Skip advert
Advertisement

Renault Megane Sport Tourer

Revised family estate offers improved styling and better efficiency

The Megane Sport Tourer has always been one of the best-looking estates on the market, and thanks to its strong engines and slick handling it nearly beat the VW Golf Estate in Issue 1,147. Now, Renault has given it a major overhaul – following in the footsteps of the Grand Scenic and Twingo – to bring it back in touch with the class leaders.

Advertisement - Article continues below

From the outside, it’s clear to see where Renault got its inspiration for the 2012 styling tweaks. The new grille – with its gloss black inserts and integrated LEDs in the bumper – is borrowed straight from the Renaultsport Megane hot hatch, while the ‘boomerang’ tail-lights and anthracite roof rails instantly stand out against our car’s Malta Blue body.

This GT Line model gets extra badges and a plastic diffuser that won’t suit all tastes, but overall the styling changes make the Megane ST look even sharper than it did before. The changes continue inside, where the GT Line comes with a thick-rimmed sports steering wheel. A low-slung driving position and figure-hugging part-leather seats also help it deliver on the promise of the racy exterior. Other design cues like the red stitching and carbon fibre-effect dash insert add a further sense of excitement that’s missing in the sensible SEAT.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

2

2023 Polestar

2

26,156 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £24,197
View 2
A-Class

2023 Mercedes

A-Class

27,005 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L

Cash £17,400
View A-Class
A-Class

2021 Mercedes

A-Class

18,746 milesAutomaticPetrol1.3L

Cash £21,650
View A-Class
ID.3

2022 Volkswagen

ID.3

28,963 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £14,600
View ID.3

The attractive climate control and stereo switches are slightly better than before and the extensive equipment list includes built-in sat-nav, Bluetooth and USB connections and parking sensors all round. The wide range of adjustment on the seat and steering column makes finding a comfortable driving position simple, too, but the small rear window means all-round visibility isn’t as good as it is in the squared-off Exeo ST.

Advertisement - Article continues below

For all its flair, the Megane is remarkably  spacious inside. Despite being shorter than the SEAT, it has a higher roof and a longer wheelbase, so there’s a decent amount of knee and headroom for rear passengers. The boot has been cleverly designed, with a low lip that makes it easy to load bulky items. And even though it’s slightly shorter than the Exeo’s luggage bay, it’s deeper, so it can carry more bags. Hard-to-reach catches make flipping up the rear seatbases quite tricky, but once they’re up the boot floor is flat and the Megane has a 1,600-litre capacity.

So it’s desirable and practical, but does it still drive as well as the previous car? Three new engines have been added to the range: a 1.5-litre diesel with 90g/km CO2 emissions, a small turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol, plus the 1.6-litre dCi 130 engine we’re testing here. The 1.6 is a direct replacement for the old 1.9-litre diesel, and standard stop-start and regenerative brakes ensure it’s 20 per cent more efficient: it emits only 104g/km of CO2 and claims 70.6mpg fuel economy.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

However, the benefits of downsizing the engine don’t just come at the pumps, and with 320Nm of torque from just 1,750rpm the Megane showed an impressive turn of speed during our track tests. Shorter gearing meant it was working harder at 70mph than the Exeo, but the well spaced ratios make its performance far more accessible on the road. Plus, while the six-speed gearbox has a long throw, the shift action is pleasingly accurate – this combines with quick steering and the balanced chassis to give an involving drive.

The Renault is more agile than its rival – no doubt helped by the fact it’s 245kg lighter, at 1,320kg. But the trade-off is the jittery ride, which can get tiring. That’s a pity as there’s not much road, wind and engine noise. We’d sacrifice some of the handling poise for a more composed ride – and on that basis, the cheaper Megane Dynamique TomTom – with smaller 16-inch wheels and standard suspension – is the pick of the new range.

The £21,100 Dynamique undercuts the Exeo by £505, yet still comes with plenty of equipment as standard. And the lower price makes up for the lower residuals – the Renault is predicted to retain only 34.9 per cent of its value after three years. But all models benefit from the company’s 4+ package, which throws in four years of free servicing, warranty and roadside assistance. So the Megane ST is a temptingly different estate, and looks odds-on for the win.

Details

Chart position: 1Why: The Megane has been given a thorough styling overhaul, more kit and a powerful yet efficient new 1.6-litre dCi diesel engine.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £27,005Avg. savings £7,837 off RRP*Used from £12,712
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £23,990Avg. savings £2,161 off RRP*
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £5,330 off RRP*
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £4,538 off RRP*Used from £14,000
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

MG Cyber X will morph into a mini-Mercedes within two years
MG Cyber X design render - front

MG Cyber X will morph into a mini-Mercedes within two years

Boxy small SUV is gearing up for production, and our exclusive images show how the model might look
News
30 Aug 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Enjoy Scandinavian style with the Volvo XC40 for just £296 a month
Volvo XC40 - front full width

Car Deal of the Day: Enjoy Scandinavian style with the Volvo XC40 for just £296 a month

Swedish company’s popular compact SUV is still effortlessly cool, and great value with our Deal of the Day for 31 August
News
31 Aug 2025
Skoda Elroq and Enyaq get Electric Car Grant approval
Skoda Elroq - front cornering

Skoda Elroq and Enyaq get Electric Car Grant approval

Despite some models costing over the £37,000 threshold, Skoda has secured the government grant on its mid-size electric SUVs
News
2 Sep 2025