The Renault Megane has been a mainstay for the French maker for almost a decade. In that time, the model has been a mixed bag. The first generation was quite a rounded car while the second iteration had a much talked about rear end which even dominated its advertisement campaign.

This third generation model has its va va voom back, especially with a substantial facelift in 2014 with new headlights, LED daytime running lights, a redesigned bonnet and bumper.

The new styling is certainly a push in the right direction as it’s up against class heavyweights including the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra.

Performance

On test, we drove the 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine producing 108bhp. This engine is mated to a smooth shifting six-speed manual gearbox.

Performance figures are respectable, but may not exactly set your heart racing. Take them into consideration against direct rivals and the Megane is a tad slower. It will complete the benchmark sprint in a time of 12.1 seconds and has a top speed of 118mph.

Rivals including the 2014 European Car of the Year Peugeot 308, offer similar performance over the benchmark sprint. The 308 with the 1.6-lite e-HDi 115bhp diesel for instance can complete the benchmark sprint in 10.2 seconds and goes on to 121mph.

Ride and Handling

One of the biggest problems with the latest Megane though is the lack of feel. While the steering is reasonably well-weighted, it feels incredibly over-assisted.

Since the Megane was introduced, it has always been good fun on the twisty stuff. A decent chassis makes a well-rounded car with great turn-in on bends. This has meant the standard Megane car has always been a good base for the highly-rated RenaultSport version. One of the biggest problems with the latest Megane though is the lack of feel. While the steering is reasonably well-weighted, it feels incredibly over-assisted. It’s possible that Renault has made it so light for easy parking and such scenarios, but there’s a massive lack of feedback. It’s a shame as this means that the family hatchback is still the domain of the Ford Focus when it comes to driving dynamics.

Interior and Equipment

The Renault Megane was the first ever small family car to achieve to receive the maximum five-star safety rating from the crash test experts Euro NCAP.

The interior on the Megane is much better than the previous iteration. Everything is centred on the driver and the displays are digital rather than analogue, while the central console houses the radio and aircon controls. The materials are a decent quality but it looks a little drab and not as smart as the interior of its smaller sibling, the Renault Clio. The coupe-esque lines this hatchback sports means that space in the rear is tight especially if you are over six foot in height. However, the boot has a good level of practicality with a space of 372 litres as standard. That surpasses the likes of the Ford Focus and the Vauxhall Astra. However, the Honda Civic has much more load room with the seats in place at 477 litres. Our car came in Dynamique TomTom trim which means you get a nifty TomTom kit built-in as standard. This is a great tool as it gives warning when you are nearing the speed limit and also gives a heads-up when coming close to safety camera spots. You’ll also get Bluetooth, a USB port and Climate control as standard.

Cost

The diesel engines, like the 1.5-litre unit are more economical then the petrol alternatives but they are more expensive to buy.

The Renault Megane comes out well when it comes to costs. Servicing is really competitive and cheaper than owning a Volkswagen Golf. On average the Megane returns a whopping 80.7mpg on average, while this version emits 90g/km of CO2. The diesel engines, like the 1.5-litre unit are more economical then the petrol alternatives but they are more expensive to buy. Consider how much mileage you expect to do before deciding a diesel unit is worth the extra initial cost. Our car was priced from £19,245, which is competitive compared to similar specifications offered by rival family hatches.

Our Verdict

Renault has upped its game since giving the popular Megane a facelift. It’s good on costs and the styling has improved, however, the interior could be better. It’s a little more practical then some of its main rivals, but other alternatives like the VW Golf are a bit better in this regard and feel classier all-round. Ford still has the upper hand when it comes to driving dynamics while the Peugeot 308’s interior is plusher. Renault’s scorecard is good but more work is needed on the Megane before it can completely catch up to the class leaders.