Renault Megane hatchback 2005 review

In any event, there are many buyers – young and not-so-young – who just love well-sorted quickies.

Hence the market for compact performance cars, which can be driven for economy around the city or set alight, in the right environment, for some fun motoring.

The BMC Mini – particularly the Cooper S – gave birth to the segment.

Explore the 2005 Renault Megane range

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More recently, Subaru has set the standard for affordable performance with its WRX – a top performer with a sub-six-second sprint time at a sub-$40,000 price.

Peugeot's 206 GTi is $5000 cheaper and only 1.5 seconds slower. And the new Mini Cooper S is a full financial member of the category at only $710 more than the WRX with a 0-100km/h time of 7.2 seconds.

Renault has added the Sport Megane 225 to the hot hatch class to which it was already a member with the Clio Sport.

The quick Megane is fully credentialled with a 0-100km/h dash in 6.5 seconds, a standing 400m in 14.6 seconds and a top speed of 236km/h. At $42,990, it is not the cheapest car in the class but it does come with sufficient kit to justify the price. The Megane is not a small car in the truest sense – and is highly individualistic in its styling.

The Sport Megane 225 hatch is powered by a 16-valve turbocharged two-litre four, which generates a wholesome 165kW of power and 300Nm of torque to the front wheels via a really slick six-speed manual gearbox. The motor is the work of the brand's motorsport arm, Renault Sport Technologies, which was given the task of producing a performance motor suitable for daily use.

The engine finds an ideal home in the Megane hatch, which has been modified to match the firepower of the engine.

The Sport Megane body is enhanced with a wide air intake grille to ensure that the intercooled turbo gets plenty of fresh air. The rear bumper skirting is cut away to make way for the large-bore twin-pipe exhaust outlets.

A spoiler, integrated in the upper part of the rear hatch, boosts stability at high speeds.

The Sport runs 17in alloy wheels, which fill the wheel arches nicely, maximising the model's muscular looks.

The sporty driving theme continues inside through the use of leather steering wheel, aluminium pedal pads and a graphic treatment of the instrumentation. The Sport shares the same round-backed hatch body with naturally aspirated versions of the five-door hatch Megane line-up – unlike the Impreza WRX which is available in both hatch and sedan forms.

Buyers will love the rump or hate it, with very few "don't knows". But enthusiast drivers attracted by the dynamics of the car will not be put off by the rear styling.

After all, previous "Rex" models were not all that pretty either.

Now for what the Sport Megane has to offer.

The "blown" two-litre is a willing worker off the line without any lag, which flaws so many turbo models.

The addition of a full complement of stability kit ensures that there is very little torque steer – the tendency of a performance front drive car to pull to one side – under full load.

Power peaks at 5500rpm but the 300Nm of torque is reached at 3000rpm.

The twin-scroll-type turbocharger delivers the goods throughout the various rev ranges without any flat spots.

The engine is a real joy to fire into action and the six-speed, close-ratio manual transmission is a sheer joy to flick from cog to cog with the short, sporty shift.

The car rides on a proficient chassis, which is firm but not brutal and keeps the body from undue movement under severe cornering forces. The Sport Megane comes standard with anti-lock brakes, stability control, emergency brake assist and understeer control. Everything works according to the plot to ensure the car is nowhere as skittish as hot cars of days gone.

Anyone who gets into trouble has the backing of five-star Euro crash test rating, double volume dual airbags, side airbags and curtain airbags plus seat belt pretensioners front and rear. Variable power assisted steering gives the car a good road feel – particularly during cornering when directional correction is required.

The Sport comes with a long list of standard items, including cruise control with a speed limiter, six-speaker CD sound system, electrochromic interior mirror, automatic headlights and automatic windscreen wipers, variable depending on the amount of rain.

An optional LX pack which consists of a sunroof, a six CD stacker and full leather trim is available for $4000.

AT A GLANCE

The Sport Megane is one of those cars which can make your day – day after day.

Anyone who appreciates affordable power will be enthralled by what the car has to offer.

Forget the rounded rump – this is a sports hatch which should be driven and considered by anyone in the market for a hot not-so-little number.