ROAD TEST
Renault Megane 97kW turbo GT Line
In design terms, Renault's Mégane has been here, there and everywhere.
Back in 2002, generation two shocked the world with its curvy butt and upright rear window. Some hated it, while others loved the quirky French creation and I must admit to having been in the latter camp.
Then the third generation came along in 2008 I was disappointed at how bland it looked, particularly the more common five-door version.
Since then Renault seems to have found a far more flavoursome design rhythm and the latest Clio has been widely praised for its stylistic flair. Thankfully Renault wasted no time in painting its Mégane with the same brush, at least from the front end where the facelifted hatch now sports a slim black grille that wraps around the large diamond logo.
BIG CHANGE BENEATH THE BONNET
While many Japanese and Korean carmakers continue to boycott the 'smaller engine + turbo' trend for most models, the Europeans are wholeheartedly embracing it, and it appears that they're getting smaller with every generation.
Whereas the pre-facelift Mégane III mid-model came with a 96kW/190Nm 1.4-litre turbopetrol engine, its replacement has a 1.2-litre turbopetrol that musters 97kW and a somewhat-better 205Nm - or 225Nm momentarily during over-boost.
Though it doesn't quite match the 1-litre three-pot Ford motor in the power-per-litre race, it is certainly a decent technological stride on Renault's part, particularly considering some of the technology it packs. Its direct fuel injection system, for instance, operates with a 'high tumble' combustion effect inspired by F1 engines and some high-tech surface treatments, like DLC cam followers and graphite piston skirts, ensure lower friction.
But how does it all work in the real world?
LONG TOM TEST
My week-long date with this turbocharged Mégane coincided with an extended weekend getaway to Sabie in Mpumalanga - meaning the little engine would have to answer to the legendary Long Tom Pass.
Overall, I would describe the performance as more adequate than punchy - with a pinch of lag at low revs, but it's really not of much consequence. It proved to be a comfortable and quiet low-rev cruiser on normal highway stretches, but it did require a fair amount of gearing down for the uphill stretches and overtaking manoeuvres. As for the road trip's fuel tally, the on-board read-out eventually settled at the 6.3 litres per 100km mark.
What the trip also showed up was a suspension system geared more towards comfort than agility, which is probably just about right for the average user. The ride quality was cushy enough, but it didn't exactly feel pin-sharp through Long Tom's almost 50km of tantalising twisties.
The leather-cloth-combination seats kept us comfortable throughout the journey. We didn't take any back-seat drivers along, which is probably a good thing as rear legroom - as I noticed when doing the 'sit behind myself' test - is on the tight side compared to other vehicles in this class.
On the upside, the cabin design and materials impart a relatively high-quality ambience and there's no shortage of features packed into this hatch, including dual-zone climate control, a multi-function steering wheel and satnav with live services.
VERDICT
As long as you're not expecting it to be a sporty hatch, the new 97kW Mégane GT Line could be a very satisfying choice. It's comfortable, stylish well-equipped. Although there's hardly a shortage of strong competition in its price range, this Renault is well worth a look-in.
FACTS
Renault Megane 97kW turbo GT Line
Engine: 1.2-litre, four-cylinder turbopetrol
Gearbox: Six-speed manual
Power: 97kW @ 5500rpm
Torque: 205Nm @ 2000rpm
0-100km/h (claimed): 9.7 seconds
Top speed (claimed): 200km/h
Consumption (claimed): 5.4 litres per 100km
Price: R284 900
Warranty: Five-year/150 000km
Service plan: Five-year/90 000km
ALTERNATIVES
Ford Focus hatch 2.0 Trend (125kW/202Nm) - R276 500
Honda Civic hatch 1.8 Elegance (104kW/174Nm) - R284 200
Hyundai i30 1.8 Executive (110kW/178Nm) - R292 900
Kia Cerato hatch 2.0 EX (118kW/194Nm) - R280 995
Mazda3 hatch 2.0 Individual (121kW/210Nm) - R293 600
Opel Astra hatch 1.4 Turbo Enjoy (103kW/200Nm) - R281 700
Toyota Auris 1.6 XR (97kW/160Nm) - R279 800
VW Golf 1.4 TSI Comfortline (90kW/200Nm) - R299 900