The Renault Megane range has just got to the stage where it’s becoming a forgotten competitor, age has started to catch up with it and the end of its seven year life cycle couldn’t come sooner. Like any modern star though, there’s a facelift in the mix to spruce things up and give the old girl a new look.

Facial Recognition

The front end has a revised bumper with built in LED headlights to give it a more modern and stylish demeanour. The rear end hosts an integrated diffuser to help with aerodynamics, disposing of air underneath the car whilst also keeping boy racers pointing. The GT Line mid spec 1.2-turbo features 17-inch wheels whilst the top of the range 2-litre turbo uses 18-inch wheels to lay rubber to the ground.

Under the Bonnet

The big news engine wise is the 1.2-turbo petrol and continues the constant downsizing philosophy Renault is embarking on. Don’t assume it’s down on power though, the new 1.2 turbo makes 97 kW and 205 Nm of torque. Not bad hey? In second and third gears it’ll even throw in an extra 20 Nm meaning you get 225 Nm on occasions.

The new 1.2 turbo pulls strongly, even at the Highveld where it has to suck on super thin air. It overtakes on the freeway well and copes well with point and squirt acceleration tasks. Mated to a manual six-speed gearbox you can always choose the right gear to be in for every situation which, to me, is where the dual clutch or autoboxes lose out most. For everyday driving in traffic however, it would be nice to have an auto option. The economy of the 1.2 turbo is pretty decent though at 5.2l/100km.

Take two

Also new to the range is the 2-litre turbo for what’s called the Renault Megane GT Turbo. It uses the same engine from the Megane RSwith less boost pressure from the turbo. That means it produces less power at 162 kW, but has 340 Nm of torque.

The combination is more than enough to keep you thoroughly entertained especially since it’s backed up by the same raunchy, rough exhaust note. That alone kept me smashing through the gears constantly. It may be down on power but the engine fun factor is still there as it chases red line after redline, snarling away like it’s being chased by an screaming Darth Vader.

French Spec

The French do spec best, they throw all the toys at the vehicle with very little left to choose from on the options list. All models are standard with satellite navigation and Tom Tom Live services, meaning you get up to the minute traffic updates once you’ve selected a destination. It’s all touchscreen or you can work it through the centre console knob.

There’s the usual USB and Bluetooth capability, dual zone climate control and parking sensors as standard, but if you want a reverse camera you’ll have to pay an extra R5 000 (GT Turbo only). Renault’s safety is renowned and the Megane is no exception. ABS, EBA (electronic brake assist) and traction control are standard as is front, side and curtain airbags.

Turning it up

Both variants we got to try out on the two test days in Joburg handled well. The 1.2 turbo is definitely more comfort based but feels very capable and inspires confidence through its chassis and steering feel. The ride is good too and I couldn’t pick out any glaring flaws during our 200 km trip.

Day two we got to sample the GT turbo, the sportier model and with a suspension and chassis shared with the Megane RS. It has been toned down a bit for everyday comfort from the RS, but gets on with the job of going fast well. Zero to 100kph takes 7.6 seconds, but it has a tendency to pull the steering wheel in its own direction as you accelerate hard. The sporty suspension set up is fun though as our gymkhana course proved a good test of the Megane’s agility. It dealt well with the course proving fun in the corners and rewarding the smoother driver.

Renault Megane GT Pricing

The Megane range represents good value for money as Renault continues to march on with strong sales and support. They understand this market is a tough sell as it has the likes of the mass-selling VW Golf and Ford FocusST, but the Megane has its perks as something different that doesn’t lack for character, spec or safety. Prices start at R249900 for the 1.6 naturally aspirated, R279900 for the 1.2-turbo and R329900 for the 2-litre turbo. Prices are the same for coupe and hatch and come with a five-year/150 000km warranty.