New Mégane hits the road

The five-door hatch arrives in November, priced from around £12,500. Following the conservative Laguna’s lukewarm reception, the Mégane has been given a fresh look – and we’re promised much needed advances in build quality and reliability.

Power comes from a range of new, clean diesels and downsized petrol engines. Safety standards will be high and the brand says big-car features – such as an electric handbrake, hard-drive DVD and intelligent cruise control – will distance it from rivals.

Renault has invested a massive £1.4billion in the new Mégane. Five other variants will follow the practical hatch, including a sportier three-door, an estate, a coupé-convertible and two Scenic MPV models.