Renault Megane 1.5 dCi
Renault's sleek styling and strong driving dynamics, mean French rival is targeting top of class
Derby matches are always fiercely contested, because seeing off your local rival counts more than anything. That makes the Renault a key competitor for Peugeot bosses – if the 308 fails to beat its French counterpart here, it faces a tough time in the fight for showroom sales.
The Mégane takes an early lead, thanks to its attractive styling. Svelte lines, a distinctive face and a tapered tail give the hatchback a low-slung look that sets it apart from the upright Golf and 308.
Dynamique TomTom trim doesn’t look particularly sporty – it does without the large alloys of the Peugeot and purposeful front end of the Ford – but it’s still a pretty design. The stylish approach continues inside, with a sweeping dashboard and splashes of silver trim.
Material quality is on a par with the 308, although some of the switchgear feels cheap and the layout isn’t as logical as in the Ford and VW. You do get an integrated TomTom sat-nav unit as standard, although it looks awkward perched on top of the dash.
The cabin is further let down by a confusing stereo that is fiddly to operate, while the digital speedometer is at odds with the rest of the instruments. Rear passengers suffer because the sloping roofline cuts down on headroom, but the 372-litre boot provides ample space.
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Cash £14,497There’s also plenty of adjustment to help find a comfortable driving position. With the 108bhp 1.5-litre dCi engine running, you can’t help but notice its gruff note, even at idle.
Yet it’s perfectly willing and promises to be economical, too. Our test car was fitted with the firm’s Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) automated gearbox, which is currently available only with this engine. It’s an impressive unit, with smooth and fast shifts in manual mode, and intuitive automatic changes around town.
It’s not perfect, though, as there are no steering wheel paddles to control manual shifts, and the car’s left-hand-drive origins mean the markings beside the lever are obscured from the driver’s seat.
With its clever, low-ratio gearbox, the Mégane proved to be the fastest model against the clock, and this pace is backed up by a talented chassis. It feels particularly light on its feet compared to the 308, and is also more agile than the Golf.
The steering and suspension are the only weaknesses – the former is overly sensitive and lacks feel, while the latter is too firm at low speeds.
Drive the Mégane down a flowing back road, and it copes with large bumps and sweeping corners with ease. When pootling around at city speeds, though, the suspension thumps loudly into potholes and over bumps.
At the pumps, the clever gearbox counted against the Renault. On our test, it recorded 38.4mpg. A manual is likely to improve on this figure, but the Mégane was still good enough to match its all-important compatriot.
Details
Chart position: 3
WHY: Sleek Mégane represents decent value for money and comes loaded with standard equipment. New EDC twin-clutch gearbox promises rapid, slick shifts.
