Renault Megane 1.9 dCi 130 Privilege review

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Renault Megane 1.9 dCi 130 Privilege Road Test

Test date 21 January 2009 Price as tested £20,035

For Interior quality, better-than-average performance, low running costs

Against Dull looks, lifeless steering, dull handling, restless ride

One of the most difficult challenges facing car makers of today is making a new car equally good to look at and to drive. It’s tough enough at luxury limousine level but the nearer you get to the mass market, the harder it becomes.

The reason, as ever, is money. Simply put, the pot is only so big, and the more that gets spent on style and design, the less there is for engineering and development.

So the first thought to cross the mind when looking at this bland new Renault Megane is that maybe it will be brilliant to drive. So much effort had gone into giving the old Megane a look of its own, it was sadly no surprise at all to learn that, Renaultsport versions aside, it was about as much fun as a wet weekend in Barnsley.

The hope, therefore, is that all the money saved by not inventing or evolving a distinctive design language could instead be pumped into bridging the somewhat yawning chasm between it and the best drivers’ cars in the class, notably the Ford Focus.

Four petrol and three diesel motors are available from launch; our test car is a 1.9-litre diesel in Privilege trim.