The Megane has been around for a long time, and now there’s an “all-new” version.
The small-medium hatch segment is competitive, something that Justin Hocevar, Managing Director of Renault Australia, understands. He says: “This is a beautiful new car with a host of technological and functional features that customers in the small car class will find very attractive”.
Not content with that, he builds expectation further: “We have worked hard to build a specification that is highly competitive in a very busy segment of the car market. We are confident that when the all-new Megane is compared like-for-like, spec-for-spec and value-for-value, it will come out in front and that’s even before sampling its exhilarating driving experience. On the road the new Megane GT is a very impressive performance hatch that will appeal to enthusiastic drivers, while the Life, Zen and GT-Line models will surprise and delight a wide range of new car customers, from those buying up to those downsizing that don’t want to give up on premium, luxury or advanced technology features.”
Got that? It’ll be great value for money, a brilliant drive and generally delight. A tough call given the competition, but we’ll see. Renault’s press release hinted that they have some work to do, saying the Megane “is destined to change the way Australians feel about the brand.” – from what to what is not specified.
There are three Meganes on offer; Zen, GT-Line and GT.
The Zen and GT-Line get a 1.2L 97kW engine, the GT has a 1.6L 151kW. All are seven-speed DCT automatics and seat five. Dimensions are 4356mm length, 1814m width (folded mirrors) and 1438mm height – the GT varies by a few mm in some respects. Rear parking sensors and a rear view camera are standard. The GT has quite a few extra features; four wheel steer, launch control and paddle shifts. Only the GT-Line gets blind spot warning. An electric parking brake is standard, as is – and this is unusual – a tyre pressure monitoring system.
The new Megane is on sale now, priced from $22,490 plus on-road costs with a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty, five years roadside assistance and capped price servicing for the first three years.
Looks pretty good, too bad for Renault the Australian flock of sheep will still be attracted to the crapulent Toyota’s polluting our roads.