Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Renault Megane RS review

The Renault Megane RS is a sophisticated hot hatch that's a true contender in the class

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
  • Performance car looks
  • Affordable
  • Very agile
  • Firm ride
  • Not as quick as rivals
  • Interior plastics
Find your Renault Megane
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car
Advertisement

The standard Renault Megane has been for sale since 2015, but we had to wait a little longer for the Renaultsport (RS) model. However, when it finally arrived in 2018, it turned out to be well worth the wait. While the three-door coupe body has been replaced by a five-door hatchback, the Megane RS has the same mix of ingredients to make it a hot hatch front-runner.

Advertisement - Article continues below

That's good, because it needed to be at the top of its game to take on a slew of rivals that deliver driving thrills. The new Megane RS 280 joins the hot hatch establishment which includes the VW Golf GTI and Honda Civic Type R, both of which are strong rivals for the Renault. But there are also leftfield choices, such as the Hyundai i30 N, Skoda Octavia vRS, SEAT Leon Cupra and Peugeot 308 GTi – all cars with their own particular strengths.

Renault Megane R.S. vs Honda Civic Type R vs Hyundai i30 N

But what's probably more important is that the Renaultsport Megane needs to be better than the car it replaces, as past Renaultsport models have gained a cult following for their track-focused handling. To do this, Renault has swapped to a smaller yet more powerful 276bhp 1.8-litre turbocharged engine (which is shared with the Alpine A110) and there's the option of a six-speed manual or six-speed twin-clutch auto to put power to the front wheels.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Adaptive dampers are fitted as standard, so unlike the last Megane RS you can dial out the stiff ride and make this Renaultsport model as comfortable as the standard Megane. Another addition is four-wheel steering, making the Megane RS the only current hot hatch to come with rear wheels that steer. It's designed to increase agility at low speeds and stability when driving fast, and we're happy to report that it does help the Megane RS to deliver a fun drive, even though the system adds a bit of weight to the car.

As before, there are standard and Cup versions of the Renaultsport Megane, with the latter adding stiffer dampers and a limited-slip diff to boost traction out of corners. There's also the Renaultsport Megane 300 Trophy, and as the name suggests, it gets more power than the standard car (297bhp), thanks to a revised turbo and exhaust system, plus bigger brakes, slightly different looks and sticky tyres designed for track use. However, while past Trophy models have delivered an even more thrilling drive, the current version isn't quite as focused as its predecessors.

Advertisement - Article continues below

In 2019 Renault added the Megane RS Trophy-R to the range – a lightened, more focused version with trick suspension upgrades and improved aerodynamics. The limited-run car features an Akrapovic titanium exhaust amongst its upgrades, along with optional carbon fibre wheels and carbon-ceramic brakes. The end result is a spectacular hot hatch, but one with prices that start at over £50,000 – or over £60,000 after options. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Prices for the rest of the Renaultsport Megane range start from around £28,000, with the Cup model around £1,400 extra and the Trophy starting from just under £32,000.

Developing a first class hot hatch is arguably one of the hardest tasks in the car industry; not only does the car have to be a riot to drive and look special, it needs to comfortably carry a family and their luggage too. The Renault Megane R.S. hits that brief, if perhaps not quite nailing it as well as some rivals. It’s utterly composed at speed and incredibly nimble, but it feels like a car that has more to give; it lacks that last degree of aggression and engagement that the Honda Civic Type R delivers. The hardcore Trophy-R model irons out the majority of our issues with the standard car but its race-inspired upgrades make it far too expensive for most.

Engines, performance and drive

The Megane RS doesn't reveal its personality straight away, you have it push it hard to highlight its deftness

In Comfort or Normal mode you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference between a standard Renault Megane and the Renaultsport version in terms of refinement. The hot hatch is quiet, smooth and incredibly compliant, even over rutted surfaces. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

As the road tightens and becomes faster, toggling through Sport and Race modes sees everything become a little more aggressive. The engine note is synthetically enhanced by the cabin’s speakers, which sounds sub-optimal but is executed well and proves convincing, while crackles and bangs erupt from the exhaust when shifting down through the gears. For a four-cylinder turbo the Renault Megane RS sounds fantastic. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The six-speed dual-clutch auto reacts immediately to your every command; the box is able to jump gears on the way down through the ratios if you pull and hold the left paddle in Sport or Race mode. It’s a shame the paddles don’t operate with a satisfying thud; instead the action feels a bit soft and mushy.

The steering isn’t brimming with feel but is accurate and combined with the Megane’s four-wheel steering means this hot hatch has gymnast levels of agility. Below 62mph in Race mode the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction of the fronts to boost precision on the entry to corners; you can feel the rear end begin to swing round and the nose tuck tighter into a bend as you apply more lock.

Initially you find yourself recalibrating the amount of steering angle you need to apply because the Megane RS turns in so quickly it almost catches you off guard. Then, when you get on the throttle, because the Sport chassis only gets torque vectoring rather than a proper mechanical limited slip differential, you can feel the car begin to scrabble away at the tarmac, hunting for grip. It’s a sign you’re being over enthusiastic with the right pedal.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Best hot hatchbacks on sale

Where the hot Megane really excels is its ability to cover bumpy and rutted ground at speed with real composure. The hydraulic compression stops fitted to all shock absorbers are the kind you’ll find on rally cars; it means the RS is able to absorb big compressions and road undulations without any fuss. The superb body control gives you huge confidence to hustle the car over poor roads at higher speeds.

Like before there are two chassis setups available on the Renault Megane RS - Sport and Cup. You can spec either with a manual or automatic gearbox. The Sport chassis is the standard setup and kits the RS out with redesigned hydraulic compression stop shock absorbers and torque vectoring on the front axle to tame understeer. Opt for the Cup chassis, which will set you back around £1,400, and Renault throws in a mechanical limited-slip differential and 10 per cent stiffer dampers.

Go for the Renaultsport Megane 300 Trophy, and the differences in performance between it and the standard Cup model are hard to pinpoint – you really need to drive them back-to-back to feel the differences. That's because the standard car's set-up is already pretty sharp, and this Trophy model doesn't feel as hardcore as previous Trophy models.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The limited-run Trophy-R is the best of the bunch. The car smashed a number of front-wheel drive production car track records and it's easy to see why – grip is immense, the reworked (and adjustable) suspension is impressive and lack of rear-wheel steering all help make it a remarkable car to drive quickly.

The Trophy-R weighs 130kg less than the Trophy on which it's based, thanks in part to a carbon fibre bonnet and diffuser, Akrapovic titanium exhaust and Sabelt bucket seats. The rear seats are ditched completely in Renault Sport's quest for performance. Optional carbon fibre wheels save four kilogrammes per corner but are an eye-watering £12,000 option.

All of the Trophy-R's upgrades combine to make it the best option for die-hard hot-hatch enthusiasts. It's very expensive, but few hot hatches that can deliver the same depth of performance and feedback.

Engines

The Megane RS uses a 1.8-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that generates its 276bhp at 6,000rpm. Maximum torque of 390Nm is delivered to the front wheels at 4,800rpm, and that’s enough to get the car from 0-62mph in 5.8s before it advances on to a 158mph top speed. 

The more powerful 300 Trophy adds a new turbo with ceramic ball bearings that boost its responses, plus a freeer-flowing exhaust with a mechanical valve that boosts gas flow even further. This bumps power up to 296bhp, while torque is up to 400Nm in the manual model, and 410Nm in twin-clutch cars. 0-62mph is a tenth quicker at 5.7 seconds, but it's the engine's mid-range pulling power that really impresses, especially as it's accompanied by a more aggressive exhaust note. Neither turbocharged engine has any discernible lag, either.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The Trophy's engine is retained in the go-faster Trophy-R, but performance is increased thanks to the latter's lighter kerbweight and racier tyres. 0-62mph takes 5.4 seconds and top speed is 163mph.

MPG, CO2 and Running Costs

The Megane RS is a good-value company car, but prices rise with the Cup version

The Megane RS is one of the less expensive hot hatches on the market to buy and run, with list prices starting from around £28,000. In comparison, the Hyundai i30 N is roughly the same price, the Peugeot 308 GTi is around £1,500 more and the VW Golf GTI and Honda Civic Type R are both over £30k.

The French firm says the Megane’s 1.8-litre engine will return 34mpg on average when combined with the dual-clutch gearbox or 35.8mpg with a manual. However, on test we have recorded a figure just below 30mpg – which still isn’t bad for a 279bhp performance car. If you drive up to 12,000 miles per year it equates to around £2,377 per year in fuel alone.

The more powerful Megane RS Trophy sees slightly reduced economy – 34.4mpg with a manual gearbox or 33.6mpg with the dual-clutch gearbox.

Emissions for the standard car with a manual gearbox stand at 181g/km of CO2, dipping to 171g/km for the dual-clutch auto. The Trophy emits 183g/km and 176g/km with an auto and manual respectively. The limited-run Trophy-R, meanwhile, returns 35.8mpg and emits 180g/km of CO2, its marginally improved figures attributable to its stripped-down weight. 

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

After April 2019, annual road tax will cost £145 per year (after the CO2-weighted first-year payment) as the Megane dips well below the £40,000 road tax supplement threshold (except in the case of the Trophy-R). All models sit in the highest-possible band for company car tax, with a 37% BiK charge.

Insurance groups

As the Megane RS uses a smaller engine and is less powerful than some of its rivals, it sits in insurance group 35, which is between the Civic Type R in group 40 and the Golf GTI in group 33. 

Depreciation

Over a three-year period and 36,000 miles the Megane RS is expected to retain 41.4 per cent of its value, according to our experts. That means a model with the Cup chassis will be worth around £12,000 when it comes to second hand value. It loses £16,994 of its value over that period.

Interior, design and technology

Underpinnings are shared with the Megane, but the Renaultsport team has gone to town with the upgrades

Visually, the Renaultsport Megane RS cuts a striking shape on the road; it’s squat stance emphasised by bulging arches housing beautiful 19-inch alloy wheels. In our eyes it sits squarely between the Golf GTI and Civic Type R in terms of aesthetics, striking a perfect balance between aggression and subtlety.      

The cabin is a similar story; there are enough sporty Renaultsport flourishes, such as the Alcantara steering wheel and deep bucket seats, to give it a sense of occasion. Of course it’s not perfect, the fake carbon fibre effect fabric on the doors look like an aftermarket part and some of plastics on the dash and centre console feel rather cheap.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

The infotainment system – plucked from the standard Megane – still isn’t the easiest to navigate and the lack of haptic feedback from the screen often leaves you wondering if you selected the correct function. There are also a lot of menus and sub-menus, meaning it’s easy to get lost in the system if you’re trying to use it while driving.

Practicality, comfort and boot space

Hot hatches have to deliver practicality, and the Megane RS ticks all the boxes

The Megane RS is only available as a five-door model, and the transition from standard hatchback to hot hatch hasn’t robbed the car of any of its practicality. So if you’re a keen driver with a family to transport around, the Renault Megane RS isn’t really much less suitable than a standard Megane model. 

Legroom, headroom 

Like the standard Megane, space inside is pretty good. There’s decent headroom for those in the back, but the deep buckets seats steal a fair bit of knee room and space in the foot well. So although you have the ability to sit three people across the back bench (unlike in the Honda Civic Type R, which only has two rear seats) you probably wouldn’t want to spend too much time back there. 

Boot 

The boot is unchanged from that of the standard hatchback at 384 litres, which is more than you’ll find in a Golf GTI. If you drop the rear bench the amount of space available increases to 1,247 litres.

Reliability and Safety

While the Megane RS features plenty of safety kit, Renault still has some issues to deal with

A raft of safety kit such as cruise control, blind spot monitoring and lane keeping assist ensure the Renaultsport Megane RS will be safe on the road. The addition of grippier tyres and bigger brakes boost the Trophy's safety credentials, although those sticky tyres might not be quite so effective when it's wet.

Either way, the Megane RS is based on the standard Megane, so it shares the same five-star Euro NCAP rating. However, autonomous city braking isn't available, even as an option.

In our 2019 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, the Renault finished 19th out of 30 manufacturers; owners said their cars were practical, fun to drive and economical, but interior quality, smartphone connectivity and overall build quality failed to impress. 18.6 per cent of owners reported having experienced a fault with their Renault.

Warranty

Every Renault Megane is covered by Renault’s three-year/60,000 mile warranty. The French firm also throws in UK roadside assistance as part of that package.

Servicing

Renault advises that, as a specialist performance vehicle, the Megane RS is serviced annually, to ensure that it operates correctly. Being a performance car, you can expect to see more degradation to brakes and tyres compared to regular models and that replacements will be more expensive.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Our latest car deals

Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £27,565Avg. savings £2,686 off RRP*Compare Offers
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £36,645Avg. savings £2,892 off RRP*Compare Offers
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £21,210Avg. savings £1,862 off RRP*Compare Offers
Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,710Avg. savings £2,345 off RRP*Compare Offers
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

More on Megane Renaultsport

New Renault Megane R.S. 300 Trophy 2021 review
Renault Megane R.S. 300 Trophy - front

New Renault Megane R.S. 300 Trophy 2021 review

The Renault Megane R.S. 300 Trophy has been updated for 2021 and it's now only available with an EDC automatic gearbox
Road tests
1 Feb 2021
MINI JCW GP vs Renault Megane R.S.

MINI JCW GP vs Renault Megane R.S.

More power and a higher price tag places the MINI JCW GP into the firing line of the Renault Megane R.S. Trophy
Car group tests
5 Sep 2020
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 vs Renault Megane R.S. Trophy-R

Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 vs Renault Megane R.S. Trophy-R

Hardcore Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 and Renault Megane R.S. Trophy-R lock horns in track showdown
Car group tests
28 Mar 2020
Renault Megane RS 300 Trophy: long-term test review
Renault Megane RS Trophy long-term review - group main

Renault Megane RS 300 Trophy: long-term test review

Final report: we say farewell to our Renault Megane RS 300 Trophy hot hatch with a family photocall
Long-term tests
22 Jan 2020
Renault Megane R.S. Trophy-R sets new record at Suzuka
Renault Megane Trophy-R - Suzuka

Renault Megane R.S. Trophy-R sets new record at Suzuka

Renault's Megane Trophy-R has broken the front-wheel-drive production car record at Suzuka Circuit by more than three seconds
News
28 Nov 2019
New Renault Megane R.S. Trophy-R 2019 review
Renault Megane R.S. Trophy-R - front tracking

New Renault Megane R.S. Trophy-R 2019 review

The new New Renault Megane R.S. Trophy-R isn't cheap at over £50k, but there's no other hot hatch quite like it
Road tests
4 Sep 2019
Renault Megane R.S. vs Honda Civic Type R
Renault Megane R.S. vs Honda Civic Type R - header

Renault Megane R.S. vs Honda Civic Type R

The Renault Megane R.S. 300 Trophy takes on our reigning hot hatch champ, the Honda Civic Type R
Car group tests
6 Aug 2019
New Renault Megane R.S. Trophy 2019 review
Renault Megane R.S. Trophy - front

New Renault Megane R.S. Trophy 2019 review

We try the ultimate Renault Megane R.S. Trophy hot hatch on UK roads for the first time
Road tests
27 Mar 2019
New 2019 Renault Megane R.S. Trophy-R spied testing
Renault Megane R.S. Trophy-R - spyshot 1

New 2019 Renault Megane R.S. Trophy-R spied testing

The new Renault Megane R.S. Trophy-R has a score to settle, aiming to break the front-wheel-drive lap record at the Nurburgring
News
26 Mar 2019
New Renault Megane RS Trophy prices announced
Renault Megane RS Trophy - front

New Renault Megane RS Trophy prices announced

Hardcore Renault Megane RS Trophy rivals the Honda Civic Type R and VW Golf GTi hot hatches, priced from £31,810
News
17 Dec 2018
Renault Megane R.S. vs Honda Civic Type R vs Hyundai i30 N
Renault Megane R.S. vs Honda Civic Type R vs Hyundai i30 N - header

Renault Megane R.S. vs Honda Civic Type R vs Hyundai i30 N

The new Renault Megane R.S. slugs it out with Honda Civic Type R and Hyundai i30 N for hot hatch glory
Car group tests
28 Jul 2018
Skip advert
Advertisement
New Renault Megane RS 2018 review
Renault Megane RS - front action

New Renault Megane RS 2018 review

We get to grips with the new 276bhp Renault Megane RS in the UK to see if it's a serious hot hatch contender
Road tests
4 Jul 2018
Last-ever Mk3 Renaultsport Megane
Renaultsport Megane 275 Cup - front three quarter

Last-ever Mk3 Renaultsport Megane

The final Renault Megane RS 275 is destined for a UK buyer, with the Cup-S model on sale at a Dundee dealer
News
23 Aug 2016
Renault Megane RS 275 review
Renault-Megane-RS-2014-front-quarter

Renault Megane RS 275 review

The latest Renault Megane RS 275 is still as good as ever to drive, but it's much more focused than rivals
In-depth reviews
16 May 2016
Renault Megane RS 275 Cup-S 2016 review
Renault Megane RS 275 Cup-S 2016 front cornering

Renault Megane RS 275 Cup-S 2016 review

Renault Megane Renaultsport 275 Cup-S mega-hatch is hotter than hot, yet scorches many rivals for price
Road tests
13 May 2016
Honda Civic Type R vs Leon Cupra & Megane 275 Trophy

Honda Civic Type R vs Leon Cupra & Megane 275 Trophy

Can Honda’s new Civic Type R beat SEAT and Renault and blast to the top of the hot hatch class?
Car group tests
2 Jul 2015
Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy R vs Porsche Cayman
Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy R vs Porsche Cayman

Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy R vs Porsche Cayman

The Megane Trophy R is a record-breaking hot hatch, but can it compete with the Porsche Cayman for pure driving thrills?
Car group tests
19 Feb 2015
Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy-R review

Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy-R review

We get behind the wheel of the hardcore Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy-R
Road tests
19 Feb 2015
Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy review

Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy review

New Renault Megane Renaultsport 275 Trophy driven in the UK for the first time
Road tests
28 Jul 2014
Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy review
Renault Megane Renaultsport 275 Trophy front

Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy review

We drive the Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy, Renault's hottest hatch yet
Road tests
16 Jun 2014
Renault unveils Megane Renaultsport 275 Trophy

Renault unveils Megane Renaultsport 275 Trophy

Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy is revealed, aimed at breaking the Nurburgring FWD lap record
News
14 May 2014
SEAT Leon Cupra vs Renaultsport Megane

SEAT Leon Cupra vs Renaultsport Megane

Powerful new SEAT Leon Cupra hits track to tackle Renaultsport Megane
Car group tests
23 Apr 2014
Volkswagen Golf GTI vs Renault Megane RS video review
Volkswagen Golf vs Renault Megane RS video

Volkswagen Golf GTI vs Renault Megane RS video review

Can the Volkswagen Golf GTI with the Performance Pack beat the excellent Renault Megane RS Cup?
Videos
18 Nov 2013