Renault Megane Coupe Pre Model GT Line TomTom dCi 160 3dr Pre-Model Car Review - March 2012

The Megane coupe might look like it belongs to a racetrack but it's refined enough to make a civilised everyday car. The engine runs smoothly and the gearshift is also fluid, making the quality of the drive high. Engine noise is kept to a minimum and noise from the wind and road is only really audible at faster speeds.

This one comes with 199 5cc diesel engine which has the power to push the car along to a top speed of 137 mph, with acceleration capable of travelling from 0-62 mph in just 8.5 seconds.

The engine produces 160 bhp and 280 lb-ft of torque, resulting in punchy performance and a combined fuel economy of 47.9 mpg.

This one comes with a good level of standard kit including high quality sports seats, leather bound steering wheel, cruise control, MP3 connectivity, CD player, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite navigation system, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, metallic paint finish, stability control and climate control. This also includes standard safety options like driver’s airbag, passengers’ airbag, front side airbag, rear parking sensors and an alarm. All these contribute to better safety and security along with a comfortable drive.

There is poor visibility out of the rear window, which is small in size, although this is counteracted by the addition of rear parking sensors. Overall the style of the car is good both externall and internally, offering a range of benefits to buyers.

The Megane comes with plenty of space in the front for those with long legs, but there is not much headroom available as compared to some rivals. Even its back comes with a sloping roofline which results in discomfort for passengers sitting in the rear and this means the car fails to meet expectations.

All the models provide utmost safety measures with airbags for driver, passengers and the front side of the car. It also comes with central locking, stability control, rear parking sensors and an alarm to safeguard the vehicle from any danger of accident or theft.

The Megane has high-grade materials and a good standard of fit and finish, and that’s enough to give the cabin an impressively classy feel. There are some concerns, though: Renault hasn't exactly covered itself in glory in the reliability and customer satisfaction surveys and that is a real concern for those considering long term ownership.

This one is considered as a quite cruiser with good suspension and body control. The boot offers decent space for storage as well, with 344 litres on offer with the seats in position and 991 litres available when they are folded down.

This one is considered as bit of an expensive car at £22,590 and running costs will not be the cheapest either as road tax falls under band G due to carbon emissions of 155 g/km and insurance premiums fall under group 25.

Fuel economy is adequate for a car of this class but overall the savings are unimpressive and the reliability concerns associated with Renault mean long term ownership could be risky - even if resale values are strong. On the other hand, the extensive level of equipment provided certainly goes some way towards balancing the overall value for money represented by this model, and buyers could do a lot worse for £22,590.