2008 Renault Megane Review

But in challenging convention you really do need some substance to back it up. Perhaps this will be Megane’s downfall? Perhaps not!

It drives well, and the speed variable power steering grabbed my attention quickly. In all honesty it is one of the best feeling variable assistance wheels I’ve driven. At car parks speeds it’s brilliantly light and makes getting out on to the road incredibly easy, though once at speed things firm up with confident surety and lovely feedback – just the way it should be. Turning circle could be a little tighter (10.7m) but otherwise no sweat.

Megane sits on the road well and uses MacPherson type struts up front and a torsion beam rear end with outboard attachment points. It is quite satisfactory and compliments the chassis, soaking up larger bumps very well, but the high riding lofty rear end and loathsome fixed rear end will make itself known once you punt through corners a little too ambitiously creating a little front end push (understeer). Fortunately the VDC and Michelin tyres should keep you from coming to grief.

At speed it is a reasonably quiet ride and aside from a slightly high seating position and some unusual symbols on certain controls, is relatively easy to deal with once you’re accustom to it. My only real concerns were a slightly heavy clutch, average feeling brake pedal and a horrid plastic steering wheel and gear knob. Otherwise it’s actually quite pleasant.

There’s the usual run of options to keep you abreast of the times, plus a few more that are usually options in Megane’s rivals. Climate control air-conditioning, cruise control and speed limiter, AM/FM audio with single CD player (no iPod connection), trip computer, ‘one touch’ power windows and power heated mirrors, 16” alloys, auto projector headlamps with level adjusters and ‘see me home’ function, fog lamps, auto wipers, chilled glove box, as well as various nifty storage compartments throughout including two underfloor and one in the rear shelf.