Renault Megane Coupe 2.0 TCe 180 (2008) CAR review

Though the front always struck me as a tad clunky and corporate, I’ve long admired the relentlessly shaken and gently stirring rump of this new Renault Megane’s predecessor. Trouble is, it seems that the majority of Britons, along with all too many Italians, have not…

Why not? What's wrong with the Renault Megane?

Renault makes no bones about the fact that the Megane II simply hasn’t sold in the required volumes in the UK (unless of course, the word Renaultsport appeared somewhere on the bodywork, in which case, it seems, we haven’t been able to get our collective mitts on the thing fast enough) and that its replacement has been deliberately styled in a somewhat more conservative vein.

Not that conservative, however. And, ironically, the Megane hooter has been singled out for tweaks third time around, ushering in a bespoke, brushed metal treatment to ensure Coupe could never be confused with five-door in a head on encounter.

I notice they’ve now dropped the three-door nametag in favour of Coupe…

Indeed, and I’m slightly suspicious of this. Previous three-door models were, naturally, less expensive than siblings boasting extra orifices, but Renault has contrived to make this new three-door some £500 pricier. Justification on the grounds that it comes with alloys thrown in really isn’t going to pull the wool…

Truth is, Renault very badly wants this car to be seen as a direct competitor to VW’s Scirocco, needs to call it a coupe in its own right to effect the requisite kudos, and feels it can get away with upping the price a whisker on the basis that it’s still some £2000 less than the comparable Volkswagen.

Click 'Next' below to read more of our three-door Renault Megane first drive