Renault’s fourth-generation Mégane was unveiled at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, and is now available to lease from Nationwide Vehicle Contracts.
It's a popular model from Renault - in fact, the Megane is their biggest seller in the UK - but what do we know about this new version of the French manufacturer's car?
It is available in a variety of options
By this, we mean that the new Renault Mégane is available in a 25-version line-up based on six trim levels – Expression+, Dynamique Nav, Dynamique S Nav, Signature Nav, GT-Line Nav and GT Nav - all with a comprehensive standard specification.
By making full use of the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s versatile new Common Module Family (CMF) architecture, which has already produced the Espace, Talisman and Kadjar, the Mégane is made up of many out-of-view parts common to those models during its creation based around five available modules: cockpit, engine bay, front underbody, rear underbody and electronic architecture.
This means that the new Megane is always up-to-date when it comes to its overall architecture, and certainly so with the engines housed within it.
From the start, there is a choice of four engines on offer – two Energy TCe turbocharged petrol options with capacities and power outputs of 1.2-litres/130hp (manual and EDC) and 1.6-litres/205hp (GT only – EDC), and two turbodiesel alternatives offering a 1.5-litre dCi 110 unit, with manual or EDC transmission, or a 1.6-litre dCi 130 engine.
Two further engine options will be available in 2017 in the shape of a 1.5-litre dCi Hybrid Assist with electric assistance and a dCi 165 1.6-litre twin-turbo unit (in the GT Nav version).
All cars come with manual gearboxes, with the dCi 110 and TCe 130 engines (and the TCe 205 engine on the GT Nav) offering an Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) six-speed automatic gearbox as standard.
It's economical and it's clean
The four engines and two transmissions offer fuel economy of up to 76.4mpg (NEDC Combined), with CO2emissions as low as 96g/km in the manual versions, rising only to 98 g/km in the dCi 110 Automatic EDC version - 2 g/km rise from manual to automatic that is mirrored with the TCe 130 Automatic EDC version's 122 g/km of CO2.
Much of this fuel economy is down to the sleek shape and low weight of the car, although it will undoubtedly have been fully assisted by the engine's (standard on all manual models) Stop&Start system, the double-clutch EDC transmission, an ECO driving mode and the Renault Driving eco2 feature that helps drivers "adopt a more economical driving style and standard brake energy recovery."
It's got standard features not to die for
Even a glance at the Expression+ standard specification shows a level of specification that is found normally on more expensive models, but it is the safety features that stand out, with active and passive safety systems, such as adaptive cruise control, active emergency braking and lane departure warning, all having been applied throughout the range, while connectivity via the easy-to-use R-Link 2 system is fitted to all models above Expression+.
From Expression+ upwards, Standard safety features include:
- ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution
- ESC (Electronic Stability Control) with traction and understeer control
- Cruise control
- Speed limiter
- Hill Start Assist
- Six airbags
- Seat belts with load limiters and pre-tensioners at the front
- Side impact protection bars
- ISOFIX child-seat mounting points on the two outer rear seats.
The use of the Alliance CMF platform to manufacture the All-New Renault Mégane means a whole range of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems that are designed to improve safety are available. They include Adaptive Cruise Control; Active Emergency Braking; Lane Departure, Blind Spot and Safe Distance warnings; Overspeed Prevention with Traffic Sign Recognition; Automatic High Low Beam; Hands Free Parking and 360 degree parking sensors.
Expression+ also features as standard:
- Two-way adjustable steering column with leather steering wheel
- Height adjustable driver and passenger seat
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Accessory power point
- 12-volt front socket
- Automatic electronic parking brake
- LED daytime running lamps
- Tinted windows
- 7" TFT instrument panel with digital speedometer
- All-round electric windows
- Bluetooth connectivity
- 4 x 20W DAB radio with fingertip controls and an AUX input.
The Dynamique Nav adds in:
- Automatic headlights and windscreen wipers
- Visio active safety system providing lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition
- Automatic high/low beam headlamps
- Electrically adjustable, heated and folding door mirrors
- Hands free keycard
- Automatic dual zone climate control
- Multisense system providing selective driving modes and ambient lighting
- Arkamys 3D Sound 4x35W DAB Radio
- 7" touchscreen R-Link multimedia system including satellite navigation with live traffic updates and Western European mapping.
All of this is further enhanced on Dynamique S Nav with the addition of 17" diamond-cut alloys, rear parking camera with front and rear parking sensors, extra tinted windows to the rear and tailgate, and the unique-in-class 8.7" portrait touchscreen R-Link multimedia system.
And right at the top of the range there is the Signature Nav that features 18" diamond-cut alloys, full LED headlights, black leather upholstery with Nappa leather steering wheel and electrochrome rearview mirror.
It's got a Sport range that is pretty outstanding
The All-New Renault Mégane’s GT sport range is made up of two models - the GT-Line Nav and the GT Nav - both of which have a more sporty and dynamic appearance that is backed up with some fine exterior and interior enhancements.
On the GT-Line Nav, this consists of:
- A wider lower air intake on the front with a honeycomb-pattern mesh
- Dark metal 17" or 18" alloy wheels
- Matching door mirror housings
- Sports front seats with additional lateral support and integral headrests, blue top-stitching and a chequered logo. Fabric or Alcantara upholstery options
- Exclusive-to-GT-range Iron Blue body colour
- Bespoke steering wheel
The All-New Renault Mégane GT Nav adds in:
- 4Control four-wheel steering for more responsiveness and driving precision
- Launch Control (to ensure fast starts in complete safety)
- Multi-Change Down (to downshift several gears in quick succession, ensuring the best gear for rapid acceleration out of corners.)
- TCe 205 Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) six-speed gearbox capable of 0-62mph in 7.1 seconds with a top speed of 145mph.
- The Multisense system with four settings – Comfort, Sport, Neutral and Perso.
It's got a great range of Optional Personalisation Packages
Expression+ can feature (if you want) a Climate Pack with automatic dual-zone climate control and automatic headlights and wipers.
The Dynamique Nav offers the Parking Pack with front and rear parking sensors and rear parking camera, a Safety Pack with distance warning and automatic emergency braking, and the Horizon Pack with a sunroof and electrochrome rearview mirror.
The Dynamique S Nav and above offers the Parking Pack Premium includes hands-free parking, rear parking camera and blind spot warning, the Safety Pack Premium with adaptive cruise control added to Safety Pack, and the Horizon Pack with a sunroof and electrochrome rearview mirror as well as black leather upholstery.
Look Packs are available on Expression+ and Dynamique Nav trims, adding in extra tinted windows and upgrading the wheels to 17-inch alloys and 17-inch diamond-cut alloys respectively.
The BOSE Pack (available on Dynamique S Nav models and above) gives you a BOSE sound system with seven speakers, amplifier and subwoofer, and on GT Nav models, Alcantara Packs are available, adding Carbon Grey alcantara upholstery with blue stitching, or two-tone blue and Carbon Grey alcantara upholstery to both GT-Line Nav and GT Nav.
So if all this has you salivating for a new Renault Megane, contact one of Nationwide Vehicle Contracts' Customer Service Representatives to discuss your options.