Renault Megane 2018 Review

What's it all about?
The Renault Megane sedan and wagon joined the hatchback version as part of the line-up in mid 2017 with plans to make a bigger impression in the small car segment where the Toyota Corolla, Mazda3 and Hyundai i30 comfortably head the pack.

Although the Megane is not in any way likely to challenge the market leaders (Toyota sold 37,353 Corollas in 2017 against Renault's 1259 Meganes), the sedan and wagon will provide helpful variety to the French car-maker's range.

In reality more aligned with Volkswagen's Golf hatch in image if not in market performance, the Megane sedan is Renault's stab at upgrading the model's status in the segment.

How much will it cost?
The Megane sedan comes in just two levels: The base Zen and the top-spec Intens reviewed here. At entry level, the $27,490 Megane Zen is way more expensive than its rivals but, at $33,990, the Intens sits more competitively among its upper end sedan competitors such as the Corolla ZR ($31,920) and Mazda SP25 Astina ($35,490).

Like rivals such as Mazda - and Holden's new Astra sedan - the Megane makes a big safety play: Autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and blind-spot monitoring figure in standard equipment. Self-parking capability and LED headlights are standard on the Intens too.

But perhaps the biggest deal-maker is the five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty which teams up with 12-month/30,000km fixed-price servicing intervals and full-term roadside assist.

Why should I/shouldn't I buy it?
The Megane sedan's 97kW/205Nm 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine may not lead the field in power output, but it's pretty economical with a claimed 6.1L/100km (0.5L/100km in arrears of the less-weighty Megane GT-Line hatch) and, at 136g/km, rates as one of the cleanest in terms of CO2 emissions.

It's both helped and hindered by the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission: There's some annoying hesitation off the line as the clutch sorts itself out, but it responds briskly once reaching 2000rpm where the 205Nm maximum torque starts kicking in. The claimed zero to 100km/h acceleration time of 10.9sec is a bit misleading: The Intens sedan feels quicker than that, especially once up and running.

The ride is well controlled in a Euro sort of way - although the sedan is a tad noisy on coarse-mix bitumen - and the steering is quick and light without feeling too detached. Sizable 225/40 tyres on 18-inch alloys (the GT-Line hatch has 17-inch wheels) add to the grip factor too.

When is it available in Australia?
Arriving alongside the new Megane wagon in June 2017, the sedan is expected to play second fiddle to both the wagon and hatch versions: Renault says the latter will outsell the sedan at a ratio of two-to-one.

It's a bit too early to track the effects of the sedan and wagon variants on the sales charts, it's but worth noting that unlike Toyota Corolla (down 7.4 per cent), Mazda3 (down 9.5 per cent) and Hyundai i30 (down 23.8 per cent), the Megane in 2017 chalked up improved sales (plus 17.3 per cent over 2016) in 2017.

Who will it appeal to?
If you want to step a little bit out of the mainstream, the Intens-spec Megane sedan offers an appealing edginess and a marked upgrade in interior quality presentation over much of its competition.

It looks upmarket, no question. The 8.7-inch portrait-format for the deep display screen with extra-large touch-pads, the easily-activated self-parking system, the panoramic sunroof and the leather trim all make for a welcoming experience.

Families of four to five will find the deep 503-litre boot a bonus, although they may be a little disappointed by the shortage of rear-seat legroom which is not atypical for Meganes. In contradiction is the good headroom and the ease of entry and exit through the wide door opening.

And if we have to forgo power seats to get the extensive safety kit, that's okay. What we didn't like were the numerous rattles from the Turkish-built sedan's dash, sunroof and driver's door that somewhat detracted from the general sense of quality.
If you want to tow, you can heft a braked trailer weighing as much as 1300kg behind.

Where does it fit?
As we've already said, the Megane doesn't figure hugely in VFACTS sales figures: It's sure to improve with the now-extended model range, but it still has a big hill to climb.

Even the incomprehensibly struggling Ford Focus is way ahead with 5953 sales for 2017 compared to just 1259 for the Megane.

Looking at the base facts, the Megane is right on the money as far as safety, utility, space, dynamics, quality and - dare we say - style, are concerned. And it blitzes Holden Astra, Mazda3, Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla in terms of warranty and servicing provisions. Only the seven-year warranty offered by Kia beats it.

So, what do we think?
The Megane may have become more mainstream and less identifiably French than previous models - particularly the bustle-backed Megane II hatch from 2003 - but few would question its sense of style, in any of its forms.

The lack of a bare-bones sedan will blunt the impact at entry-level but the pricier Intens at least offers the benefits of higher unit profits.

2018 Renault Megane Intens sedan pricing and specifications:
Price: $33,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 97kW/205Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 6.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 136g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: N/A