Megane: a sensible sporting car

It’s still not the sportiest compact three-door on the road but as an overall package, it has few flaws, especially in the efficient 1.6 dCi 130 diesel form we’re looking at here.

The differences between the Megane Coupe and the five-door Hatch don’t end with the bodywork. The coupe rides 43mm lower with 12mm of that total accounted for by its lowered suspension. The ride is noticeably firmer than the five-door car but still far from uncomfortable on a well-surfaced road. Indeed, the Megane must be one of the smoothest-riding small coupes out there.

Refinement is another strongpoint of the package with road and wind noise well-suppressed and the engines proving far from intrusive at cruising speeds.

Get underneath the car and you’ll realise that many of the underpinnings are quite similar to those of the second generation model. Anyone who has driven one will tell you this is no bad thing. Detailed tweaks included a revised front suspension/subframe arrangement to improve directional precision and a redeveloped power steering system to more swiftly respond to driver input.

The rear suspension meanwhile, has been tuned to produce a more responsive, agile ride, as well as offer improved cornering without detracting from comfort. Plus, there are bigger brakes, able to pull you up to rest from 62mph in a class-leading 37 metres.

As for the 1.6-litre dCi 130 engine, well it’s got more of a turn of speed than you might expect, 60 from rest taking 9.8s on the way to 124mph.

You don’t get the fully-fledged Renaultsport chassis in this variant but roll is still well controlled and the car is agile through the corners.

Only the headlamps, bonnet and front wings are carried over from the five-door hatch to the Megane Coupe’s exterior and you’ll believe that when you see the car. It’s certainly an appealing piece of design and one that’s well worthy of consideration alongside the market’s prettiest hatchbacks and compact coupes. The front end now features the ubiquitous LED daytime running lights while the bumper gets a gloss black finish with chrome highlights. The selection of wheels has been entirely revised.

The rear end is particularly admirable with the side window line rising dramatically to a point that meets with that of the curving rear screen above the pumped-up haunches.

The downside of this elegant glasswork is poor rear visibility but with a set of parking sensors installed, that should be easy to live with.

The Megane Coupe is a car it’s hard not to like, especially in 1.6 dCi 130 diesel guise. This model’s core strengths still lie in its ride, refinement and plush interior but few would argue that it holds its own on a twisty road and the styling will convince many long before they ever get behind the wheel.

The flowing lines and curves are a long way removed from the five-door model and the wide, purposeful stance leads one to expect sportscar handling.

You get a bit of that - with a lot of practicality. Which you’ll appreciate if you want a coupe you can enjoy living with even when it’s pouring down and you’re stuck in traffic.

A sensible sporting car then. There’s a lot to be said for that.

Pictured: The new Renault Megane Coupe.