There are fewer more hotly contested segments within the industry than the one the Renault Megane finds itself in. And, there are fewer more worthy of wearing the market leader badge than the Volkswagen Golf. But, like or not, the Golf is the benchmark within this popular segment and to not acknowledge it as such would be almost, well…rude.
Likewise the GTi sits proudly atop the heap as ‘King of Hot-Hatch Hill’ (yes debatable, but not now) and while you might wonder what this has to do with the Renault Megane GT-Line I’ve recently been driving, there is reason to my madness. Because surely, in both respects the Renault Megane, can’t touch the Volkswagen Golf?
Well can it?
A few years ago, the answer to that question would have been a clear cut, “No!” but as in all situations where you find an underdog scrambling to make it in the big league, the gaps in quality which were huge a few years ago, are quite quickly closing in and becoming smaller and smaller.
In short, no, the Renault Megane can’t touch the Volkswagen Golf in terms of perceived quality and brand cachet and in all honesty it’s the later which holds the biggest sway of consumers’ minds.
And while you might think the Golf is leaps and bounds ahead it really isn’t, and the refreshed Megane does an admirable job of competing with its very Germanly engineered competition.
GT? Sounds like it’s trying to be sporty
The GT-Line Turbo sits sandwiched in the Megane range between the entry level 81kW Dynamique and 162 kW GT Turbo – the latter being a more affordable, value performance option than the very pricey (and superbly capable) Renault Sport Megane.
The GT-Line packs a reasonable 97kW from its blown 1.2 turbo four-cylinder and while that might sound lacking on paper, it does a spirited job and never felt underpowered. 205Nm of torque however is a slight problem, and factor in four adults with some shopping, and performance drops off noticeably.
However, leave the backseat drivers at home and head out for a solo blast and the Megane GT-Line is as enjoyable to drive as any of the Germanic competition. It’s well known that if you want the most driver and performance orientated hot-hatch on the market, the RS Megane is where it’s at, and fortunately this dynamic DNA has filtered down to the luke-warm GT.
Shake It!
Any resemblance to perhaps the best looking Megane is now sadly gone, but that’s not to say the new one is ugly. In profile it certainly won’t win any awards, especially the C pillar which almost resembles the dreadfully boring Chevrolet Cruz hatch. GT specific trim catches your attention though and neat add-ons in the form of special side mirror casings, door handles, rear bumper diffuser and side-sills, give the GT a sporty edge.
Wonder around the front and you’re greeted by Renault’s prominent corporate face, with the large diamond now proudly sitting in the top-tier grille instead of on the bonnet as before.
Take a seat in the wonderfully bolstered front seats and a few thoughts come to mind, “Wow, these seats are nice!” is the first, and “This interior is very smart for a Renault!” is the second. Like I said, the quality gap is closing.
A few interior highlights include, Integrated On-board Navigation with LIVE Services, Radio MP3-CD player with USB & AUX-IN ports, Bluetooth connectivity with hands free phone integration, leather/alcantara upholstery, LED daytime running lights) in the bumper, Halogen headlamps, automatic windscreen wipers with rain sensor, automatic dual-zone climate control and 17 inch GT-Line alloy wheels.
Okay, let’s wrap this up
At R284 900 the Renault Megane represents a great option if you’re looking for a hot-hatch but aren’t keen on shelling out a fortune. Considering the hotter Megane GT is a full R45 000 dearer, and that the 5 chilli peri-peri Renault Sport Megane is a further R30 000.
A similarly powerful Golf is roughly R16 000 more expensive and that’s with half the standard kit. Take all this into consideration and the Megane GT-Line starts making more financial sense.
Backed by a 5 year/ 150 000km warranty on all models and buying a Renault is no longer the, “Oh God, what have I done!” nightmare that it used to be. Sound, well specced and well-priced products backed by a decent parts inventory, an improving after sales experience and a general local commitment to excellence is all, is it not time that we give Renault South Africa a chance?
