If you’re in a position to indulge yourself and ignore almost every rational reason for choosing one car over another, the new Renault Megane R.S. could well be on top of your shopping list.
Sure, it’s another hot hatch, and there’s a wide selection on offer, but the Renault brings a touch of French flair and individuality to the category.
Priced from $44,990, plus on-road costs, the Megane sits right in the middle of the hot hatch category. The VW Golf GTI Original sets the opening price at $37,490 (although hotter and better-equipped models such as the R Grid Edition take that to $47,490, and the R AWD is $57,990). Ford’s fabulous Focus 2.0 ST EB is $38,990 (or you can opt for the 2.3 RS EB with all-wheel drive for $50,990). The Renault Clio RS220 Trophy comes in at the same $38,990. Current hot favourite is the stunning Hyundai i30 N at a bargain $39,990. Next up the price list is the often-overlooked Skoda Octavia RS245 at $45,890 and close behind, another French offering, the Peugeot 308 GTi 270 for $45,990. BMW’s 125i M Sport is $49,990. Then there’s the Honda Civic Type R at a hefty $50,990 and the list tops out with Subaru’s WRX STI is $51,190 (Premium $55,640, Spec R $57,690).
Those prices are quite a bit more than the more mundane hatches on which the hotties are based. But they deliver a lot of fun for your hard-earned dollar. On the other hand, for many over-50 drivers the ride is uncompromisingly stiff, getting in and out of the sculpted seats can range from strenuous to almost-impossible, luggage space and rear seat space is usually reduced over the standard hatches and fuel consumption, unsurprisingly, suffers. But as we said, this is an emotional purchase, not a practical one.
The Megane arrives with a 1.8-litre 205kW/390Nm engine. Renault rather deviously claims it is “the most powerful 1.8-litre engine on the market” (most hatches have engines between 1.8 litres and 2.5 litres and outputs ranging from 165kW – the BMW – to 221kW in the Subaru, but it’s about a lot more than raw power figures). Torque ranges from 260Nm in the Renault Clio to an impressive 407Nm in the Subaru WRX STI.
First for a hot hatch is Renault’s four-wheel steer system. Transmission is your choice of six-speed manual or six-speed EDC auto. Renault also offers you a choice of two chassis settings – Sport or Cup (manual only for Cup). The Cup option is 10 percent stiffer than the Sport chassis. The new Torsen mechanical limited slip differential provides different lock-up values under acceleration and deceleration for enhanced traction and higher cornering speeds.
The new Megane also gets larger Brembo brakes, shock absorbers with hydraulic bump stops all round and independent steering-axis front suspension.
Renault Australia managing director Andrew Moore declared, “The all-new Megane R.S. has been designed for people who love cars and are passionate about driving.”
The Renault Megane R.S. 280 with manual transmission is $44,990 plus on-road costs, $47,490 with the auto gearbox. Metallic paint adds $600 or $880 if you go all out with Liquid Yellow or Tonic Orange. The Cup Pack is $1490 (Cup chassis, Brembo red brake calipers, 19-inch black alloys, Torsen mechanical LSD and bi-material brakes), Alcantara leather is an additional $1190, BOSE sound system is $500, and the ubiquitous panoramic sunroof is $1990.
senordriveraus will bring you a full review once we’ve had a chance to test the Renault Megane R.S. for ourselves