Renault Megane (2008-2016) review

Item: Renault Megane (2008-2016) Review
Author: Phil Hall

Quick overview

Good balance of ride comfort and handling
TCe engines offer decent performance
Good value as a used buy

Interior quality lags behind German rivals
Rear space isn't great
Fiddly controls

This Renault Megane is a more conservative affair than the old model and, although some may bemoan the lack of originality in the design, the Renault Megane is a fine looking car.

Infotainment, comfort and practicality

The old Renault Megane was famously the first car of its kind to receive the full five stars from Euro NCAP and renault seem to have upped their game further still with the new model. You get driver, passenger, front side and curtain airbags as standard along with stability control.

There isn't as much space in the back of a Megane as there is in a Golf or Focus but it'll still seat a family of five in relative comfort. The boot, however, is a good size with 372-litres on offer with the rear seats up and 1129-litres with the rear seats folded flat.

Renailt is hardly famed for the reliability of its cars but the Megane has proved generally reliable overall and no worse than the competition.

2008 Renault Megane (2008-2016) engines: how does it drive?

The Renault Megane Dynamique's 1.6-litre engine gives a good power output of 110bhp at 6,000rpm and 112 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm. The car reaches a top speed of 118mph and can hit 62mph in 10.5 seconds which is perfectly reasonable.

The steering is very numb indeed but the Renault Megane handles admirably with a surfeit of grip and minimal body-lean. It's a relatively comfortable car too although the ride can be a little firm and wind and road noise become evident at motorway speeds.

Value for money: how much does a 2008 Renault Megane (2008-2016) cost to buy and run?

The interior also feels very luxurious and is stylishly designed. There is also a decent amount of standard kit including alloy wheels, air-con, electric windows, Sat-Nav, Bluetooth and a CD player with MP3 connectivity. Leather seats are an optional extra at £940, rear parking sensors will set you back £310 and the air-con can be upgraded to climate control for £410.

At £16,820, the Megane Dynamique is excellent value for money and comes with a good amount of standard equipment for the price.

It won't be the cheapest car in the range to run, managing just 39.8mpg (combined) and emitting 163g/km of CO2 which puts it under VED band G. The diesel models in the range are much cheaper to run.

Verdict: Should I buy a 2008 Renault Megane (2008-2016)?

The Renault Megane is very good value for money and comes with a good range of standard equipment. Unfortunately, it's just not nearly as good as its main rivals, the Focus and the Golf, which both offer a better all-round package.