The Renault Megane is just one of the sports car models the company manufactures in its own Dieppe-based factory. Counted among the elite of this company’s line, the Megane takes its cue from the company’s historical success with Formula One racing.

Pros

The Megane comes with a petrol or diesel engine. The 2.0-litre petrol engine is turbocharged at 225 bhp, while the diesel 2.0 dCi engine packs in 175bhp. There’s extra power at 230bhp for the Megane’s special R26 edition, which boasts of a zero to 62mph sprint speed within 6.5 seconds. The incredible power is delivered smoothly all throughout, even when shifting within several rev ranges. Although the diesel moves at a slightly slower sprint of 62mph in 8.3 seconds, the ride is just as smooth and is stable enough for anyone not particular about extreme speeds. You can also expect a seamless transition at the fourth gear, even as the car swerves into tight bends. Plus the diesel engine is very quiet and doesn’t distract as much as the petrol engine.

The Megane’s steering wheel stands out against its competitors, being able to resist going left and right when hard acceleration occurs. The vehicle’s front tyres are also less likely to spin away during forward motion and weight shifting into the rear. The steering is also quite inert and allows the driver to be more aware of what is going on. More speed is also carried into the bends and difficult turns. Some versions of the Megane support this movement with stiffer dampers and springs; these vehicles provide a sharper turn but tend to emphasize bumps while going on slower speeds.

All Renaultsport models come with the alloy wheels, electronic stability control, CD stereo, electric windows, cruise control, and air conditioning as standard. The higher end models offer a full leather trim with metallic paint as well as electronic climate control. If you want an even smoother ride and transition, then go for the cup models’ stiffer chassis; this variation also offers the option to disable electronic stability control.

The interior is quite roomy and treats drivers to supreme comfort: the front sports snug sports seats in its limited embellishments, plus you can also include the metallic effect and aluminum pedals for the trim inserts.

Safety is another great asset of the Renault Megane. Its safety kit includes anti-submarining airbags for the front seat cushions and standard airbags on all other seats. Electronic stability control assures proper movement during extreme emergency situations.

Cons

With the Megane comes the Renault’s reputation for inconsistent reliability. There have been reports of terrible customer services, particularly with difficult dealers. Expect some challenges when it comes to getting a good sale or certain features in your car. Other bad experiences report electrical faults; it’s best to review the dealer’s reputation or to get a direct sale from a reputable reseller. Thankfully no problems have been reported for the engine, gearbox, and body.

Overall, the Megane is a good choice for anyone after consistent performance on the road, particularly for driving enthusiasts after a sports car experience.

The Renault Mégane has been in the market since 1995. It’s a small family car produced by Renault, the French auto-maker, in its plant in Palencia, Spain and Douai in northern France. It is offered in several body styles – convertible, saloon, 3 and 5-door hatchbacks and coupé.

The Mégane was first introduced in the market in autumn of 1995. It was meant to replace Renault 19. The 1^st Mégane was practically a re-make of the 19, and took its name from a concept car of Renault unveiled in 1988. The innovative corporate styling concept of Patrick Le Quément was later adopted for the Mégane. The Mégane Scenic, the car’s compact multipurpose vehicle (MPV) and  the 1^st modern MVP made in Europe was launched in 1996. In the spring of 1999, the Mégane ! was given a slight face lift.

The launch of the Mégane II in September 2002 marked a totally new beginning. Mégane I and Mégane II do not resemble each other at all. Mégane II was motivated by Renault’s new design style seen for the first time in the Avantime, and was named 2003’s European Car of the Year. It gave its rivals, Citroën C3 and Mazda 6 stiff competition.  In 2006, the new car was modified.

 Mégane III was introduced in 2008 to maintain the car’s competitive edge over its rivals Opel Astra, Mazda 3, Ford focus and VW Golf GTD. The Mégane Coupé and 5-door hatchback Mégane Berline were unveiled in September 2008. The two models sported dissimilar designs. The 5-door hatchback is quite conservative while the Coupé is sporty and quite aggressive in design.