Renault Mégane

The Renault Mégane is a small family car produced by the French automaker Renault since 1995. It is offered in 3- and 5-door hatchback, saloon, coupé, convertible and estate bodystyles. The Renault Scénic (launched 1996) is the first modern compact MPV to be built in Europe, and is based on the Mégane floorpan.

Mégane I (1995–2002)

The Mégane I was unveiled in the autumn of 1995, as a replacement of the Renault 19. The car was essentially a reskin of its predecessor, and carried over the 19's floorpan, engines, transmissions and chassis design, albeit with much modification. Taking its name from a Renault concept car shown in 1988, the Mégane further developed the new corporate styling theme introduced by Patrick Le Quément on the Laguna, most notably the "bird-beak" front grille - a styling cue borrowed from the Renault 16 of the 1960s. As with the 19 and the 11 before it, the Mégane was produced in Renault's Douai plant in northern France, and in the Spanish plant of Palencia.

Safety was a key focus of the Megane I, Renault's first car reflecting their new focus of selling on safety. It featured a pillar-mounted 3-point seatbelt for the middle-rear occupant (replacing the common 'lap strap'), standard front belt pre-tensioners and load limiters, driver's airbag and an impressive safety structure - a specification ahead of most rivals in 1995. Some features, such as the 3-point middle belt, had debuted on the Renault 19 safety concept vehicle (and in fact this feature entered production on the Renault Laguna before the Megane). The car also benefited from Renault's first "System for Restraint and Protection" (SRP), essentially a system of careful optimisation of occupant restraint by interaction of the seat, seatbelt, pretensioner, load limiter and airbag. Megane I achieved a best-in-class 4-star crash test rating in the 1998 round of testing by Euro NCAP.

1996 saw the introduction of the Mégane Scénic compact MPV.

Power came from the Renault E-type ("Energy") engine in 1.4 L, 1.6 L, 1.8 L, and the F-type unit in both 1.9 L diesel and 2.0 L petrol form, although this time around there was a wider variety of 16-valve derivatives. A 1.9 L diesel engine in both normally aspirated and turbocharged forms was also available.

Renault also produced a limited number of Renault sport edition phase 1's with the Renaultsport bodywork, however these were very rare. The Renaultsport kit was available to purchase for a short time direct from Renault France, but has now been discontinued, thus their value has increased. The trim specification levels were: RN, RT and RXE.

Mégane I Facelift (1999–2002)

A mild facelift in spring 1999 gave the Mégane I a modified grille, more advanced safety features and upgraded equipment, and 16-valve engines were used across the range. The production continued for the Latin America Market, where it was sold alongside the Megane II line at a considerably lower price until 2008.

Mégane in Venezuela, Argentina and Colombia

In Venezuela, the original Megane is still available since 2002, but now sold only as a sedan. It features the LA04 engine (16 valve, 1.6 litres and 110 HP), and is produced by both Renault Colombia and Argentina, in where it is one of the best-selling cars to date. It is a car with more advanced safety features, upgraded equipment and more. The Mégane I costs less than the Mégane II. Both remain available. Up until 2009, it was sold in Argentina and Colombia.

Trim specification levels

The following specification levels cover the Hatchback only. Estate, Classic (sedan), Coupe and Cabriolet had slightly different trim specification levels.

• Freeway: Authentique, Expression, Expression Plus
• Sport: Sport, Dynamique, Dynamique Plus
• Elegance: Privilege, Privilege Plus

Engine options

Mégane II (2002–2008)

The Mégane II was launched in September 2002,^[1] and marked a completely fresh start. The two cars bear very little resemblance, the new vehicle having been inspired by the manufacturer's new design language first seen in the Avantime. The new Mégane was voted European Car of the Year for 2003, fighting off stiff competition from Japan's Mazda 6 and PSA's Citroën C3, and achieved a 5-star safety rating in the EuroNCAP crash tests,^[2] the first small family car to do so.

Mégane II and the Laguna were both showcases for a great deal of innovative technologies Renault launched at the beginning of the 2000s; the Renault Card keyless ignition system, standard on the Mégane II, was a first in this class and has since been widely adopted. Similarly, the option of a panoramic glass sunroof is another area in which Renault led where others followed.

In Brazil, Renault launched a flex-fuel version, called "Hi-Flex", which is able to run either with unleaded gasoline (petrol) or ethanol. Like the Brazilian Scénic and Clio versions, the Mégane's engine can work with any mix of gasoline and ethanol, due to the use of an electronic control module. The flex version has a 16V 109 hp (110 PS) (113 hp (115 PS) with ethanol) 1.6-litre inline-four engine developed and produced in Brazil, but the 2.0-litre version does not allow ethanol use, because its engine is made in France.

As with the previous Mégane, the range of models is wide; there is a three and five door hatchback available, named "Sport Hatch" and "Hatch" respectively, there is a 4-door saloon/sedan (Sport Saloon), a five-door estate (Sport Tourer / Grandtour), and to replace both the Mégane Coupe and Convertible, a new retractable hardtop coupe designed by Karmann.

Mégane RS

RenaultSport (RS) versions of the 3-door and 5-door hatchbacks were introduced, equipped with a turbocharged petrol 2.0 L 16v engine producing 225 PS (165 kW; 222 hp). Along with the engine, changes were made to the front and rear suspension geometry to improve handling, and the model features a deeper, wider front bumper. The Mégane Renault Sport competes in the hot hatch segment of the market.

Mégane II Facelift (2006–2008)

The model was revised in 2006, with changes in interior trim, specification levels and most notably, a new front nose. A new front suspension system borrowed from the Mégane 2.0 225 PS (165 kW; 222 hp) was adopted, improving the driving performance.^[3] Also, the Nissan Sentra B16 is based on the 2006 platform of the Renault Meganes bicorp.

Engines

Sales

During its first full year of sales, the Mégane II topped the French sales charts, with 198,874 registered in 2003.^[4] It has also sold very well in Britain, being the nation's fourth most popular car in 2005 and fifth most popular in 2004 and 2006. In 2007, however, it dipped to eighth place with just over 55,000 examples being sold.^[5]

Longterm Quality Issues

In 2010 it was reported that the Megane II had the highest rate of MOT failures in the UK for cars first taking the test in 2007.^[6] While in German ADAC breakdown statistics, the Megane scored very well, surpassing such cars as the Ford Focus, Honda Civic and Opel/Vauxhall Astra. The 2008 model achieved third place in its class after the BMW 1 and Audi A3.^[7]

Mégane III (2008–present)

The third generation of Mégane was launched in late 2008 to keep the range competitive with newer rivals. It however lacks the distinctive hatchback acquired during its second generation.

In September 2008, both the Renault Mégane Berline 5-door hatchback & Mégane Coupé were presented officially.^[9] The two models feature quite a different design, the Coupé having a very aggressive and sporty design while the 5-door model is more conservative. In this generation, no automatic transmission is offered, replaced by a continuously variable transmission. The Coupé can be considered as a shooting brake due to its coupé-like design.

The phase I version of Megane II was well known for reliability issues, especially with the engine management system. Renault has now spent much more time and mileage testing the new model which is therefore expected to have improved reliability.

Engines

Performance

Braking system: ABS Bosch 8.0 (TEVES MK60 for RS version), Electronic brake distribution, Braking Assistance System are standard.

• Front ventilated discs 280 mm / Rear plain discs 260 mm: 1.6 VVT 100, 1.6 VVT 110, 1.4 TCe 130, 2.0 16v CVT, 2.0 TCe 180, 1.5 dCi 85, 1.5 dCi 90 FAP, 1.5 dCi 105, 1.5 dCi 110 FAP, 1.9 dCi 130 FAP.
• Front ventilated discs 296 mm / Rear plain discs 260 mm: 2.0 dCi 150 FAP Auto, 2.0 dCi 160 FAP, 2.0 TCe 180.
• Front ventilated discs 340 mm / Rear vent. discs 290 mm: 2.0 Turbo RS.

Wheels and tyres (standard):

• 195/65 R15: 1.6 VVT 100, 1.6 VVT 110, 1.5 dCi 85, 1.5 dCi 90 FAP.
• 205/55 R16: 1.4 TCe 130, 2.0 16v CVT, 1.5 dCi 105, 1.5 dCi 110 FAP.
• 205/55 R17: 1.9 dCi 130 FAP.
• 225/45 R17: 2.0 TCe 180 (until 2010), 2.0 dCi 160, 2.0 dCi 150 FAP Auto.
• 225/40 R18: 2.0 Turbo RS, 2.0 TCe 180 (since 2010)
• 235/40 R18: 2.0 Turbo RS with Cup chassis. (235/35 R19 optional)

Weight:

• 1.6 VVT 100 (hatch): 1,205 kg (2,660 lb)
• 1.6 VVT 110 (coupe/hatch/wagon): 1,205 kg (2,660 lb) / 1,215 kg (2,680 lb) / 1,275 kg (2,810 lb)
• 1.4 TCe 130 (coupe/hatch/wagon): 1,210 kg (2,700 lb) / 1,210 kg (2,700 lb) / 1,285 kg (2,830 lb)
• 2.0 16v CVT (coupe/hatch/wagon): 1,275 kg (2,810 lb) / 1,281 kg (2,820 lb) / 1,335 kg (2,940 lb)
• 2.0 TCe 180 (coupe/hatch/wagon): 1,310 kg (2,900 lb) / 1,320 kg (2,900 lb) / 1,391 kg (3,070 lb)
• 2.0 RS Turbo (coupe): 1,387 kg (3,060 lb)
• 1.5 dCi 85 (coupe/hatch/wagon): 1,205 kg (2,660 lb) / 1,210 kg (2,700 lb) / 1,289 kg (2,840 lb)
• 1.5 dCi 90 FAP (coupe/hatch/wagon): 1,210 kg (2,700 lb) / 1,220 kg (2,700 lb) / 1,307 kg (2,880 lb)
• 1.5 dCi 105 (coupe/hatch/wagon): 1,210 kg (2,700 lb) / 1,220 kg (2,700 lb) / 1,307 kg (2,880 lb)
• 1.5 dCi 110 FAP (coupe/hatch/wagon): 1,230 kg (2,700 lb) / 1,230 kg (2,700 lb) / 1,320 kg (2,900 lb)
• 1.9 dCi 130 FAP (coupe/hatch/wagon): 1,320 kg (2,900 lb) / 1,320 kg (2,900 lb) / 1,366 kg (3,010 lb)
• 2.0 dCi 150 FAP (coupe/hatch/wagon): 1,400 kg (3,100 lb) / 1,409 kg (3,110 lb) / 1,449 kg (3,190 lb)
• 2.0 dCi 160 FAP (coupe/hatch/wagon): 1,380 kg (3,000 lb) / 1,384 kg (3,050 lb) / 1,424 kg (3,140 lb)

All-electric version

The electric version of the Mégane saloon that Renault is building will come with a lifetime warranty, and payment will follow the model established by the mobile-phone industry. After buying the car, owners will subscribe to a battery-replacement and charging plan based on their anticipated mileage. Recharging will be done at one of 500,000 spots that Project Better Place will build and maintain.^[10]

See also

• Renault Mégane Renault Sport
• Renault Fluence
• Renault Scénic

Notes

External links

• Official UK Renault Site - Megane
• Renaultsport Mégane 225
• Renault Megane Free test Drive in UK