Renault Megane Coupe Pre Model Expression dCi 110 EDC Auto 3dr Car Review - February 2012

One of the main reasons that most people will consider a coupe is that it needs to drive well along with having bags of style, and the Megane Coupe does do this to an extent. The handling is compliant and gives some feedback to the driver, and the car turns into the corners exactly as it should do, but some people will find the ride a little hard. The lower driving position is fine in terms of front visibility, and adjustability is fine, but the tiny back window means that rear visibility is almost non existent.

One area in which the automatic gearbox does take its toll is in the acceleration, with this version of the Megane Coupe able to go from 0-62mph in 11.7 seconds. The top speed of 118mph is comparable with many other cars in its class, and means that cruising on the motorway or driving on country roads will be well within its comfort zone.

The large air intake at the front of the Megane Coupe is very noticeable, but the contrast metalwork below the headlights is a bit unusual in terms of the style of the car. The body itself is sleek going into the rear end, but the tail is not quite as nice as the rest of the car. The Megane Coupe does have alloy wheels as standard, which helps to improve the overall look of the car. Inside the black plastic is contrasted with metal highlights, but the number of small buttons will be off-putting for some people.

Air conditioning and a CD stereo are included as standard, but features such as satellite navigation and Bluetooth connectivity are both optional extras. An alarm and immobiliser are both featured as standard.

When it comes to buying a practical car, most people will tend to avoid considering a coupe, and the Megane Coupe is certainly one of these as boot space is limited. The space available for those in the front seats is fine, but adults sitting in the back of the car will find that getting in and out isn’t all that easy, and the lack of headroom and legroom is also a problem.

The Megane Coupe does have a good reliability record, which is backed up by the good warranty on offer with the car. In terms of safety, the Megane Coupe hasn’t been submitted to the Euro NCAP safety tests, but it is supplied with a good range of airbags, including a curtain airbag for anyone that can squeeze into the back seats. There is also a good range of driving aids to help keep all four wheels on the road.

Adding an automatic gearbox to the diesel engine does make this version of the Megane Coupe quite an expensive purchase, with a list price of £19,630. In a class as competitive as this, there are some very attractive alternatives available too, which do make it hard to justify spending so much on this car.

However, the running costs for this version of the Megane Coupe are very good, with the fuel efficiency coming in at an average 67.3mpg. The insurance group is surprisingly low for a coupe, meaning that premiums aren’t likely to be too high either. The depreciation on the cars is fairly typical for a coupe of this kind, and Renault do supply the Megane Coupe with a three year warranty.