>

It’s widely accepted the number one factor in choosing a car is its exterior design, and Renault’s top man in this area told us the last Megane was too adventurous for British tastes.

With a pronounced posterior which inspired a whole series of “Shaking that ass” adverts, it is unlike anything else on the road and its sales suffered as a result.

It’s up to the public to decide if Renault’s new tactic of toning down the design of the Megane has been a good idea or a step backwards.

Renault sees its main UK rivals as the Volkswagen Scirocco, Vauxhall Astra  Sport Hatch, Volvo C30, Citroen C4 Coupe, Honda Civic and BMW 1-Series.

Best Renault interior

The Megane Coupe has the company’s best interior so far. It’s not outlandish or daring, but it’s very well made and there are neat touches of design flair.

The aluminium-effect strip across the dashboard brightens up the cabin and is made up of an attractive weaved pattern.

Most noticeable though, is the digital speedometer, sat alongside a more traditional analogue rev counter. It’s easy to get used to the numerical readout and handy when you need to know your exact speed.

The trip computer is harder to see, with numbers which are too small and can’t be read when the sun shines on them.

Renault has concentrated hard on getting the seats right and they are supportive enough to hold you in place while still being nicely padded and comfortable. They adjust for height by an impressive 70mm – important in a car with quite a low roof.

There is room for three passengers in the back, but in reality this would only be viable for shorter journeys. For two, there is plenty of shoulder room and adequate legroom but don’t expect a great view of the passing flora and fauna – the rear windows are almost non-existent.

This is also an issue for the driver, as the Renault Megane has a big blind spot when you look over your shoulder. Luckily the door mirrors give a wide field of view, which goes some way to alleviating this problem.

Renaultsport version rumoured

Renault has a reputation for creating fine-handling front-wheel drive cars and there are rumours of a Renaultsport version of the Megane Coupe in the pipeline, so what were our first impressions in the bends?

It’s impressively free of body roll and quick to change direction, and makes for swift and secure progress with high levels of grip and decent steering feel and precision.

It won’t goad you into booking the soonest track day session, but it’s a competent long distance tourer which holds it head high when you leave the motorway in search of more challenging tarmac.

And, while you are on the motorway it will impress with its compliant ride and hushed progress.

Turbocharged petrol

We got to sample the hottest Megane Coupe, fitted with a 178bhp turbocharged 2-litre petrol engine.

It accelerates from 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds and has a top speed of 142mph while Renault claims it can return an average of 37.2mpg.

Emissions of 178g/km place it in tax band E, with an annual cost of £170.

On the road, the power delivery of the engine is similar to the feel of a good diesel, with power arriving very early and providing a healthy surge of acceleration.

It doesn’t relish being revved to its limits, instead rewarding early shifts into the next gear, where there is another surge of diesel-like pulling power.

This fits well with the driver-friendly feel of the chassis, but we hope the Renaultsport version has a more eager engine and a more exciting exhaust note.

High kit count

When it goes on sale in the UK in January, the Renault Megane Coupe will range in price from £14,745 to £19,195 and will be available in three trim levels.

Entry-level ‘Expression’ cars will be fitted with 16-inch alloy wheels, four speaker stereo, brake assist, front fog lights, height adjustable driver’s seat, adjustable steering wheel, keyless entry and trip computer.

The mid-range ‘Dynamique’ gets 17-inch alloy wheels, stereo with Bluetooth and MP3 compatibility, automatic lights and wipers, cruise control, height adjustable passenger seat, leather steering wheel and tinted rear windows.

‘Privilege’ cars get a different design of 16-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, electric folding door mirrors, dimming rear view mirror, rear armrest and rear parking sensors.

It’s up to customers to decide on the looks and style of the new Megane Coupe, but we think it’s a solid contender in the booming coupe market.

The driving feel is relaxing and enjoyable and the levels of equipment available for under £20k are impressive.

When the diesel engined variants arrive it will be cheap to run too.

We look forward to driving it on UK roads to see how it measures up to its rivals on home turf. 

What do you think of the Renault Megane? Have your say on the Auto Trader Blog

Search for used Renault Megane cars for sale on Auto Trader