Three years after the introduction of the Megane Sedan, the French automaker upgraded the entire lineup, preparing it for the Euro3 emission standards.
The Megane was a huge success for Renault. It replaced more cars at once and was available in all bodyworks, from a sporty coupe to a family-oriented MPV, the Megane Scenic. Although along with the facelift, the latter version became a separate lineup, the rest of the range still bore the Megane nameplate. The Sedan model was mainly developed for East-European customers since they considered sedans serious family vehicles, not hatchbacks.
In 1999, the refreshed version received a new front fascia with a split grille incorporated into the hood. It featured the bird-beak design theme that placed a vertical slat in the middle, sporting the carmaker's logo. From its profile, the curved lines resembled the bio-design era about to disappear. Yet the French automaker didn't consider it outdated. At the back, the tall trunk lid kept the same shape as the non-facelifted version but added smoked taillights.
Inside, the Megane Sedan still offered plenty of hard plastic areas. On the other hand, customers couldn't complain since they knew that they paid pennies for such a vehicle. The entire range received AC units. Moreover, even though the rear doors featured cranked windows, the automaker offered powered ones as an option. The upholstery was not very sophisticated, but it was sturdy.
Under the hood, Renault dropped the former Euro 2-compliant engines and installed only Euro 3 ones. They ranged between 65 ps (64 HP) and 115 ps (113 HP).