2013 Renault Megane Review: Diesel Hatch, Petrol Wagon, GT 220 Wagon
2013 RENAULT MEGANE REVIEW
What’s hot: Sharp new pricing, sharp new GT-Line models, and razor-sharp 220 GT Wagon
What’s not: Bulgy instrument binnacle, manual shift a bit woolly, road noise in the GT 220 Wagon
X-Factor: Nice hatch, nice wagons; the sleeper is the diesel wagon – Euro style with family practicality
Vehicle style: Small Hatch and Wagon
Engines Reviewed | |||
Model | Power/Torque | Fuel (claim) | Fuel (tested) |
2.0 litre petrol/CVT auto | 103kW/195Nm | 7.8 l/100km | 9.2 l/100km |
1.5 litre diesel/6spd dual-clutch EDC | 81kW/240Nm | 4.7 l/100km | 6.2 l/100km |
2.0 litre turbo petrol/6spd manual | 162kW/340Nm | 7.3 l/100km | 11.7 l/100km |
OVERVIEW
Sales up 44 percent this year; a mad, tempestuous, Megane RS 265 steamrolling the hot-hatch sector, Kangoo and Traffic finding a solid footing among commercial buyers, and now a new Megane range kicking off at a tick under $21k… yes, things would seem to be looking up for Renault here.
You wouldn’t know it now, but Renault – when manufactured here – was once a top ten brand in Australia. Thirty or so years back, every High School in the country could count at least a couple of Renault 12s and 16s in the car park.
That market was ‘nuked’ by a string of lack-lustre products, which few liked, and French Government insistence on testing its atomic bombs on Muraroa Atoll, which no-one liked.
Of course, the new Megane is not going to drag the brand back to where it once was, but it is priced right, drives very well, and adds some interesting new models.
In arguably the most price-competitive segment of all, the small car segment, if you may have previously only considered the contenders from Korea and Japan – like the Mazda3, Corolla and Hyundai i30 – you can now add the Megane to your shortlist.
We think you won’t be disappointed by what you find.
And the new addition to the range, the limited-run GT 220 Wagon is going to win lots of friends. It goes like the clappers, looks mighty and is priced like a hot-hatch.
Starting at $20,990 for the entry-spec Megane Hatch Expression, it’s hard to argue with the price.
For value and appeal, we think there are two stand-outs: the Megane Hatch GT-Line diesel EDC automatic, at $28,990, and the Mégane Wagon GT-Line Premium Pack Petrol CVT at $31,490. (More about them later.)
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