Renault Megane 2013 Review

OVERVIEW

But what the French small-car line-up lacks in terms of design changes it makes up for with a much wider choice of models and variants, starting with the new entry-level Megane Expression manual, powered by a downsized 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine from the upcoming Clio and Captur.

That and the switch in Australian sourcing from Turkey to Spain (where our Megane RS 265 is built; the facelifted Megane Coupe-Convertible continues to come here from France and the Megane-based Fluence from South Korea) has allowed Renault to reduce the base petrol-manual hatch price by $2000 to $20,990 (plus on-road costs).

Also coming from Spain is Renault Australia’s first Megane wagon line-up, which like the facelifted hatch is available in a wider range of variants including petrol, diesel and new mid-range GT-Line specification -- plus a new range-topping GT 220 Sport Wagon limited-edition that borrows from the class-leading RS250 hot-hatch.

Rounding out the refreshed Megane line-up is an upgraded coupe-convertible price $9000 lower than before from $36,990 (plus on-road costs) and now available in base and GT-Line ($41,990 plus on-road costs) spec.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT

For that, buyers no longer receive a 2.0-litre petrol engine, but a newer 1.2-litre direct-injection turbo-petrol tCe 120 engine that delivers 88kW/190Nm and is matched with a six-speed manual gearbox.

Unusually, the automatic version of the otherwise identically equipped, Expression-badged entry-level Megane hatch model continues to be powered by the 103kW/195Nm 2.0-litre petrol engine that carries over from the 2012 Megane Dynamique, matched with a CVT automatic transmission and priced $2000 lower than before at $22,990 (plus ORCs).

New across Renault’s facelifted Megane line-up are GT-Line variants that bridge gap between base Expression and flagship Privilege versions. Adding $1500 to the base price, Megane GT-Line hatch pricing opens at $26,490 (plus ORCs) with a 2.0-litre petrol CVT powertrain and $28,990 (plus ORCs) with a similarly carry-over 81kW/2490Nm 1.5-litre turbo-diesel engine, the latter paired with a Getrag-made six-speed dual-clutch automatic EDC transmission.

The same powertrains are available in the 2013 Megane hatch in Privilege specification, priced from $29,990 (2.0-litre petrol CVT) and $32,490 (1.5-litre diesel EDC), while the latest Megane Coupe-Convertible is now available in three 2.0-litre petrol CVT specifications – base ($36,990), GT-Line ($41,990) and Privilege ($43,990), representing substantial savings over the single $45,990 model previously available. [Ed: All prices listed are exclusive of on-road costs.]

In between, three variants of the new Megane Wagon are now available, opening with the Dynamique at $26,490, which Renault says offers better value than direct rivals in the Holden Cruze Sportwagon, Opel Astra Sports Tourer, Hyundai i30 Tourer, Peugeot 308 Wagon and Volkswagen Golf Wagon.

Also fitted with a 2.0-litre petrol/CVT combination is the Megane Wagon GT-Line ($27,990), while the DCT-equipped 1.5-litre diesel Sportwagon GT-Line costs $30,490.

Topping Australia’s inaugural Megane wagon range at $36,990 is the new GT 220 Sport Wagon limited-edition, powered by a detuned 162kW/340Nm version of the three-door Megane RS 265 coupe’s F4R 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, matched with a six-speed manual. Just 220 examples will be available here from a global run of around 1000.

Cosmetic upgrades across the 2013 Megane hatch and wagon range include new-look front bumpers, revised headlights incorporating daytime running lights, new wheel designs ranging from 16- to 18-inch, chromed interior door-pulls and instrument bezels, new seat trims and new exterior paint colours including Capsicum Red and, for GT-Line models, Malta Blue.

All Meganes now also offer a new AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio interface with Bluetooth audio/phone streaming and USB/AUX sockets, plus one-touch lane-change indicators.

Expression models come standard with manual air-conditioning, cloth seat trim, power/folding body-coloured door mirrors, 16-inch Flex wheels, cruise control, speed-limiter, manual key card, height/lumbar-adjustable driver’s seat and a full-size spare wheel.

The same equipment is found in the entry-level Dynamique wagon, as well as dual-zone automatic climate-control with an air-quality sensor, an electric parking brake, hill-start assist, LED daytime running lights, front foglights, rear parking sensors, leather-trimmed gearshifter and steering wheel, 16-inch Kaleido alloy wheels and a luggage cover and net.

To this, mid-range GT-Line models add dual-zone climate-control, GT-Line chassis, GT-Line cloth seats, GT-Line badging, GT-Line bumpers, GT-Line dashboard design, grey door mirrors, RenaultSport speedo, auto headlights and wipers, boomerang-style LED DRLs, an electronic parking brake, rear parking sensors, leather-clad gearshifter and RenaultSport steering wheel, tinted rear/side glass, 17-inch Celsium alloy wheels, foglights, integrated satellite-navigation with new joystick control, keyless entry and starting and hill-start assist.

An optional Premium Pack adds $2500 to GT-Line petrol/diesel hatch and wagon model. It adds Cool Grey leather upholstery, heated front seats, rear armrest with cup-holders, a reversing camera, panoramic sunroof, front parking sensors and Renault’s Visio System (see SAFETY section below).

Completing the Megane hatch range are top-shelf Privilege variants, which add 17-inch Sari alloy wheels, rear climate control air-vents, Charcoal leather seat trim with white piping and a power-adjustable driver’s seat.

The MY13 Megane Coupe-Convertible’s standard specifications line up with hatch at base level but add 17-inch Plenum alloys, auto headlights/wipers, dual-zone climate-control, foglights and a full folding glass roof, while GT-Line models add black leather trim and heated front seats and Privilege versions come with 18-inch Kanjara alloys, bi-xenon headlights and a wind deflector.

Apart from its upgraded engine and chassis, the GT 220 Sport Wagon comes standard with all of the GT-Line Wagon’s equipment, plus 18-inch Serdard gloss black alloy wheels with 245/40 Dunlop Sport Maxx tyres, a gloss-black rear diffuser, red-themed RenaultSport interior, GT 220 badging and numbered plaque and an RS monitor -- in place of sat-nav.

The same Premium Pack from the hatch/wagon is available for the GT 220 for a further $5000, bringing its price to $41,990. However, it also includes bi-xenon headlights and sat-nav (instead of the RS monitor) and is expected to be chosen by 70 per cent of all GT 220 buyers.

2013 Renault Megane pricing (plus ORCs):
Expression hatch 1.2-litre petrol manual $20,990
Expression hatch 2.0-litre petrol CVT $22,990
GT-Line hatch 2.0-litre petrol CVT $26,490
GT-Line hatch 1.5-litre diesel EDC $28,990
Privilege hatch 2.0-litre petrol CVT $29,990
Privilege hatch 1.5-litre diesel EDC $32,490
Dynamic Wagon 2.0-litre petrol CVT $26,490
GT-Line Wagon 2.0-litre petrol CVT $27,990
GT-Line Wagon 1.5-litre diesel EDC $30,490
GT 220 Sport Wagon 2.0-litre turbo-petrol manual $36,990
Coupe-Cabriolet 2.0-litre petrol CVT $36,990
Coupe-Cabriolet GT-Line 2.0-litre petrol CVT $41,990
Coupe-Cabriolet Privilege 2.0-litre petrol CVT $43,990

The same direct-injection turbo-petrol tCe 120 engine produces 88kW/190Nm in the upcoming Clio 4, but in the entry-level Megane will be matched exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission.

All other mainstream petrol Meganes continue to be powered by a 103kW/195Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine matched with a CVT automatic transmission, consuming 6.3L/100km of recommended 95 RON premium unleaded (7.9L/100km for the wagon; 8.5L/100km for the CC).

Acceleration to 100km/h is listed at 10.3 seconds for the 1391kg hatch and 10.6 seconds for the 1446kg wagon, but no figure is quoted for the 1596kg CC.

Renault’s 81kW/2490Nm 1.5-litre turbo-diesel engine also carries over, matched solely with a Getrag-made six-speed dual-clutch automatic EDC transmission.

Megane diesel hatches consume just 4.4L/100km, weigh 1394kg and hit 100km/h in a claimed 11.7 seconds, while diesel wagons consume 4.7L/100km, weigh 1457kg and hit 100km/h in 12.1 seconds.

Available only with a six-speed manual gearbox, the GT 220 Wagon packs a 162kW/340Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, is capable of hitting 100km/h in 7.6 seconds and consumes an average of 7.3L/100km, with help from Renault Australia’s first idle stop-start system.

The GT 220 rides on RenaultSport’s milder ‘Sport’ suspension tune from the standard Megane coupe (not sold here), rather than the firmer ‘Cup’ tune from the RS 265, which also features PerfoHub front struts and a limited-slip front differential to minimise torque steer.

The switch in sourcing from Turkey to Spain also brings minor suspension and steering system tweaks for the hatch and new wagon, which Renault hopes will better suit Australian tastes.

PACKAGING

At 524 litres, it’s 40 per cent larger than the hatchback’s, expands to 1600 litres with the rear seats folded flat and, augmented by a flat-folding front passenger, offers a 2550mm total load length.

Measuring just over 4500mm long, the Megane Wagon is 264 mm longer than the hatch and 76mm taller -- including standard roof bars.

SAFETY

The switch from Turkish to Spanish sourcing for the hatch also means all Megane models -- including the new wagon and French-built CC -- can now claim the same maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating awarded to European-market Meganes in 2008.

The previous Turkey-built hatch came with slight suspension differences and was not tested by ENCAP.

However, Megane buyers must pay extra an extra $2500 (on top of the GT-Line spec, and $5000 for GT 220 wagon customers) for Renault’s Visio safety features, including lane departure warning and automatic high-beam systems, as part of a Premium Pack that also includes a reversing camera and, for the GT 220, directional bi-xenon headlights.

COMPETITORS

However, Renault says buyers of its mainstream hatch models -- priced from $22,990 with a 2.0-litre petrol-auto combination -- are more likely to be cross-shopping European-designed small cars like the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus, Opel Astra and Peugeot 308.

The new Megane Wagon, meantime, is expected to be an alternative for small SUVs (presumably including Renault’s own top-seller, the Koleos) as well as providing it with a rival for the few small wagons currently available here, such as the Opel Astra Tourer, Holden Cruze Sportwagon, Hyundai i30 Wagon, Peugeot 308 Wagon and upcoming Volkswagen Golf Wagon variants.

While the Megane Coupe-Convertible’s new sub-$37K price point will better equip it to compete with folding hard-tops like Volkswagen’s Eos (from $49,990) and the Peugeot 308 CC ($50,990), the warmed-over GT 220 Sport Wagon has few peers except perhaps for the soon-to-be-replaced Skoda Octavia RS.

ON THE ROAD

Now the Megane takes a further step towards the small-car mainstream with a keener new $20,990 starting price, the first wagon derivative and a wider choice of variants including the top-shelf GT 220 Sport Wagon and upmarket GT-Line versions across the hatch, wagon and coupe-convertible range.

Sadly, we can’t tell you how the new base 1.2-litre Megane performs relative to its chief rivals -- all of which have bigger engines -- because first shipments don’t arrive until September and Renault won’t even release full specs until then.

We can, however, confirm that in the metal the few cosmetic exterior tweaks (revised bumpers, daytime running lights, body-colour rub strips, etc.) give the already-good-looking Megane hatch a significant visual lift, and that the new Megane Wagon is stylish enough to stand out from the small load-lugger crowd.

The latter also offers vastly more interior space -- including rear legroom -- thanks to longer and taller overall dimensions and a flat-folding front passenger seat, with cargo-carrying flexibility further improved via a high-opening tailgate, flat loading lip, outboard and under-floor compartments, rear cargo hooks, luggage cover, three-position cargo net, standard roof rails and a folding boot floor to split the load space.

All MY13 Meganes also offer a noticeable lift in ergonomics, thanks to the overdue fitment of a one-touch three-blink indicators and a new radio interface with Bluetooth audio and phone streaming, USB/AUX inputs on the head unit (not under the centre armrest) and, when sat-nav is specified, a tactile joystick replacing the fiddly remote controller.

New seat and dash trim materials take the Megane further upmarket too, with GT-Line models in particular offering a dramatic upstep via a host of worthwhile additions for just $3500 (hatch) and $1500 (wagon) more, including sat-nav.

But silly foibles still prevent this driver ever feeling comfortable behind the wheel of the Megane, such as instrument dials that are angled too far back and reflect daylight, pedals that are offset to the right (more so in manuals) and a shallow footwell that highlights the lack of enough steering wheel reach adjustment.

The volume-selling 2.0-litre petrol engine’s CVT auto isn’t one of the best around either, slurring under load and amplifying the engine’s average note. Although it can be lazy off the line, the six-speed dual-clutch is a good match for the perky 1.5-litre diesel, which has no trouble hauling the Megane and costs just $2500 extra.

While the steering and suspension tune of mainstream Meganes feels sharper than we remember it, the latter is a highlight in GT-Line variants, which offers a superb balance between ride comfort and body control.

Although its firmer still, the flagship GT 220 wagon doesn’t handle much better, and while its semi-RS 2.0-litre turbo-four offers a wall of torque that makes it easy to be in the right manual gear, it also exacerbates front-drive torque steer and steering rack rattle at the limit.

It’s no Audi S4 Avant, but at under $37K the brisk new GT 220 is a fitting flagship for a bigger, better-value and thoroughly overhauled Megane five-door range.

Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site…