Renaultsport Megane 2.0 dCi 175 (2007) CAR review

Golf GT TDI, SEAT Leon FR TDI, Toyota Auris D-4D T180... there are a few diesel hot hatches around nowadays...

Indeed, which is why the RenaultSport engineers built a concept fitted with the Nissan-Renault 175bhp 2.0-litre dCi engine - to convince management that they could join the party, too. Approval duly granted, they set about honing what's still a rarity; a diesel with the full-fat hot hatch treatment. VW, for example, has purposefully stopped short of releasing a GTI TDI. No, the 175 isn't quite as hardcore as the Megane 225 petrol, not least because Renault expects dCi drivers to cover more miles (and desire a lesser pummeling). It can also be distinguished by the lack of rear roof spoiler, deleted to boost fuel economy. But it's still a RenaultSport. And therefore, in places, rather special.

What makes this more than just a badged-up dCi GT, then?

The way the ultra-refined engine performs, for one. It's the only Megane diesel to have balancer shafts, and is extremely free-revving right to the 5200rpm redline. With more aggressive (and low-speed shunt-inducing) throttle response quickly priming the variable-geometry turbo, it feels no more laggy than the petrol turbo - and the lack of resonance and harshness means you'll rev the nuts off it on twisties, with abandon. This is a first in this sector, and helps exploit 265lb ft of torque. It's not a balls-out performer (8.3sec to 60mph, instead of the petrol's 6.5sec, shows where diesels' weaknesses are) but it's punchy and without effort. Making very swift progress is child's play.