Renault Master E-Tech Reviews

Renault's red hot Megane RS 265 is about as good as it gets in terms of hot hatches, one of if not the best handling front-wheel drive cars on the face of the planet.But for many people the three-door rocket is a little too hot, especially for those with families who need something a bit more restrained and a bit more practical.Enter stage right the Megane GT 220 wagon from the Renault Sport go-fast department that adds rear doors and a luggage area capable of carting the family trappings.It's not the full monty, but perhaps represents a workable solution for those who like their cars.The GT boasts a 162kW turbocharged 2.0-litre engine (220 horsepower in the old money) and sports tuned chassis, together with some visual enhancements to match. The only thing missing from a practical point of view is an automatic.VALUEIt's a limited edition and Renault has secured a couple of hundred GT 220s, each with a numbered plaque. Arriving in June the wagon will be priced from $36,990, with grab bag of goodies that can be added as part of a Premium pack for another $5000 there are no other options.The wagon is already well equipped in standard form, with dual zone climate control, fog lights, auto lights and wipers, daytime running lights, rear parking sensors and flashy black 18 inch alloys. The Renault Sport trip computer, carbon-fibre look dash, aluminium foot pedals, red-stitched leather wheel and 8 speaker audio system are icing on the cake.The pack adds two-tone leather front seats, a panoramic sunroof, high-powered bi-xenon head lights, front parking sensors, plus a reversing camera. Satellite navigation and lane departure warning round out the package.TECHNOLOGYAlthough it misses out on an auto, it will be Renault's first model to feature fuel-saving, stop-start technology. The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, essentially a detuned version of that in the RS, produces 162kW of power at 4750 revs and 340Nm of torque from 2400 revs.The engine is paired with a six-speed manual only. In terms of performance, the dash from 0 to 100km/h takes 7.6 seconds and it has a top speed of 240km/h. The wagon has a 60-litre tank, uses 7.3 litres/100km and takes premium unleaded although 98 is recommended.It weighs in at 1464kg and the chassis is based on the Sport chassis available for the Megane RS, with suspension that has been tuned specifically for the task along with specially calibrated electric steering. The glossy black 18-inch wheels are different, but the tyres are the same 225/40s as those fitted to the RS. The brakes have also been beefed up, with 320mm ventilated Brembos at the front and 260mm solid discs down the back.DESIGNAt 4.7 metres the wagon offers a load length of 1670mm with the rear seats folded and 1100mm between the wheel arches, with 994mm behind the rear bench seat. The front passenger seat can also be folded to accommodate extra long objects.SAFETYGets a full five stars for safety and a full complement of six airbags, including curtain airbags unlike the Clio and Clio-based Captur that makes do with four. Electronic stability and traction control are standard, along with ABS, brake assist, brake force distribution and hill start assist.DRIVINGPerformance is strong. Obviously not as strong as the RS 265 but strong enough to satisfy most enthusiasts minus the hardcore edge of the RS. That edge by the way begins to grind after a while if it's too harsh which is why many manufacturers offer electronically modulated suspension and drive trains.In reality you can drive the GT hard with confidence and there is plenty in the tank for overtaking, so it won’t' get caught on the wrong side of the road.VERDICTNo complaints here. Renault's forte is special editions and this is another worthy edition. Too bad it doesn't come with the option of an auto, but that is not going to stop enthusiasts from buying it though it could make it a little harder to get through to the keeper.Renault Megane GT 220Price: from $36,990Weight: 1464kgEngine: 2.0-litre turbocharged, 162kW/340NmTransmission: 6-speed manualThirst: 7.3L/100km0 to 100km/h: 7.6 seconds

Safety-conscious car buyers are about to face a confusing choice between cars sitting in showrooms with conflicting safety scores.

In addition, the mainstream family Megane will be headlined by a turbo-powered GT model that bridges gap to the hotrod RS turbo models that have become the French brand's signature in Australia.The GT 220 lands in June and will be followed by ‘regular’ wagons less than a month later. Pricing is from $36,990 and the cooking cars will have stickers starting below $30,000 with a choice of a 2.0-litre petrol engine with CVT transmission or a 1.5-litre diesel with a dual-clutch manumatic.After a very short preview drive of the GT 220 in France, and just a couple of twisting corners, it's obvious that the car will suit people who like to drive. It's nowhere near as extreme as the RS 265, which will be good news for youngsters in the back, but it is plenty quick enough for family hauling.It also looks good, is well equipped and easy to handle in all conditions. The basics of the Megane wagon, before the GT 220 upgrade, also point to a reasonable future with families who have been starved of anything but SUVs in the compact class.It's not the most modern car in the class, or the sharpest on price, but it is going a different way as Renault also readies its all-new Captur SUV for Australia next year.The real shortcoming is that it only comes with a six-speed manual gearbox, not even a paddle-shift manumatic. So it's for old-school drivers, as I learn when switching out of a sharp-edged Clio RS."We believe the wagon is a different proposition for consumers. It's a good looking car and sits nicely in the range," says Renault spokesperson, Emilie Ambrosy."We also have an SUV with the Koleos but the wagon suits different people." The GT 220 is developed by RenaultSport, but is not as extreme as the full-on RS cars despite a turbocharged engine that makes 162 kiloWatts with 340 Newton-metres of torque.The best way to highlight the difference is the 0-100km/h time, which rises from 6.0 seconds in the RS 265 hatch to 7.6 seconds in the GT wagon."It is the link between RenaultSport and the normal cars. But it is seen as a RenaultSport car and there are plaques in the cars with a build number," says Ambrosy.But why is the GT 220 coming as a wagon and not a hatch?"We're doing it because we see an opportunity for this vehicle. We've had a tremendous success with the RS 265 but there are people who want the practicality of five doors."And the RS is an extreme car. This is a chance to grow the portfolio."The GT 220 is slugged as a limited-edition car - with 18-inch alloys - but it is also the first Renault for Australia with stop-start technology, helping trim fuel use to 7.3 litres/100km from 8.3 for the RS."We will get a couple of hundred cars. The base model will be $36,990 with no options, then there will be a premium pack for $5000, which puts the car at $41,990, with leather seats, satellite navigation with reversing camera, front parking sensors, panoramic sunroof and a system that Renault calls Visio with lane departure warning, bi-Xenon lamps and automatic dimming of the high beam," says Ambrosy.This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover 

A new wave of baby SUVs is breaking on Australian shores and Renault is hoping to surf to success with its all-new Captur. The youthful newcomer should land early next year with a starting price just below $20,000 and the emphasis firmly on 20-somethings buying their first new car.That means design is king - including bodywork with contrasting roof colours - with everything from in-car Apps for the infotainment system to zip-off washable seat covers.The Captur's SUV body is built up over the mechanical package used for Renault's new baby, the fourth-generation Clio, which means front-wheel drive, small-capacity turbo petrol engines and impressive suppression of mechanical and road noise. Fuel economy should also be good.Renault now sees the baby SUV class as a potential gold mine, just like its Euro rivals and even Ford and Holden in Australia, which means buyers will have plenty of choice and lots of bargaining power."We think it will be a worldwide tendency for a long time. It is a strong trend, crossovers, globally," says Christophe Pejout, the Captur project leader.It's tough to really rate the Captur without running it back-to-back with its new rivals - including the Ford EcoSport and Opel Mokka - but it does well enough for a small SUV. It's never going to excite a sports car fan, but it's a good looker that hits the right notes for Gen-Y buyers coming to cars for the first time.And it might also do well with older people looking for that essential higher seating position for their suburban runabout.VALUEHow do you rate the Captur without a solid bottom line? It's impossible. But, based on a pricetag that is likely to limbo just under $20,000 for the base model - with a tiny 900cc turbo engine - and hover around $23,000 for the popular model, the French contender should be right on the money.The Captur also promises miserly running costs, with 4.9 litres/100km thirst for the baby engine and 5.4 for the larger 1.2-litre turbo that was available for test driving in France. On the downside, the petrol engines take premium unleaded and Renault Australia has no intention of taking diesel engines, at least for the foreseeable future.But ownership will be helped by the five-year warranty with $299 capped-price servicing for the first three years. "We wanted a car that looked like a crossover, and acted like a crossover, but didn't consume like a crossover," says Pejout.There are likely to be three trim levels in Australia, with even the basic car getting Bluetooth connectivity and an Eco driving mode but no rear-view camera."There is a lot of competition coming and it will be priced and specified appropriately," is all Renault Australia's Emilie Ambrosy says on pricing plans.TECHNOLOGYThe mechanical package of the Captur is solid and basic. Just think of the Clio, add a new body on top, and there you go - right down to the cost saving rear drum brakes.In fact, the Captur is only 150 kilos heavier than the Clio 4 and the same weight as the previous-generation baby car.Where it scores is with the sort of stuff that young buyers want and need these days, especially the impressive R-Link with giant display screen and access to more than 50 Apps. The system even has a text-to-voice system that can read out tweets and emails, which is going to be essential during the inevitable safety crackdown in coming years.The tablet-style display screen in the Captur test car - although not confirmed for the starter model - is clear and impressive, with satnav that works well thanks to the TomTom operating system that even keeps a track of the speed limit.On the mechanical front, the big tech news is the 900cc engine that makes 66 kiloWatts at 5250 revs and 135 Newton-metres of torque at 2500 revs. But, like most starter cars, it's only mated to a five-speed manual gearbox - and it was not available to drive in France.The larger 1.2-litre motor makes 88 kilowatts and 190 Newton-metres at just 2000 revs, with a six-speed dual-clutch auto called the 'Efficient Dual Clutch' by Renault.DESIGNThe Captur turns heads and will make great bait in showrooms, especially in the light blue-with white roof colour combination. But the best looking combination is reserved for the diesel cars during the French test and we're relegated to the black-over-brown look for our drive.There are nine body colours and three roof colours for owners to mix and match, with 16 and 17-inch alloys.Renault's crazy-talented design guru Laurens van den Acker - he always has a new wild looking pair of sneakers on display - has done a great job in overseeing a car that looks both youthful and inviting. It's not your typical blunt-edged SUV truckster.And the latest version of Renault's corporate 'face' gives the car a striking nose that manages not to offend. "We think it's more of a family car than Clio 4," says Pejout.The really classy work is inside the Captur, from the dash layout - which can be customised with colour splashes on things like the switches and air vents - to a sliding rear seat and the zip-off seat covers. They should make clean-up work easier, as well as potentially boosting resale values with a last-minute change to all-new fabric.The seats are cushy but not particularly supportive and the steering wheel sits too flat - bus-style - for my liking. And the impressive slide-out drawer on the passenger side - which is much bigger and more practical than a traditional glovebox - will be chopped to fit in a right-hand drive dash.SAFETYThe Captur is almost certain to score five stars from NCAP, since the Clio is a five-star winner that's rated as Europe's safest baby cars.Neither has any rear airbags but that has not affected the Clio's Euro NCAP rating, although it could cause a problem in Australia next year if ANCAP sticks to its plan to downgrade any newcomer without rear bags.Pejout admits safety development was focussed on costs and the NCAP targets but points to ESP stability control and ABS brakes in the Captur's favour. "In Europe, people don't count the number of airbags, they look at the EuroNCAP rating. For us, it's important to have a good EuroNCAP rating," he says.DRIVINGIt's impossible to really rate the Captur without driving its rivals. It's trendy enough, and has some cute design touches and lots of technology, but it is nothing special to drive.It's soft and cushy, not great for cornering grip, but has solid brakes and is quiet at all speeds. For people who just want trendy transport, or something for short-and-sharp city or suburban runs, it ticks the right boxes.The 1.2 turbo motor needs to be encouraged, which definitely means dumping the Eco mode unless you're in stop-start traffic or cruising at highway pace. At its best, it still only gets to 100km/h in 10.9 seconds and the baby 900 will take 12.9.The twin-clutch auto is smooth and efficient and, based on comparisons with anything Volkswagen short of the latest Golf 7, beats its German opposition for both smoothness and response. There is no jerking during parking manoeuvres and it holds well on hills.The Captur is not as good to drive as the Subaru XV, even though it's smaller and likely to be cheaper, and who knows what will happen when it goes up against the more powerful Opel Mokka and Holden Trax twins in the GM line, as well as the Ford EcoSport and the rest.The cabin package is impressive and the infotainment package is impressive, even the surprisingly-meaty sound system. The adjustable rear seat looks good but only really makes the leg space passable for adults, so is focussed on flexibility for load work, and I'm disappointed that the great dash drawer won't be coming downunder.So, what to do on the star-score front? Right now, I don't have enough information to make a seriously solid judgement on the Captur, but it's looking like a potential podium finisher in the new SUV class and that means it gets 3.5 from 5 with the potential for a re-score - up or down - once its lands in Australia.VERDICTThe Captur looks great and is good fun, but it's not for people who like to drive.

In the old days they used to jack up cars to steal the wheels. These days car makers do it to turn them into 4WDs and sell more cars, although the modern day off-roader has very little to do with going off road. For a start, most of them don't have four-wheel drive and even if they did, the majority of drivers would be unlikely to get them dirty.Nope. It's got more to do with the coveted high driving position that makes it easier to navigate traffic and the increased cabin height that makes them easier to get in and out of.And, just like cars, SUVs are shrinking. Demand for the large, hard core 4WDs is dropping as people gravitate towards smaller, softer "crossover" style vehicles that bridge the gap between the traditional car and the 4WD.The latest wave is imminent. Smaller or sub-compact crossovers are about to hit town like VW's Taigun, the Holden Trax and its Opel stablemate Mokka, as well as a couple of French offerings - the 2008 from Peugeot and Captur from arch rival Renault.Renault, whose star is in the ascendant is pretty excited about Captur's prospects that arrives early next year and we got a taste of things to come this week in France. Captur (no E) we're told is a combination of MPV, SUV and family hatch. One thing's for sure - it's no shrinking violet.The bloke that designed the smiley Mazdas has jumped ship and his stamp is starting to emerge, with bright candy colours and a bold, new face dominated by a beefed up Renault badge.VALUEIt's early days yet and Renault is still finalising prices and equipment levels. Trying to nail down what we will and will not be in our cars is no easy task. We can confirm there will be three trim levels but that the car's defining feature - the two-tone paint job - is in fact not standard, at least overseas.Nor are we sure at this stage whether we'll get the full suite of multimedia components, with a large tablet-style computer screen, voice control for many functions and full internet connectivity on the car we drove - with access to more than 50 apps from the dedicated R-Link store.The system is so smart it is even able to read out tweets and emails if you ask it to. Unfortunately, the infrastructure to support most of these features is not yet in place in Australia.Prices are expected to kick off from less than $20,000 and it will be covered by a five-year warranty with fixed price servicing for the first three years, or three 15,000km services - whichever comes first (at $299 per service). TECHNOLOGYThe five-seat Captur is available in front-wheel drive only. We're getting two engines and neither of them is a diesel. There's a turbocharged, 900cc three cylinder unit that produces 66kW of power and 135Nm of torque and a turbocharged, 1.2-litre four cylinder engine with the latest direct injection technology that produces 88kW and 190Nm.Both incorporate a maintenance free timing chain avoiding the need to replace costly timing belts. The first will be available with a five speed manual, the latter with a 6-speed dual clutch auto that Renault refers to as EDC (Efficient Dual Clutch).Both power plants outgun Peugeot's direct competitor the 2008 but will be no match for the 1.4-litre turbo from Cruze that will power Trax and Mokka. The dash from 0-100km/h takes 12.9 and 10.9 seconds respectively, with a top speed in the 1.2 of 192km/h.Captur has a 45-litre tank and runs on premium unleaded, with fuel consumption rated at 4.9 for the 900cc engine and 5.4 litres/100km for the 1.2, with an ECO button that is said to improve fuel consumption by as much as 10 per cent.DESIGNBased on the Clio hatch and built in Spain, it's flashy and curvaceous, especially with contrasting roof and other coloured embellishments. It's 4.1 metres long and weighs up to 1180kg, and is about 100kg heavier than the hatch.Our test car was finished in a bright metallic orange with a black roof that had a orange graphic splashed across the roof, and was fitted with 17 inch alloys and 205/55 series tyres.The clever rear seat slides 160mm fore and aft depending on your needs, with 75mm more legroom in the back than the hatch and a small luggage compartment that hides a second, lidded storage area underneath.Left hand drive models get a large pull-out bin in place of a glove box but unfortunately there's no room for the bin with the steering wheel on our side of the car.There's nine colours and three roof combinations from which to chose: black, white or orange - along with other colour-coded accents. Coloured highlights are also fitted inside, with zip-off seat covers on the top drawer model that can be washed or replaced.SAFETYThe jury is still out over this one. It gets a full five stars from the Euro crash test people, but like the Clio comes with only four airbags. There's no curtain airbag to protect rear seat passengers. It will be interesting to see what the Australian NCAP organisation has to say about this one.In all other ways it features the full arsenal of electronic aids including electronic traction and stability control as well as rollover intervention - but no reversing camera on the entry model.In its defence, Renault has been at the forefront of safety for many years and points out that these type of vehicles rarely carry rear seat passengers - so the extra airbags are not warranted. They have however spent some time making sure the car is more pedestrian friendly in the event of an accident.DRIVINGSurprise, surprise - we only got to drive the more powerful 1.2-litre model. It goes okay but left us hankering for more (like the 1.6-litre turbo from the Clio RS for instance). It would fit, but meeting emissions standards could be tricky, explained Captur's program manager Chrstophe Pejout.A more powerful 1.2-litre engine would be easier and more likely, Pejout explained. But the Frenchman was at pains to point out that no decision had been made yet, although he conceded the matter is under consideration.The 1.2 is more than adequate for city and highway cruising, in situations where it is not stressed - but lacks any real punch, especially down low. Changing gears manually via the shifter elicits a sharper response but drives up fuel consumption (change paddles are not fitted). Although the Renault Captur is rated at 5.4 litres/100km but we finished the the first day with 11.0 and the second day of driving with 8.1 litres/100km.Captur is certainly no sports car and is not intended to be, sitting higher than the hatch with plenty of bounce and body roll from the comfort-orientated suspension. Having said this it remains confident even when pushed to the limit, with high levels of grip and refused to step out of line on the mountain roads encountered.Surprisingly, though fitted with rear drums, the brakes feel up to the job. With testing limited to French, Swedish and Spanish roads it will be interesting to see how it adapts to our blacktop.VERDICTThe striking design is a drawcard, but it's almost too pretty in some respects and likely to appeal more to women. The split is almost 50/50 in Europe, but then they have a penchant for some mighty funny clothes too. A bit more punch would be nice and a Renault Sport edition would be particularly welcome. Over to you Renault.

This stunning admission, by Captur project chief Christophe Pejout, comes as he also admits the French company is targeting its safety development work

Renault has embedded a phone and tablet in its Twin’Z concept, with the devices taking over the duties of the dashboard and car system controls.A smartphone mounted in the driver’s line of sight on the dash gives the car’s speed, range and warnings, while the tablet fixed to a post in the centre stack takes care of GPS, airconditioning, and controls for the seats, roof, lights – and of course internet connectivity.Used to highlight the French carmaker’s latest design strategy, the electric Twin’z features a carbon-fibre body and glass roof with arrays of LED lighting that forms animated patterns.The hinged front and rear doors open electrically, removing the need for a central pillar and freeing up space.  Inside, four lightweight seats have been formed to ‘grow’ from the floor, and covered in a high-tech mesh that renders them waterproof and flame-resistant.The 3.62 metre long electric car drives through its 18 inch rear-wheels, with a rear-mounted motor and batteries located under the floor.The Twin'Z draws its inspiration from the heritage of some of the brand's most emblematic models, such as the Renault 5 and Renault Twingo but with 50 kilowatts of power it’s going to have to rely on the lightweight body to get it off the mark in a hurry. It has a top speed of 130km/h and a range of 160km.The small car was a collaboration between Renault and British designer Ross Lovegrove, the fifth concept car in Renault’s design program – and was unveiled not at a car show, but at the prestigious design-fest at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile di Milano. 

The Renault Twizy is an electric city car that retails for less than $10k and has a power output starting as low as 4 kilowatts (5 horsepower) and topping out at about 13 kilowatts (17 horsepower).It’s not exactly the type of vehicle you’d use to highlight the link between the world of Formula One and that of production cars, but that hasn’t stopped Renault, an enginesupplier to top F1 teams including Red Bull Racing, from rolling out a new F1-inspired Twizy concept.  The concept was built by Renault together with its motorsport division, Renault Sport, and its F1 division, Renault Sport F1.It features a number of technologies lifted directly from an F1 race car, including its F1-spec wheels and tires; new front splitter, side-pods, diffuser and wing made of F1-grade carbon fiber; and even a power-boosting Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS). Last but not least, the concept is equipped with an F1-type steering wheel from the Renault Sport catalogue.The KERS is identical to that used in F1 and boosts power output six-fold to reach almost 73kW and is capable of catapulting the car from standstill to 100 km/h as quickly as Renault’s highest-performing road car, Megane Renaultsport 265. It is contained within a clear box situated behind the seats.At this point, you may be wondering why Renault would choose its diminutive Twizy to display its F1 expertise. According to the automaker, even a vehicle as far removed from the world of F1 as the Twizy can benefit from technology developed in motorsport’s highest echelon.Note, this isn’t the first time that Renault has used one of its less sporty models to display its F1 expertise. At the 1994 Paris Auto Show, the automaker presented its Espace F1, an MPV concept whose body was built entirely out of carbon fiber.www.motorauthority.com 

Invasion is easy when you have a country with well-oiled swinging doors and a neon welcome light. As the world's only country - well, with New Zealand - with a level-playing field policy on imports, Australian citizens have an enviable choice of goods and services, though mostly at the expense of its domestic businesses. It's the reason Renault exists.Its Australian sales are up 28 per cent this year to date compared with 2011 while back home in croissantville, sales are down about 30 per cent. Renault products are actually quite good. The problem is that, in many cases, the competition is better - better built, better known, better equipped, better looking though not often better priced.The Megane is a sturdy, well-priced hatch with a family in mind. The diesel engine is a willing worker that adapts well to suburban life. But would you buy one over a Hyundai?It's good value for money, especially considering its cheap running costs. The Megane gets $199 capped price service for three years and a  five-year, unlimited distance warranty with roadside assist. Residual is a low-ish 50 per cent (but a Commodore is 34 per cent) after three years, meaning Glass's Guide estimates it'll fetch $13,700 as a trade in.The Megane is regarded as a small car though will seat four ad ults, has a high level of features - audio streaming Bluetooth, cruise control, auto headlights and wipers, hands-free entry and button start, dual-zone climate control aircon, height adjustable driver and passenger seat, tilt-telescopic steering adjustment, six airbags, 16-inch alloy wheels and heated, electric side mirrors.This is the base model Megane Dynamique hatch with a diesel engine and automatic transmission and the $27,490 price tag makes it the cheapest against similarly-equipped Holden Cruze, Ford Focus and Hyundai i30 rivals. It is about $7000 cheaper than the comparative Golf while the Megane's excellent warranty and capped service put it up against the Hyundai.If there was a guide book on how to become invisible, this car is the leading light. Simply, the styling is so very ordinary that it could be any small hatchback. You may never find it in a carpark. Only the diamond badge on the bonnet marks it as a Renault and even then, probably means zip to most onlookers - if there are any. So, Renault isn't edgy anymore.But the cars are pragmatic, space efficient and - aside from the switch layout - logical. The boot is deep and long (the spare wheel is under the chassis) and split-fold rear seats make for a big cargo area. Seats are a cloth-leather combo and are reasonable in comfort. There's plenty of personal storage spaces. Better is the adjustability to create a perfect driving position.Instruments are a bit overdrawn - though the digital speedo is e asy to read - and switches are a dog's breakfast in their disproportionate size and layout. The cruise control master switch, for example, sits alone on the console between the front seats. Shouldn't it be with the other cruise control switches on the steering wheel? Tiny audio buttons are made for a three-year-old's fingers though the plastic box hanging off the steering column has remote radio controls.There's not much doubt that the French know how to make engines, particularly d iesels. The Megane's 81kW/240Nm 1.5-litre turbo-diesel is a little warrior. It's responsive, willing and tops its torque at a mere 1750rpm. But it is rattly and its coarseness at idle isn't up to the high standard of rivals.The dual-clutch (Volkswagen call it DSG) auto is actually better than the one in the Golf, with less lag off the mark and less hestitancy in on-off applications. Suspension is the same as most in its class - standard MacPherson front and torsion-beam bar at the back - which is tuned for comfort. There's disc brakes all around.The Megane is a five-star rated car that adds six airbags, all the electronic aids and helpful features like the automatic headlights and wipers and heated side mirrors that make life on a winter's morning slightly more pleasant. The Megane also has a full-size spare wheel so it's country-road approved.I like this car because it earns its stripes. The Megane isn't sugar coated and doesn't use tinsel to lure buyers. Its hones ty is, however, one of its greatest failings as Australians are embedded with the belief - probably borrowed from the US - that bright lights, lots of colour and loud music are integral ingredients of style.On the road, the little diesel engine is a bit harsh at idle and similarities with a Parisian taxi aren't lost. But it pulls strongly and the dual-clutch box's six cogs slip seamlessly and rapidly in sequence, so though it's not a particularly fast hatch, it always feels athletic and willing  to run.Though the drivetrain is commendable - especially the fuel consumption which averaged a very good 6.9 L/100km on my city/suburban cycle - the steering is a let down. Some people will like it for its lightness but to me it undid all the sportiness of the engine and gearbox.The handling should be right up there with the Golf but while it has strong cornering grip, the suspension is dialled more for comfort and so the ride gets a bit too soft for any driver enthusiasm. So what we have is a Euro car that has a lot of Asian mannerisms. Driver comfort is reasonable - the seats need more support - and cabin room is good, though headroom in the back is a bit tight.On price, features and ownership, it's a winner. But if you're more into style, maybe not.