Renault pins its hopes on comeback car

Performance cars such as the RS 250 featured in Driven deservedly grab the glamour, but mainstream models such as the Megane hatch allow Renault to grab 10 per cent of the global car market.

If the brand is going to succeed again in New Zealand, the Megane hatch is surely the model responsible for flying the Renault flag.

But exactly what colour is that flag? Renault is French, of course, although much of the Megane's mechanical package is shared with Japanese alliance partner Nissan - its 2-litre engine and continuously variable transmission (CVT) also power the Qashqai crossover.

What's more, the Meganes created for Kiwi consumption are actually sourced from Turkey, part of local importer Motorcorp's strategy to keep equipment levels up and prices down.

Megane starts at just $31,990 for a manual model, although our top Luxury-pack test car hits $39,990, adding leather upholstery, satellite navigation, climate air with rear vents and cabin/trim upgrades.

I've never been to Turkey but I'm guessing you can get a really great croissant there, because the Megane hatch is as well built as anything I've seen from Renault in recent years.

Possibly better, as our evaluation car did not sport a single cabin rattle - a rarity for a Renault in my experience.

The soft-touch plastics are a cut above the class average but the switchgear seems a little haphazard.

I'd question the need for the Luxury pack. The leather is nice but the sat-nav is below par. It's integrated into the dashboard but runs on software provided by TomTom, with mapping on an updatable SD card. Great in theory, but the graphics are pretty basic and you can only operate it via a remote control. Save the $5000 extra required for the Megane Luxury and shout yourself a proper TomTom.

The Megane is pretty well kitted-out as it is: Bluetooth with audio streaming, cruise control/speed limiter and a keyless entry/start system that locks the car automatically if you walk away with the key in your hand. Clever.

The 2-litre is strong and the CVT is a particularly good example of the technology, making maximum use of the engine's torque and avoiding the bugbear of similar transmissions: over-revving and erratic throttle response.

The chassis is not sporty but it's firm enough to tackle Kiwi roads and still offer the supple ride you'd expect of a Renault.

Overall, refinement is a real strength: engine and road noise are well suppressed, which is not something you'd say of a Qashqai.

Let's be realistic. A new Renault - especially one made in Turkey - is going to be a hard sell in New Zealand, especially when the brand has stalled so many times in the past.

Nonetheless, Motorcorp has done its job with this car: Megane still feels distinctively French, it's an appealing drive and it's certainly the right price.

Fluence with a difference

A Megane sedan by any other name is a Fluence. At least that's what the Korean-built, Megane-based four-door also on sale here is called. It's likely the $34,990 Fluence will have some appeal for brave fleet customers, since it rides on a longer wheelbase than Megane and boasts a huge 570-litre boot. If you want to get snobby about it, the sedan is not really a pure Renault design, being engineered partly by Samsung.

Alternatives

* Hyundai i30 Elite
$38,490
* Mazda3 SP25 Activematic
$40,995
* Peugeot 308 XSP
$40,990
* Toyota Corolla GLX
$39,490
* Volkswagen Golf TSI 90kW
$41,500

The bottom line:

Renault must increase its sales tenfold to survive in New Zealand and Megane is charged with helping making that happen. Good car, good price - but only time will tell whether Kiwis are ready to embrace Renault.