The Renault Megane Sport Tourer takes the family appeal of the Megane hatchback and makes it even more practical by extending it’s rear-end.

Like many other hatchback turned estates, the Megane Sport Tourer offers the same front-end design and interior configuration as its smaller sibling. The main problem facing the Megane Sport Tourer is its stiff competition from rivals such as the Ford Focus and VW Golf estate. 

There is also a certain sense of luxury that goes with some estate variants. So, can the Megane prove itself against hard-hitting rivals?

Performance

Five engines are available on the Megane Sport Tourer range, these include a small 1.2-litre TCe 113bhp petrol as well as a 1.6-litre dCi diesel producing 128bhp – which may be first choice for those who want to clock up motorway miles.

If you want a bit of thrust then go for the 2.0-litre petrol mated to the automatic gearbox as this produces a hefty 158bhp.

Although there are plenty of engines to choose from, we recommend the arguably conformist 1.2-litre 113bhp petrol. It will reach the benchmark sprint from a standing start in 11 seconds so it’s never going to set the heather alight with its pace but it is decent once at speed and it has a top speed of 118mph.

Ride and Handling

It is not fun to drive like the VW Golf estate, but if you are solely looking for a practical family car, this may not faze you. 

Based on the Megane hatch, the Sport Tourer is fairly well set-up. It is definitely more agile than the previous generation and the steering feel is weightier. If you enjoy driving then these features will appeal but I guess that most of you will need this car for transporting goods from A to B in a comfy manner and the Megane fares well in this department. Be aware however, as with the Megane hatchback, the ride will suffer in the Sport Toruer if you go for the GT Line trim as this stiffens the suspension a bit – great for cornering, not so great for tackling lumps and bumps ibn the road. Wind noise can also be a bit intrusive at motorway speeds. It is not fun to drive like the VW Golf estate, but if you are solely looking for a practical family car, this may not faze you.

Interior and Equipment

The Renault Megane was introduced into the automotive world in 1995 as the Megane I, acting as a replacement for the Renault 19 model.

There’s a comprehensive list of equipment throughout the Megane Sport Tourer range. Expression+ models are fitted with CD/radio with steering column controls and aux-in socket, air-con, headlights with see-me-home function, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, height-adjustable driver’s seat, height and reach-adjustable steering wheel, all-round electric windows and all-important 60:40 split-folding rear seats.  Knight Edition trim was added to the range during 2014 and adds 16-inch 'Eptius' dark chrome alloy wheels, electrically folding door mirrors, rear privacy glass and rear parking sensors.  The Dynamique TomTom trim includes Bluetooth connectivity, 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, sat-nav, a leather steering wheel and cruise control with a speed limiter.  The flagship guise GT Line boasts sports chassis, 17-inch or alloy wheels, GT front bumper with fog lamp recesses, a coloured rear diffuser, aluminium pedals, analogue dials with white rev counter background, RenaultSport-type seats with additional lateral support, GT upholstery… the list goes on. Rear passenger room is impressive and boot space allows for up to 524 litres of storage, this expands to 1,600 litres with the seats folded down, which is fairly good when comparing to rivals. It does however just fall behind the VW Golf for space and is more in line with the Ford Focus estate in this department.

Cost

The 1.5-litre diesel however is by far the most fuel efficient, returning an average of around 80mpg and emitting just 90g/km of CO2 – that means it is road tax exempt.

The 1.2-litre 113bhp petrol averages around 53mpg and emits 119g/km of C02, in line with its competition. The 1.5-litre diesel however is by far the most fuel efficient, returning an average of around 80mpg and emitting just 90g/km of CO2 – that means it is road tax exempt. When it comes to price the Megane Sport Tourer is ever so slightly cheaper than the ford Focus and around £1,000 cheaper than the Golf estate.

Our Verdict

Some quality aspects, like cheap plastics on the interior, let the Megane down a little when compared to the Germanic luxury of the Golf or the robustness of the Focus, but if you are likely to be using the car as a family run-around then these materials may work to your advantage. Excitement is not its forte, but low running costs, practicality and fully-loaded kit levels are. The Megane also has a certain French flair about it when it comes to its exterior styling, which may not be for everyone but it may attract those who appreciate something a little different to the usual suspects.