Mégane impresses in long-term car swap

8th July 2011

Mégane impresses in long-term car swap – Auto Express

"There’s nothing between the two cars when it comes to style," says Gibson, who is taking care of the Mégane. "To my eyes, the Sport Tourer is the best-looking model in the Mégane line-up.

"Once inside, I have to grudgingly admit that the Renault has the upper hand. The Mégane’s cabin is attractively designed, and has a more upmarket feel, thanks to the generous use of soft-touch materials.

"Star of the show is the standard-fit sat-nav. The TomTom device in the Renault scores for its excellent postcode entry system and safety camera alerts.

"I’ve also been impressed by the Sport Tourer’s spacious boot. The Mégane estate’s wide and long 479-litre load area swallows all of my work gear in the space beneath the load cover.

"The Renault has more engine capacity, too. Over the last few thousand miles, the Kia’s 123hp 1.7-litre CRDi diesel has loosened up noticeably, but it’s still no match for the muscular 160hp 2.0-litre unit in the French car.

"As a result, I’ve been revelling in the oil-burner’s hefty mid-range punch, which helps take the strain out of overtaking. The Mégane also has the upper hand in corners, where its racy Renaultsport-tuned chassis serves up lots of grip and hot hatch-rivalling agility."

The Renault, despite its lack of stop-start system compared to the Sportage, features a respectable economy. "The Mégane is perfectly suited to my long-haul lifestyle," says Gibson, as it’s "returning 44mpg – more than the Sportage".

All-in-all, Gibson is "enjoying" his time with the Renault Mégane and its performance. He gives a notable commendation to the Mégane’s focus on driving fun. "Everywhere you look, there are racy touches, including the white instruments. Plus, a gearshift indicator optimises economy by reminding you to change ratios."

Auto Express photographers Otis Clay and Pete Gibson have swapped their long-term cars, to find out which copes best with the staff’s gruelling schedule: the Kia Sportage or the Renault Mégane.