowling to shield from light and that's not something that is always done well by European brands (Range Rover Evoque being a prime example).

It did prove frugal despite the bulk of its time being spent on suburban roads - 7 litres per 100km were taken from the 60-litre tank, so 1000km on the open road is achievable. Complaints are few - it could do with rear parking sensors as standard as vision aft isn't perfect; the trim piece on the door pull handle is quite hard and fails as a comfortable knee rest for the driver.

VERDICT

The Megane hatch joins a tidal wave of small hatches hitting the top-end of the Australian small-car segment and it's in for a tough fight. The pricetag is in the ballpark but the segment leaders are offering more powerful packages without a big jump in real-world fuel use. The less-polarising looks will help the Megane's cause but the diesel engine falls short of the competition.

Renaut Megane Dynamic automatic dCi

Price: from $27,490
Warranty: 5 years,  unlimited km
Resale: 50% Source: Glass's Guide
Service Interval: 10,000km or 6-months
Economy: 4.5 l/100km, on test 7l/100km; 117g/km CO2
Safety Equipment: six airbags, ABS, EBD, stability control.
Crash rating: 5 star
Engine: 81kW/240Nm 1.5-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder
Transmission: six-speed auto, front-wheel drive
Body: 5-door, 5 seats 
Dimensions: 4295mm (L); 1808mm (W); 1471mm (H); 2641mm (WB)
Weight: 1366kg
Tyre size: 205/60 R16
Spare tyre: full-size steel