2015 Renault Megane GT 220 Coupe review

The front will wash wide if you push too hard, but the chassis’ playful nature means a gentle lift of the throttle trims it back to your chosen line. Give it a real lift mid-corner and it will oversteer, although sadly the ESP can’t be completely disabled to exploit this.

The suspension might not be as harsh as that of the 275, but there’s no escaping the fact that this car is set up for speed rather than comfort. For the most part, the ride is firm but tolerable for a sporty offering but, particularly at speed, there’s a constant bouncing over ridges and expansion joints, which can become wearing.

There is also a fair amount of wind and tyre noise on the motorway, plus that close-ratio ‘box means the engine spins at close to 3000rpm in top at 70mph.

The Megane’s cabin is acceptable rather than great. There are some nice touches as part of the GT 220 package, like the aluminium pedals and polished carbon finishes throughout. However, other than the soft-feel dash, there are lots of lower-grade materials everywhere else. 

There is plenty of space up front and even tall adults will find there’s lots of leg and headroom. However, the reach-adjustable steering wheel doesn’t extend far enough, meaning some drivers will find themselves at full stretch.

The seating position is also relatively high, even with the height adjuster at its lowest setting, while the sports seats are quite narrow between the bolsters. It all adds up to a driving position that for some will feel compromised rather than naturally comfortable.

Getting in and out of the rear seats is more awkward because of the two-door arrangement. Once inside, the coupe’s tiny rear windows make it feel claustrophobic. Limited leg and head room means that, unless you’re carrying kids, the rear seats are best for short trips only. If you regularly carry rear passengers, you’d be better off opting for the five-door hatchback version. 

However, even in coupe form the boot is still a good size. At 377 litres with the rear seats in place, it’s on a par with a Seat Leon and a useful 61 litres more than a hatchback Ford Focus. The downside is the narrow opening and a high lip that means that bulky items are difficult to load.

Standard equipment is similar to the high-spec GT Line, so it comes with features such as sat-nav, a premium audio system and a rear camera for reversing. The package also includes Bluetooth, a USB port, auto headlights and wipers, cruise control, LED daytime running lights and dual-zone climate control.

If you want to add extra equipment the options list includes lane departure warning with auto-dipping headlights, plus heated leather seats.