Renault Megane RS 250 Cup Trophee 2011 Review

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory & delivery charges): $46,990
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): Nil
Crash rating: Five-star (Euro NCAP)
Fuel: 98 RON PULP
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 8.7
CO2 emissions (g/km): 201
Also consider: Ford Focus RS, Mazda3 MPS, Volkswagen Golf R

French cars cop a lot of flack. Whether it's out of a hatred for fine food or entrenched cultural arrogance -- or just a fear of the unknown -- vehicles born in France are sometimes unfairly treated.

Seen scrawled below a recent review of a French car on the Carsales Network was the following: "The French -- always producing a half-hearted attempt at automotive genius. Just leave it to the Japanese and Germans to provide leadership and innovation."

The writer has obviously never driven a Renault Megane RS 250 Cup Trophee.

Powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, this French hot hatch develops 184kW at 5500rpm, but it's so easily accessible and user-friendly the car is a cinch to drive hard. Even better, it's capable of carving up apexes like Lance Armstrong on a Tour de France mountain descent.

Sure, there are not too many options you can't get on most German and Japanese cars these days, but do they have yellow seatbelts...

The 'Trophee' is hooked up to a six-speed manual but with a none-too-heavy clutch and a robust shift feel between gates, it's not as difficult to pedal along at low speeds during the urban commute as you'd think.

The Recaro seats have very little adjustability yet are comfortable enough, with good lower back support, though their true calling comes during high-G manouevres.

Other things I noticed when pootling around town was the small glovebox, average stereo, firm ride, and the lack of rear seat foot room due to a very low bar behind the Recaro seats (leg room is fine). Another minor quibble was the inside-door handles; they're located very close to hinges and because the car's doors are extra long and heavy, it required a fair shove to shut them.

Then there's the very large (thanks to the coupe-inspired design) C-pillar, which creates a blind spot the size of the Kimberly Gorge. Head checking is virtually useless, so you need to rely heavily on side mirrors in the cut-and-thrust of peak hour traffic.

On the plus side, the top-shelf Megane has plenty of luxury features, like dual zone climate control, auto headlights and wipers, reverse parking sensors, and a minimalist but attractive centre stack control layout, not unlike what you'd find in a BMW.

The instant fuelling system (no fuel cap, just lock and load the nozzle) is very practical and saves time at the bowser and the car can be miserly too; its claimed 8.7L/100km economy figures not too far from reality.

Then there's the overt yellow colour scheme in the cabin -- belts, seat stitching, seat inserts, tachometer -- which creates an ultra-sporty ambience. The seats can cause problems during egress and ingress, but when you begin testing the car's dynamics such shortcomings can be forgiven.

Sitting lower to the ground, boasting a wider track, and looking a little less peculiar than the previous model, the latest Megane RS 250 attracted plenty of attention around the trendy spots in town, no doubt helped by LED driving lights and flashy 19-inch rims.

But the car's true calling becomes apparent beyond the boundaries of the concrete jungle...

Whether accelerating from a standing start or dropping the hammer mid-corner, the RS 250 rarely struggles for traction; its limited slip differential responsible for much of the car's surefootedness. Combined with Renault's independent steering axis layout, which reduces torque steer by separating steering and suspension functions, it's well balanced, doesn't understeer too often and has the potential to make average drivers look good.

The electrically assisted rack and pinion power steering mechanism contributes a weighty feel to the steering wheel when cornering and Renault has seen fit to provide a sportier calibration for quicker turn-in.

Speaking of which, this car tips into corners with a level of confidence unsurpassed by few other front-wheel drive cars, the Renault Clio RS 200 and Ford Focus RS the only ones I can think of.

It's an asphalt assassin around bends; the chassis so good it won't rebuke you for mid-corner adjustments. While the suspension tune is firm, the damper settings are pliant enough to soak up mid-corner bumps so as not upset your rhythm.

And with the hot hatch tyre of choice fitted all round -- Continental ContiSportContact (235/35 ZR19) -- premium grip and impressive braking are sure things.

Like its predecessor, the RS 250 features four-pot Brembo calipers at the front end, hooked up to 340mm vented and grooved rotors, while the rear gets 290mm discs. The heavy hitting Italian brakes give you the confidence to dive deep into corners and we experienced very little brake fade during our testing.

The Renault accelerates at a brisk clip, with a claimed zero to 100km/h time of 6.1 seconds just a couple of tenths off the Focus RS.  Boosting the rush is the smooth but forceful hit of mid-range torque courtesy of the intercooled turbocharger.

Though the spec sheet says peak torque of 340Nm hits at 3000rpm, the engine is tractable from 2000rpm. The engine doesn't mind a good rev either, with plenty of mumbo left after its 184kW peak at 5500rpm.

Between about 5000 and 6000rpm I noticed a strange induction roar of sorts, seemingly emanating from rear of the car. Whatever it was, it served to make the experience even more rousing.

The Ford Focus RS might be a better performance car, with more mid-range punch and a slightly more involving drive, but the Renault isn't far behind.

Considering the Blue Oval has sold its entire allocation of Focus RS cars, the Renault would make for an excellent plan B. It's more than 10 grand cheaper too.

Though it's unlikely the Renault Megane RS 250 will put an end to the ridicule of French cars in this country, it will go a long way to silencing some of the critics. In short, this is a brilliant sports car.

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