Renault Megane GT 2017 Review

Renault Megane GT
Road Test

Cutting thousands off the price tag of the range-topping GTi or RS models, but still offering a sports-oriented drive with miles of smiles, a warm hatch is what you buy when your heart says ‘go faster’ but your head says ‘house deposit’.  As it stands, the Renault Megane GT is not only a sensible option, but currently your only option for romp-along fun in the updated hatchback range. At least, until the upcoming RS arrives.

Warm hatches are so accessible and so much fun to drive that it’s a wonder we don’t see a lot more of them on the road. While they may not offer as much outright power as their hot-hatch siblings, they still tick all the boxes for style, speed and the all-important fun factor.

Even the efficiency box gets a big tick thanks to the fuel economy gains being made with smaller capacity turbocharged petrol engines driven by Euro 6 requirements.

The Renault Megane GT is the latest warm hatch to land in Australia and is the current range-topper in the new four-model Megane range.

Featuring a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine with idle-stop technology which is paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the Megane GT generates 151kW and 280Nm and promises fuel usage on the ADR combined cycle as low as 6L/100km.

Purists will decry the lack of a manual transmission in a hatch which purports to offer a spirited driving experience but we understand a self-shifter is coming on the RS when it eventually arrives.

In the absence of a manual transmission, the GT of course features the now ubiquitous paddle shifters but in the case of the Renault it’s a spindly pair whereas I’d prefer something a bit more substantial.

Being a warm hatch, the GT has a few tricks up its sleeve, most remarkable of which is the application of Renault’s 4CONTROL four-wheel steering system, a set-up which is typically seen in higher-end performance vehicles.

It works via an electric actuator on the rear axle which activates steering of the rear wheels to deliver dynamic road holding and precise cornering. It’s a subtle sensation but contributes to a more satisfying and engaging drive.

The new Megane is longer and lower than the previous model and features a wider front and rear track for improved road holding and handling. The GT model improves on the new Megane’s dynamics by adding a Renault Sport engineered suspension to pair with the 4CONTROL chassis.

The GT’s mid-spec chassis tune feels accomplished and hits its spot perfectly. It’s a good setup to support the sports model’s 18inch wheel-and-tyre package. The result is a car that doesn’t feel as stiff or sharp as a hot hatch but it still lithe in cornering and feels well connected to the road.

Matching that dynamic performance is the GT’s impressive engine and transmission pairing. It’s the same seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that we liked so much in the mid-spec Megane Zen, but with a revised calibration that lengthens the gearing to deliver sportier performance on acceleration.

The GT also features Renault’s MultiSense ‘drive-select’ system which offers five drive modes and a variety of configurable settings for drivers. Five predefined driving settings (Neutral, Sport, Comfort, Perso and Eco) can be selected and tuned via the touchscreen.

To make things swifter an RS Drive button provides immediate access to Sport mode.
While MultiSense alters throttle mapping, steering input, engine response and gearbox shift patterns it doesn’t include adaptive dampers, but that’s not such a bad thing as the Renault Sport suspension and chassis setup is more than adequate in Sport mode, and it certainly doesn’t need to be any stiffer.

Specification-wise, the Renault Megane GT offers a solid equipment list as you’d expect from a car that retails from $37,490.  It’s finished in stylish black and blue Alcantara upholstery with front sports seats and offers customisable ambient lighting through the cabin with personalisation preferences extended to different instrument gauges.

The GT is equipped with technologies including keyless entry and push-button start, auto parking and reverse camera with front and rear parking sensors. Oddly, while there are four models in the Megane range, blind spot monitoring is only a standard feature on the mid-range, Megane GT-Line and not available, even as an option on the GT.

At this price point, and with the competition moving swiftly to integrate advanced driver assistance aids, it is also surprising that there’s no available autonomous emergency braking or adaptive cruise control on any Megane models. This seems a significant omission, particularly given the price of the GT.

Renault has, however, jumped on the infotainment bandwagon, offering an optional 8.7-inch portrait touchscreen akin to that featured in the Tesla Model S. It’s only available as part of a $1990 optional premium pack on GT and GT-Line models.

Not that you’d miss it too much if you stuck with the standard 7-inch touchscreen. Yes, you’ll miss out on the sound performance of the Bose audio system but I found the interface on the smaller screen to be more intuitive and certainly less distracting on the road.

It is probably worth noting that the motoring.com.au team is not entirely in agreement on this tech as Mike Sinclair attended the launch and declared it a killer app for the Megane range. At $1990 it’s a nice option price for Renault so perhaps they’re banking on technofiles ticking the box on adding the premium screen, just as Audi’s buyers are opting to add the $1000+ virtual cockpit to their own vehicles. It’s the price of early adoption.

No, for me I’d be more than happy to take the Megane GT with the regular touchscreen. It’s a great driver’s car for buyers who can’t stretch their budget to a full-priced hot hatch – or can’t wait for the Megane RS. I’d maybe even put my $1990 towards an aftermarket exhaust system as that’s a little criticism of the GT – it has a great engine note but could do with a louder exhaust.

2017 Renault Megane GT pricing and specifications:
Price: $40,080 as tested (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 151kW/280Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 6L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 134g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: N/A

Also consider:
>> Mini Cooper Clubman (from $34,900 plus ORCs)
>> Holden Astra RSV auto (from $31,740 plus ORCs)
>> Peugeot 308 GTi  (from $49,990 plus ORCs)

Related reading:
>> Full Renault Megane review