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If you’re in the market for a mid-size family car and want something that’s especially good value, the Renault Megane is well worth a look. Although all Megane models are very well equipped, they tend to cost notably less than similar cars. The Megane is also very practical and available with a wide selection of fuel-efficient engines – some diesel models can give you an mpg of more than 70. It’s quite stylish, too, and feels rather relaxing to drive on a long journey. Go for one of the high-performance Renaultsport models, though, and your journey can be quite exciting.
Renault has used the Megane name for its mid-size hatchbacks since the mid 1990s. The most recent Megane was sold new from 2016 until early 2022, replacing a version sold new from 2008 to 2016. The two versions have a similar shape but you easily tell them apart because the newer version has a larger front grille.
Both versions covered here are available with five-door hatchback or estate bodies, the estate being called the Megane Sports Tourer. The older version is also available as a sporty-looking three-door hatchback called the Megane Coupe.
Meganes are available with petrol or diesel engines; there are models with an automatic gearbox if that’s what you prefer but manuals are more popular. The most recent version is also available with what Renault calls ‘E-Tech’ plug-in hybrid power, which combines a petrol engine with an electric motor that can give you up to 30 miles of zero-emissions driving.
A wide range of trim levels are available to suit different needs and budgets. For enthusiastic drivers, there’s also the sporty, high-performance Renaultsport models, which can be seriously fast and a lot of fun to drive.
New hatchback and estate versions of the Megane were taken off the market in the UK in early 2022, although you can still buy used examples. In late 2022, a brand-new crossover SUV model (about the same size as the Megane hatchback) will go on sale called the Megane E-Tech electric, available only as a pure electric car.
If you go for the most recent version of the Megane, you’ll find standard features including air con, cruise control, Bluetooth phone connectivity and parking sensors. Many models also have sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a digital driver’s display in place of traditional dials and a rear-view camera.
You also get similar features on the older version of the Megane, however, because it’s an older car, its technology isn’t quite as advanced – Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, for instance, aren’t available.
According to official figures, the most recent version of the Megane can give you an average fuel economy of 33-55mpg with a petrol engine and up to 74mpg with a diesel engine. Plug-in hybrid models can give as much as 235mpg if you regularly fully recharge the battery.
The older version gives you similar average fuel economy – petrol models can give 36-53mpg and diesels can give up to 80mpg. Be aware that, in both versions, estate models aren’t quite as efficient as hatchbacks because they’re a bit heavier.
Annual Vehicle Excise Duty (car tax) charges are quite low across the board – as little as £20 for some models.
Other mid-size hatchbacks like the Megane that might catch your attention include the Kia Ceed, the Peugeot 308 and the Vauxhall Astra. Compared to the Renault, the Kia’s interior feels of a higher quality, the Peugeot has more space and the Vauxhall is a bit more generously equipped. But the Megane’s style and value for money should grab your attention when compared to those rivals.
In the latest Megane, you’ll find generous space in the front seats, so anyone should be able to get comfortable. In the back seats, there’s a good amount of legroom but headroom is a bit tight, so these might be better suited to children than to adults. The Sport Tourer estate version has more headroom in the back and also extra legroom because, unusually, it has a longer wheelbase (the difference between the front and rear wheels) than the hatchback. It’s not as roomy as some estate car rivals, however, including the Ford Focus and Skoda Octavia.
The Megane hatchback has enough boot space to cover the needs of most families, including those on week-long holidays. The Sport Tourer estate has useful extra boot space but it falls well short of many mid-size estates for overall capacity. Be aware, too, that hybrid versions of both the hatchback and estate have significantly smaller boots because their batteries are mounted below the boot floor.
The older version of the Megane isn’t quite as spacious but it works well enough as a family car in hatchback and estate form. The coupe, though, can feel quite cramped in the back seats and its boot is on the small side.
The range of cars Renault sells in the UK has been relatively small in recent years. Smaller Renaults include the Clio hatchback, Twingo city car, Zoe electric car and Captur compact SUV. The Renault Scenic MPV and Kadjar SUV are both similar in size to the Megane, while larger models include the Grand Scenic MPV and the Arkana and Koleos SUVs.
Both the most recent and older versions of the Megane were awarded a full five-star rating by safety organisation Euro NCAP. Safety features included as standard on the latest version include seven airbags, anti-lock brakes and stability control. Some models also have automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist.
The most recent version of the Megane is available with plug-in hybrid power in E-Tech Hybrid models. They have a petrol engine combined with an electric motor and a battery big enough to give a zero-emissions, electric-only range of up to 30 miles. According to official figures, the Megane E-Tech Hybrid can give you an average fuel economy of up to 235mpg, if you regularly fully charge the battery. Its CO2 emissions of just 28g/km mean Vehicle Excise Duty is very low.