Renault Megane now from $20,990

Renault hopes a midlife facelift, a lower $20,990 starting price, the addition of upmarket GT-Line variants and a range-topping GT 220 version of its new small wagon will lift sagging sales of its Megane model line-up.

Apart from the almost non-existent Fluence, which went on sale here alongside the latest Megane hatchback and coupe-cabriolet range in October 2010, the Megane is the only Renault model to experience a sales decline in 2013 – although with more than 2500 hatches sold in the past three years the Megane remains Australia’s top-selling Renault nameplate.

While a similar upgrade will be announced later this week for the Fluence, which will continue to be sourced from South Korea, and the facelifted Megane Coupe-Cabriolet still hails from France, the upgraded Megane hatch and new Megane wagon arrive later than Renault Australia had hoped due to a sourcing switch from Turkey to Spain.

As we revealed a month ago, pricing for the cheapest 2.0-litre petrol CVT auto-equipped 2013 Megane hatch now falls to $22,990 plus on-road costs – making the new entry-level Expression variant the same price as the manual Dynamique model it replaces, representing a price cut of $2000.

However, the cheapest Megane – at a new low price of $20,990 plus on-road costs – will not be powered by the 103kW/195Nm 2.0-litre petrol engine that carries over from the 2012 Megane Dynamique to the 2013 Megane Expression auto, but a downsized 1.2-litre direct-injection turbo-petrol tCe 120 engine that delivers 88kW/190Nm in the upcoming Clio 4, matched with a six-speed manual gearbox.

Renault Australia will not release full details of its cheapest ever Megane, which will be priced within $1000 of top-selling small hatchbacks like the Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla, until first examples arrive in about six weeks, but says equipment levels will match those of the upgraded Megane Expression 2.0 auto now on sale.

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 with a 2.0-litre petrol CVT powertrain and $28,990 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.

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 RS265 coupe’s F4R 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, matched with a six-speed manual.

Just 200 examples will be available here from a global run of around 1000, all capable of hitting 100km/h in 7.6 seconds and consuming an average of 7.3L/100km, thanks in part to the first idle-stop system available from Renault in Australia.

As we reported in May, 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 RS265, which also features PerfoHub front struts and a limited-slip front differential to minimise torque steer.

Renault says the Megane Wagon offers one of the biggest cargo spaces in its class. 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 2.55-metre total load length.

Measuring just over 4.5 metres long, the Megane Wagon is 264 mm longer than the hatch and 76mm taller – including standard roof bars.

CVT-equipped 2.0-litre petrol models consume 7.8L/100km (hatch), 7.9L/100km (wagon) and 8.5L/100km (CC), while diesel-EDC models consume just 4.4L/100km (hatch) and 4.7L/100km (wagon).

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 six airbags, electronic stability/traction control, anti-skid brakes, emergency brake assist, understeer control, 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 from the RS265, 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 unique MacPhersos front suspension struts, stiffer springs and anti-roll bars, 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 including lane departure warning and automatic high-beam.

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.

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