ALL THE RIGHT NOISES
VALUE
There’s no avoiding the fact that the R.S. Trophy is expensive compared with traditional rivals from Volkswagen and Ford. It costs about $15,000 more than the pair, although to be fair it is a more focused performance car. If you want a cheaper R.S., the standard Sport model costs roughly $9000 less. For the extra spend the Trophy gives you a more powerful engine (up 16kW and 30Nm), better brakes, a bespoke suspension tune, more performance-focused wheels and tyres, an active muffler and a limited slip differential. The extra power shaves just one-tenth off the 0-100km/h time and uses half a litre more (98 RON) fuel per 100km. Inside, the only visual cue you’ve got the Trophy is a leather and suede sports steering wheel with red stitching. The cabin is well equipped and looks up-market. Highlights include satnav, Bose audio, leather seats and smartphone integration. Warranty is five years but servicing costs are only capped for three years.
COMFORT
The traditional trade-off for sharp cornering has been stiff suspension that rattles the fillings over pockmarked inner city streets. In recent years, carmakers have combated this by offering multi-mode suspension setups with a “comfort” setting for the daily commute. Not Renault. It has one setting: firm. It’s not crashy or jarring, but it does get jiggly over less than perfect road surfaces. The heated leather seats are comfy and supportive, with decent side support and padding. Rearseat passengers have their own air vents and reasonable head and legroom, while the boot is also a decent size.
SAFETY
The current Megane hasn’t been independently crash-tested in Australia but was awarded five stars by Euro NCAP back in 2015. Driver aids include auto emergency braking, blind-spot detection, lane keeping assistance and active cruise control. Big brakes and sticky tyres also help to keep things under control.
ON THE ROAD
Hot hatches are as much about theatre as they are about performance and the Trophy’s active muffler delivers all the right sorts of noises when driven enthusiastically. Acceleration is strong off the mark and the excellent dual-clutch auto keeps the 1.8-litre turbo in its sweet spot for maximum drive out of corners. There’s plenty of feedback from the steering and the brakes are strong, resisting fade on a long downhill stretch that included tight hairpins. It’s a matter of taste, but the car’s trick rear-wheel steering set-up felt unnerving at times. It’s designed to deliver better turn in, but sometimes it feels as if you’re going to lose the back-end.