| Week at the Wheel | Renault Mégane Coupé |

Inside & Out:

When the Mégane replaced the Renault 19 there were two distinct versions of the hatchback available, with the three-door being badged the Coupé from the outset. For the second generation of Mégane Renault reverted to the more conventional approach of three- and five-door variants (albeit with that rotund backside), ironically while many rivals sought to copy its previous idea. Here now, the latest Mégane backtracks. And with no small degree of success. The three-door Coupé is a very distinct model with its own identity - much bolder than the family focused five-door variant.

In the flesh there are several key features that catch the eye. Silver inlays in the front bumper give the Mégane a different face, while the high waistline, small rear quarter window, shut-lines and swooping roof give the required Coupé profile, although rear occupants pay the price such is the feeling of confinement they're subjected to. Things are much rosier for those upfront though with the familiar Mégane cabin complemented by more purposeful seats, a conventional handbrake - sadly sited for what appears to be a left-hand drive configuration - and a sports wheel.

As noted elsewhere in recent Renault tests, the quality of the Renault's interiors has come on leaps and bounds in latter years. Other than the handbrake positioning, only the speedo configuration is worthy of criticism; a digital design seems over complicated when a conventional dial does the job without being so intrusive.

Engine & Transmission:

The top of the range diesel engine boasts 130bhp at 3,750rpm and 221lb.ft of torque at 1,750rpm from its turbocharged 1.9-litre displacement. Driving through a slick six-speed gearbox the engine is eager to be worked hard and equally content being rowed along at the lower end of the rev range. Flat out performance isn't necessarily what it's all about but 0-62mph in 9.5 seconds and a maximum of 130mph stack up well with the competition. On the road the engine is well mannered and smooth. It needs to be worked a little to give its best though, possibly down to our test car's modest mileage.

Ride & Handling:

Recent sporting Renaults have been a great success and experience with normal Méganes to date has suggested more than a little promise in the chassis department. The Coupé is intended to be the sporting choice and it feels set-up accordingly. The steering feels more meaty and the chassis exhibits a desire to hold on for longer when the going gets tough - a small deterioration in ride quality is well worth the trade in our eyes. Overall, as one might expect, in comparison to the softer Mégane options the Coupé is definitely firmer, sharper and more responsive.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:

Renault's model nomenclature and the verbiage therein must be amongst the longest in the business. The test car's full title is: Mégane Coupé Dynamique TomTom dCi 130. What it all boils down to in this case is a mid-range specification with the emphasis on sportiness rather than pure luxury. That's not to say that the equipment list isn't generous with the 16-inch alloys, tinted windows, bolstered seats and leather steering wheel giving the necessary sporting accents. These are in addition to the core features that include a full complement of safety measures such as airbags and chassis aids.

This comes at a cost though, with the optional extras fitted to our test car, including 17-inch rims, dual-zone climate control and special metallic paint taking the cost to almost £23,000 (with a standard list price of £20,306). This puts the Mégane Coupé toe-to-toe with the Focus, Golf, et al and perhaps reflects Renault's confidence in its product. Certainly the comparison isn't ill advised and the Mégane can hold its own. It's worth noting that we found a £3k saving on the above prices quite readily through an internet broker.

Once you've made the purchase the Mégane should be relatively gentle on the wallet, with insurance group a sensible 10, VED band E and 18,000-mile service intervals. The only downside was our failure to get anywhere near the claimed economy figure, averaging 36mpg during a week of mixed motoring - some way short of the 55mpg combined figure quoted by Renault - which we couldn't even match at a 60mph cruise.

Overall:

In common with other Mégane's we've tried, the Coupé's wide repertoire of talents is almost a weakness as it doesn't lend itself to one obvious distinct strength - nothing really stands out as being exceptional, even if the sum of the parts adds up to an impressively capable package.