Renault Mégane

FIRST REPORT Hatch handover highlights firm’s excellent dealer service

FIRST impressions count, and from the moment my eyes landed on our Flame Red Renault Mégane’s curvaceous shape, I knew our relationship was going to get off on the right foot.

This car is a big leap forward for Renault. It replaced its ancient predecessor with smart styling and lots of technology. In fact, in Dynamique S Nav spec with Renault’s relatively refined 108bhp 1.5 dci diesel, it took victory on its road test debut (Issue 1,433). So it’s exactly this trim and engine that we’ve gone for with the car on our fleet. I hope to find out if things can continue on the right track over an extended test.

Collecting the car from Renault West London was certainly an easy experience. Just as Renault has focused plenty of attention on designing and engineering the Mégane, it’s done the same with its garages over recent years, as the brand came out on top in our Driver Power 2016 dealer poll, beating premium brands to the top spot.

With so much tech operated by the car’s 8.7-inch tablet-style R-link 2 touchscreen (it’s fitted as standard on Dynamique S Nav models), I thought the dealer handover would be a real test of its service.

Thankfully, when I picked the brains of new car sales executive Suliman Razaq about the car, he managed to help me explore what’s on offer and ran me through the functionality that’s packed into the Renault’s infotainment system. Senior staff photographer Pete Gibson experienced a similarly straightforward handover when he ran a Kadjar crossover, and it’s not hard to see why the French firm was rated so highly when it came to the helpfulness and attitude of its staff, as well as the level of technical knowledge they have.

Once fully briefed, I found driving home from the dealer in the Mégane relaxing, with a comfortable ride, enough performance around town and pleasing refinement if you keep the revs at a sensible level.

Once driving home, I could explore more of the features we went for. At £500, the full LED lights aren’t the cheapest, but they work brilliantly, casting a piercing white glow over the road. Spending plenty of time in dense stop-start London traffic, I thought the Safety Pack Premium was a good option to go for, too. At £400 it adds distance warning,

EQUIPMENT Sales executive Suliman Razag showed us the Mégane’s features, many of which will boost its driving appeal

Screen Portrait- style touchscreen is a focal point of the cabin, but we’ve had issues