Renault Megane underwent a recent modernization. The modernization was not significant, from the point of view of the exterior design, we can find a new front bumper with full-LED headlights already in the basic equipment. In addition, the front and rear headlights have elaborate graphics, and the rear ones also have dynamic turn signals. Also new are new body colors and aluminum wheel designs, which range in size from 16 to 18 inches.
We can also find news in the interior. One of the more prominent ones is the digital instrument panel with a diagonal of 10.2 inches and the ability to change the graphics using several preset templates. There is also a new touch screen on the center panel with a diagonal of up to 9.3 inches, and the controls for the air conditioning and heating are also new. Before the modernization, everything had to be controlled via the display, but this new solution is definitely more user-friendly. The placement of the display, however, remained vertical. It is pleasing that both displays have a very good resolution and nice graphics. We can also find here (in addition to the basic Zen equipment) such a trifle as, for example, a frameless interior rear-view mirror.
The modernized Megane is offered in three trims: basic Zen, Intense and the highest RS Line, actually replacing the pre-facelift GT line. The RS line is based on the Intense and adds not only richer equipment, but also several design improvements, such as a different design of both bumpers and wheels, exhaust tips (*) and other small things. The interior is also new, with the best thing being the sports seats, not dissimilar to those from the top-of-the-range Megane RS 300.
The offer of power units is quite large and quite diverse. You can choose between gasoline and diesel engines, but the E-Tech plug-in hybrid is also available. Under the hood of the tested piece is the most powerful, pure gasoline engine marked TCe 160, which can only be obtained with a double-clutch EDC transmission. It has the same performance as a plug-in hybrid, which will offer better flexibility, but a worse maximum speed and also a significantly higher price.
Under the designation TCe 160, there is a gasoline 1.3-liter four-cylinder with turbocharging, which provides a maximum output of 116 kW (158 hp) at 5500-6000 rpm. and a decent torque of 260 Nm (at 1800-3750 rpm). Technical data promise that the Megane can sprint from zero to 100 km/h in exactly 9 seconds, and the maximum speed is 205 km/h.
The tested car is quite nimble even in practice on the road. Thanks to the double-clutch automatic, you don't have to worry about whether you have the right gear, because when you step on the gas pedal more, it quickly and willingly downshifts to bring the engine to optimal revs. The transmission deserves praise even during quiet driving, when it tries to keep the highest possible gear so that the engine has the lowest possible revolutions. The four-cylinder does not vibrate or rumble in any way. During the one-week test, the consumption ranged most often between 6.5-7.5 l.
The transmission works well when driving, both in calm and sharper mode. In the end, it doesn't really matter that there are no levers for manual shifting. Gear changes can be made by moving the gear selector, while the scheme is "correct" (downshift forward, upshift reverse). A shortcoming that can be criticized for the transmission is a kind of roughness when starting. Whether you add more or gently when starting from a standstill, you will always get a relatively jumpy start. It could be approximated to how the transmission would not let the clutch slip even a little. It would definitely deserve software modification and smoothing of the start-up.
The RS Line equipment is more sporty, so at the same time, Renault decided to convey a sporty driving feeling. And he did it the easiest way – with a fake engine sound from the speakers. It is heard in all driving modes of Renault Sense (it is changed with the button on the gear selector), while its intensity varies according to each driving mode: it is most audible in sport mode, least in ecological mode, but it is heard in that too. Fortunately, it can be turned off completely manually in the menu. The exhaust tips are just plastic dummies and honest sports tips would definitely be more useful here…
The Renault Megane Grandtour RS Line will offer 17" wheels as standard, but the tested piece had 18" wheels for an extra charge. And they suit him, even if they take something away from the comfort. The chassis is stiffer, but definitely not hard. The fact that the chassis works well with the wheels and does not absorb all the unevenness, but beautifully copies the terrain, is also pleasing. Thus, the wheels do not bounce even on poor roads. Here, Renault managed to achieve a pretty good compromise between the sporty and stiff tuning of the RS and the classic comfort of a family hatchback.
The Renault Megane facelift is decent, but definitely not insignificant. Minor design retouches on the exterior are complemented by a redesigned center panel in the interior and larger digitization in the interior. At the same time, new engines arrived, including the E-Tech plug-in hybrid. The tested vehicle with the TCe 160 gasoline engine stands at the top of the regular models. It does not lack dynamics, yet it is quiet in itself (if you turn off the sound from the speakers) and refined. The transmission could be a little smoother when starting off, but it already works flawlessly when driving.
Renault Megane RS Line is such a classic example of subtle modernization and improvements. For interesting money, the customer gets a lot of music and decent dynamic parameters. It's such a sporty classic for every day…
You can find all the photos in the big gallery, here: Renault Megane RS Line
