Renault Megane Sport Tourer

Take one look at the Mégane’s sloping roofline, shallow side windows and steeply raked rear screen, and you could be forgiven for thinking it might struggle as a load carrier. It’s clear that designers at Renault have tried to add a dash of desirability to the normally utilitarian estate car sector.

The nose is carried over from the five-door hatchback, but from the windscreen back, it’s all change. There’s an extended roofline featuring neat silver-finish rails, a distinctive rising window line along the flanks and bold wraparound tail-lights.

To our eyes, the end result looks fresh and modern, and rivals the rakish Mégane Coupé for head-turning appeal.

However, this bold style doesn’t come at the expense of practicality. In fact, the French estate has the largest load capacity of our two cars, delivering a healthy 491 litres. Fold the rear bench flat, and the available space increases to a vast 1,567 litres – a significant
213 litres more than the SEAT.

The only drawback is the fixed rear seatbase, which means the load floor isn’t completely flat. But elsewhere in the cabin, there’s plenty of storage, including multiple cubbyholes and underfloor compartments.

Large doors with wide openings aid access to the interior – and are especially handy when fitting or removing a bulky baby seat, for example. Occupants will have no problem getting comfortable, with those in the rear treated to more head, leg and shoulder room than in the Exeo.

Up front, there’s an attractively styled, solidly built dashboard and plenty of quality materials.

It’s just a shame the classy feel is spoiled by a garish mix of analogue and digital readouts for the instruments. What’s more, taller drivers would appreciate a lower seat setting, as legs can brush against the steering column.

Hit the start button, and the 1.9-litre dCi engine clatters noisily into life, before settling down to a reasonably refined idle.On the move, the 128bhp diesel remains impressively smooth throughout the rev range. And even though it lacks the firepower of the 168bhp SEAT, the Renault didn’t disgrace itself on the track, thanks to impressively linear power delivery.

It recorded a 0-60mph sprint time of 9.8 seconds and posted virtually identical in-gear figures to its rival, meaning it felt every bit as fast in the real world.

Supple suspension makes the Renault more comfortable and composed over rough surfaces. On top of this, low levels of wind and road noise help to ensure the Mégane is relaxing to drive over long distances.

Turn into a corner and you’ll discover strong grip and good body control, too.

Yet while the steering is precise, it’s short on feedback and feels over-assisted. The gearshift doesn’t provide the robust action of the SEAT unit, either.

However, these issues are easy to forgive when you consider the price. At £19,585, the Mégane Sport Tourer undercuts the Exeo by nearly £2,000.

Better still, it comes with reasonable levels of standard kit, has lower CO2 emissions and delivers better returns at the pumps. Only disappointing predicted residual values of 34 per cent blot the Renault’s running costs copybook.

Add sharp looks, an incredibly versatile cabin and a strong engine, and it’s clear the Sport Tourer ticks many estate car boxes. But the question is, has it done enough to win this contest?

Details

Chart position: 1
WHY: With stylish looks and a large load area, the new Renault estate is aiming for class honours.