Renault offers a tour de force in its latest Megane
ONCE the ‘go to’ choice for families in search of space and practicality in a car, estates could perhaps now be perceived as something of a threatened species.
With the rise of the SUV and the all-conquering crossover, the standard family car selection of saloons, hatches and estates has been well and truly turned on its head.
Indeed, estates might be seen to be the most under threat from the invasion of the SUVs and crossovers.
Okay, maybe I exaggerate and the estate car is far from being dead just yet. Most manufacturers haven’t given up the ghost and in truth show no signs of doing so.
Estates have come a long way from being glorified vans with windows and many now boast the sort of sleek design lines that ensure they actually look better than the saloon cars or hatchbacks on which they are based.
In fairness, both the Renault Megane hatch and estate look good but given a choice I would opt for the estate, which looks far more like a lithe performer than a conventional load-lugger.
Both cars’ good looks have been enhanced by a recent makeover, with the estate having undergone more of an exterior overhaul.
The interior too gets an upgrade and plenty of added extras.
It boasts more of a premium feel characterised by an abundance of soft-touch plastics and splendidly well-laid-out instrumentation.
The Megane estate, or Sport Tourer as it’s now called, measures up pretty well in the practicality stakes. The cabin is noticeably roomy, with rear seat passengers particularly well catered for.
Boot space might not be cavernous but it’s decent. It impressed me by passing my ‘lawnmower test’ – being capable of swallowing a petrol-powered lawnmower with ease for its annual service.
Clever storage solutions throughout the cabin come in handy too.
Engine-wise there’s a choice of two petrol and two diesel engines, with five trim levels to choose from.
Prices start from £18,550, which will get you a 1.2-litre petrol-powered Expression+ model.
Even that entry-level model comes generously equipped with LED daytime running lamps, 16in alloys, tinted windows, all-round electric windows, leather steering wheel, Bluetooth connectivity, a DAB radio and height-adjustable front seats.
The Dynamique S Nav tested sees the addition of automatic headlights and wipers, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition and automatic high/low beam headlamps, electrically adjustable, heated and folding door mirrors, dual-zone climate control, 17in alloys, rear parking camera, front and rear parking sensors and privacy glass at the rear.
You also get Renault’s ‘MultiSense’ system, which can make all manner of modifications via an 8.7in portrait touchscreen, which also controls the multimedia system and satnav.
The hi-tech system can be used to adjust the response of the accelerator and engine, engine sound, steering weight and the interior lighting.
You can add leather upholstery and a seven-speaker Bose sound system for £2,500.
There are 1.6 and 1.5-litre diesel options and this was the smaller of the two. That said, it felt supersmooth and sprightly and offered the kind of refinement that can be surprising in a diesel.
A slick-shifting six-speed gearbox made being behind the wheel a real joy - one of my best Renault driving experiences to date, with accurate and well-weighted steering.