Renault Megane Coupe Renaultsport 265 Cup 3dr Car Review - June 2013

The handling in the Megane Coupe is one of the best features of the car, with steering that is crisp and quick to answer the wheel, and when turning in the body roll is well under control and the car has plenty of grip. The ride in the Megane Coupe is quite firm, and although this does help to ensure steering with plenty of feedback, this will mean that some people will find it uncomfortable. The driving position is fine offering a steering wheel and driving seat that can be full adjusted, but the small rear window really does limit the rear visibility in the car.

The 2.0 litre turbo engine to be found in this model is an impressive one, and acceleration from 0-62mph is achieved in a swift 6.0 seconds. The top speed of 158mph is also very good putting the Megane Coupe on a par with some of the best hot hatches. This car is fairly refined, although it is fair to say that the thrum of the engine is definitely audible when it is being worked.

The Megane Coupe is much more attractive than the original car on which it is based, with an aggressively styled front end that also boasts a large air intake. The lines of the car aren’t as streamlined as some sports cars, but it is still a very attractive car, and the back end is attractive, although the practicality has been sacrificed for style in the small rear window. Inside the cabin the Megane Coupe is an attractive and quite stylish, although it does have a stereo with some fiddly switches, and comes with a large digital speedometer display in the centre of the dashboard.

The level of equipment included with this model is quite reasonable, with the alloy wheels being a very important part of the image of the car. It also has air conditioning included and cruise control. The CD stereo comes with an MP3 player input for those who carry their music collection with them.

The Megane Coupe may not be as practical as the car on which it is based, but it isn’t too bad at all, with a well sized boot. However, the space and headroom in the back of the car is quite limited. Reliability in the Megane Coupe isn’t the best feature, with Renault not being one of the leading manufacturers in terms of reliability.

The car is a very safe one, having a range of electric driving aids that help to keep the car on the road and under control, while it also comes with a good range of airbags to look after the occupants.

With a price tag of £24,825, the Megane Coupe Renaultsport 265 Cup isn’t a cheap car, but equally there are many other coupes on the market which cost significantly more than this car.

The focus of the Renaultsport 265 Cup engine has been on performance rather than on fuel efficiency, and the 2.0 litre turbo engine is only able to deliver an average 34.4mpg. The high insurance group does mean that premiums won’t be the cheapest, and Renault cars don’t have a particularly good record for holding their value either. However, the four year or ninety nine thousand mile warranty is one of the best in class, and is supplemented with roadside breakdown assistance for four years.