Renault Megane Sport Tourer Privilege

20:46, Mar 13 2010 Road Test by Bruce Booth, drivingforce.uk.net

STYLE, quality and safety ... just three reasons why French car makers Renault are up there mixing it with the big boys. With a comprehensive range of vehicles from small city cars to red-hot hatchbacks and from all-wheel-drive SUVs to large people carriers, there's something to suit every taste and requirement in the French marque's portfolio. And the great thing about a Renault is that no matter what the model, you know that it won't break the bank to put one on the road. Sitting bang in the middle of the range for size is the ever-popular Megane. Available as a hatchback, estate car, cabriolet or lightning-fast coupe, this medium-sized, family-orientated machine hits the spot when it comes to style, practicality and equipment levels. For those looking for the versatility an estate car offers, then the Megane Sport Tourer certainly ticks the right boxes. Slick looking from all angles, the five-door machine has the looks to make it stand out from the crowd. It also performs and handles just as a top-notch vehicle from a well-established brand should, coming with a choice of both petrol and diesel engines ranging from the entry 1.6-litre petrol unit to the torquey, two-litre turbocharged oilburner. With lower emissions and superior fuel economy, any of the three diesel-powered versions would be my preference. However, the 1.5-litre, 106bhp offers a neat mix of power and frugality to make it the pick of the range. With 177lb/ft of torque on offer giving a top speed of 118mph and a zero to 62mph sprint time of 11.4 seconds, there's enough grunt and pulling power to meet the needs of most drivers, and with fuel consumption in the 60mpg range, it's easy to see why the Sport Tourer is a great favourite with both private and business users alike. In range-topping Privilege guise the car wants for nothing, with part-leather upholstery, full electric pack, cruise control,climate control and integrated TomTom satellite navigation system fitted as standard. As far as estate cars go, the Megane Sport Tourer performs well on the black stuff. Its handling is light yet there is plenty of grip for safe handling through corners. The suspension is nicely balanced for a smooth ride, but it is much much more at home with a nice, even surface rather than trying to cope with the heavily-potholled mess we are all experiencing at the moment. The cabin is typical Renault. There's a solid feel to all the switch gear and there are plenty of nice soft-touch plastics around. To add to the funkiness of the car, there is a nifty keyless  entry system with a push-button stop/start switch, while the dash has a digital speedo The car has been given top marks in the Euro NCAP tests and all occupants are well protected by a full array of airbags, while electronic stability control and ABS also help keep the car in check. With a price tag of £20,717 the Megane Sport Tourer is well placed within its sector and with a practical cargo area which can accommodate up to 1567 litres and low running costs, it's a model that's worthy of a class-leading position. FAST FACTSRenault Megane Sport Tourer PrivilegePrice: £20,717Mechanical: 106bhp, 1,461cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearboxMax speed: 118mph0-62mph: 11.2 secondsCombined mpg: 62.8Insurance group: 7CO2 emissions: 159g/kmBIK rating: 17%Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles