Although this Renault Megane is more luxurious than the old one, it’s also lighter. It might only be a meagre saving, but given that the new model is considerably larger, this is a welcome step in the right direction.
On the road the result is clear: most Méganes feel perky, especially those powered by the excellent 1.2 and 1.4-litre turbocharged TCe petrol engines. These units feature both direct injection and turbocharging. The turbo is integrated into the manifold and there’s variable valve timing to extract the most from this small four-pot.
The 1.2 TCe, available on the hatch and coupé, is most impressive: very sweet running, refined and extremely quiet. The stop-start system is also super-rapid and extremely refined.
The 1.4 TCe engine, available only on the CC, may be small, but that’s not how it feels. A 0-60mph time of 10.5sec is not remotely special – blame the car's corpulence – but the smooth, torquey eagerness with which the engine propels the car across a broad rev range makes it a pleasure to use.
The 1.6 petrol is available across the range, and is a reasonable engine in terms of performance, efficiency and refinement, without being in any way class leading.
All of the diesels, with the exception of the entry-level 88bhp 1.5, feel brisk and pleasantly refined. The mid-ranking 109bhp is the common sense option, although some buyers - especially of the Sports Tourer - may decide they would like more power and torque.
