New Renault Megane GT breaks the mould

Renault seems like they are the only French brand that has managed to shake off the “French stigma” attached to these European brands. Perhaps it was the cleverly named ‘Megane Shake it’ that they launched about five years ago.

Nonetheless, this thriving French carmakers continues to rise beyond expectations and with each new model, Renault’s popularity grows. It’s no wonder that when I got handed the keys to the newly launched 2016 Megane GT, I was excited.

I’ve read a few reports and heard whispers about the car, but upon introduction, I was immediately taken aback. Renault continues to raise the bar; the car’s design is crisp, flowing and modern. So much so, that I received several thumbs up and praises from fellow road users. Not something you would usually get from this sort of vehicle. A supercar, maybe, hatchback… not so sure.

But hey, I accepted the complements with open arms, even enquiring what it was that caught their eye about the Megane. The common consensus was the headlights and front grille although for me personally it’s those stretched rear lights that almost form one continuous band were it not for the Renault badge.

The Megane moniker has been with us for several years and in fact, it’s currently celebrating its 21^st birthday. With young adulthood, comes some attitude and our test mule was the Megane GT – the flagship model. Packing 151kW of power from the 1.6-litre engine, the GT does whip off the start line rather quickly and the seven-speed dual-clutch (EDC) auto gearbox gels rather well. There is hooligan DNA in the GT’s blood courtesy of its RS sibling.

Feeling well planted on the road, I enjoyed my time with the GT. It offers the perfect combination of pleasure, comfort and speed wrapped in a technological package.

Taking handling up a notch, the Megane GT is the only car in its segment to feature 4Control which turns the rear wheels a few degrees and this has an effect that can be subtle 90% of the time and profound during some track work or emergency lane change. Adopted from the Renault Laguna, 4Control turns the wheels in the opposite direction to the fronts at low speed for better maneuverability but as speed increases, they steer proportionately to the front wheels. A segment gamechanger for sure and a piece of technology that brightens Renault’s image as an innovative company that’s willing to shatter the mould.

I was impressed by the driving dynamics of the Renault. It’s responsive and thrilling, particularly when the revs climb and the reworked steering allows for greater control. But, like most 21 year olds, the Megane isn’t quite the car it’s meant to be, just yet. Small pet peeves like gear paddles that don’t turn with the steering wheel can be awkward, particularly when hugging the twisty corners and needing a quick gear change.

The three USBs hint at usability and an understanding of the Megane’s target market. The user-friendly touchscreen mounted flush into centre dash includes MultiSense for a litany of customisable driving modes and most things can be accessed via voice control if you want to shortcut the car’s slick and intuitive haptics.

The interior is a combination of modern and sporty design, particularly around the seats which feature Alcantara material and are heavily bolstered for an ensconced driving position. The five-door hatch design (no sedan model at this point in SA) ,is complemented by the best-in-class room and a usable 434 litres of boot space.

I wasn’t ready to return the Megane GT. The new model has evolved at a fast rate and offers new levels of refinement and class which I enjoyed. Sure it still has some minor bugbears, but they’re easily outweighed. It’s a well-rounded package and as always is ready to take on the mainstream competitors.