2008 Renault Megane Review

I think the bloke at Renault enjoys this bit – handing over the car – for you see, being French, everything is just a little bit different to an ordinary car. For starters, there’s no key as such. Instead you get a Renault Card, which although is a great idea in its own right, can be a little gimmicky and bewildering when you don’t know where to stick the thing (incidentally it also takes care of the boot and power windows).

After sorting that one out, and familiarising myself briefly with my surroundings, I took off for a week of diesel goodness to see just how well the Megane fares compared to similar priced rivals and if indeed the French quirkiness would grow on me.

When they say first impressions count, they’re not wrong, and my first thoughts on the Megane were an instant liking for the interior colour scheme. So many cars these days are dull, black and monotone but Renault has used pale beige and charcoal décor throughout to lift things a little, and it really does work.

There’s quite a bit of space too. The seating proportions are ample, rather comfortable as well, and up back the boot is quite adequate for the needs of a growing family. The rear seats do fold (60/40) and although not completely flat, allows enough room for occasional larger loads.

The overall exterior appearance of the Megane will probably command a love-hate relationship with most buyers and perhaps in our ‘everything is average’ society that’s a good thing. It’s different – good different. Chiselled edges, squared off lines, angular odds and ends in unusual places (centre of rear windscreen springs to mind) that add a peculiar modern character to a segment that’s become stale and familiar.