2017 Renault Megane
The 2017 Renault Megane is one good looking hatchback and far better looking than the old one. However, is it actually better than its predecessor?
We love the design of the new Megane especially as it looks so much like a concept car. It has a beautiful front end with impressive front headlights and big grille while at the back the beauty really does continue.
Ok, we know it’s gorgeous on the outside but what about the inside? Well, unfortunately we were a little bit disappointed when we first sat inside the cabin. We found it all a bit dark and drab even though the material quality, in your direct eye line that is, is pretty good. However, when you look lower down the quality disappears and is replaced with rather cheap plastics.
One of the first things you’ll notice is the huge portrait screen sitting in the middle of the dashboard which is what you now find on top end cars. We have to admit is looks absolutely wonderful and it’s really easy to use however this screen is only available on the Dynamique S models and above so you’ll have to part with some more of your hard earned cash. This is well worth doing as you also get a digital driver’s display, reversing camera, lane departure warning and duel zone climate control.
With regards to practicality there are plenty of cubby spaces, big door bins and the glove compartment is of a decent size too. In terms of visibility, it’s generally ok. The pillars are quite fat but the worst thing has to be the view out of the back which is limited due to the rear window being so small.
Moving on to the boot we can tell you that the size is about average for a car in this class. It’s bigger than the Ford Focus though smaller than a Peugeot 308. The main problem with the boot is that there’s nothing particularly clever about it. There’s no false floor, you can’t raise it to make a flat load area and there’s not many useful tie-down hooks. Even when you fold the seats down you get a massive ridge making it really awkward to slide things to the back. Another thing to note is the huge load lift and equally large bumper which will prove a nightmare if your luggage is really heavy.
Rear passengers will find it a lot more spacious than the old car. There’s lots of knee room and there’s decent head room too. You can fit three adults in the back at a push. There’s a wide middle seat and while there’s a hump in the floor it’s not too big to be intrusive. The only issue you may have is that the foot-wells are quite small and the seats are quite high so you could feel a little cramped at times while your knees are stood quite high. This can affect your comfort over a longer journey but on the whole the experience in the back is not too bad at all.
The inside and outside of the new Renault Megane is a vast improvement on the old car but does this trend continue on the road? The answer to this is simply yes. Renault have actually done a really good job with this car. It’s very very comfortable and the suspension does a fantastic job of ironing out the bumps in the road. On the whole it’s a really quiet and relaxing cruiser on the motorway. It also handles extremely well when chucked into corners. The only thing is that the steering feels a little bit too light. This is great in town but when you’re going faster it’s got all the resistance of a big floppy soufflé. On high spec trims you can press a button which will firm up the steering but then it feels a little bit odd – like a soufflé that’s collapsed. In fact, the controls, the breaks and especially the gear shift is all a bit stogy.
As for engines choice our tip is to opt for the 1.2 litre turbo petrol because it’s reasonably nippy and fairly economical. However, if you do lots of miles then you’re going to want the diesel and the 1.5 litre unit does a pretty good job. It’s got enough punch for overtaking and Renault claims it will do an impressive 76 miles to the gallon.
Unfortunately, there are a few annoying things about the new Megane and here are our top ones:
1. There’s no place to store the parcel shelf when you’re not using it.
2. Renault likes to call their trim “artificial leather” but if we’re totally honest it just feels like plastic.
3. We love the portrait style infotainment screen but the surround just looks like it’s still in prototype phase and someone accidentally signed it off.
4. The glove box is a decent size but Renault could have made it much larger if they bothered to move over the fusebox to the other side for right hand drive cars.
5. From a distance the aerodynamic bulge on the wheel arch makes it look like you’ve got a dent in the car.
Thankfully, there are some cool features on the Megane which make up for the annoyances. These include:
1. You can get LED colour mood lighting that you find in Audis.
2. You can download various apps for the infotainment system from the Renault R-Link store.
3. There’s an onboard eco driving monitor to help you become a more efficient motorist.
4. You can play artificial engine noises inside the car to make it sound like a motorbike or even a spaceship!
5. GT models get rear-wheel steering which makes the car more manoeuvrable at low speeds and more stable at high speeds.
So, what do we think of the Renault Megane overall? Well, lower spec models can feel a bit miserable on the inside and the gearboxes aren’t great. However, the Megane really is a fabulous looking car which is both comfortable and practical. The Megane is also a car which is actually really good value for money. It starts off at around £18k but you can probably get better deals by searching with DesperateSeller.co.uk.
