The new Mégane saloon has a longer wheelbase than its five-door sibling and has arguably more legroom and luggage space than the VW Jetta and Opel Astra. Its styling could also appeal to those who find the Mégane hatch’s rear end a little too edgy.
The new Mégane saloon has a longer wheelbase than its five-door sibling and has arguably more legroom and luggage space than the VW Jetta and Opel Astra. Its styling could also appeal to those in the fleet sector, small families and particularly those who find the Mégane hatch’s rear end a little too edgy for their tastes.
The strength of the Megane Sedan personality shines through in the Sedan’s design, as it does in the Hatchback. It shares the latter’s innovative frontal styling, but adds an elegantly curved cabin and harmonious tail section to create a shape that is in its own way as distinctive and eye-catching as that of the Hatch.
The saloon actually has a longer wheelbase than the hatch – by some 61 mm – and this directly benefits rear seat legroom. The rear doors are also noticeably longer than those of the Hatch, making for easier accessibility for rear seat occupants. Luggage space is 520 litres.
With the hatchback having achieved a five-star rating in the stringent Euro NCAP crash test, and the Saloon benefits from and builds on this, with a structure further strengthened to take into account the additional mass added by the rear end and a total of six airbags.
The newcomer’s optional xenon headlights (on Expression and Privilege trim levels) have an adaptive beam height control that lowers low beam height for city driving at speeds under 30 km/h. The variable assistance electric power steering heightens driving precision and combines ease of use at low speeds with precise control at high speeds.
The small-diameter (370 mm) steering wheel has a comfortably thick rim. The steering column is adjustable over a wide range for both reach and height (+/- 25 mm and +/- 20 mm respectively). The rear seat backrest also has a more steeply reclined rear seat backrest than the Hatchback (two degrees more).
Depending on equipment level, up to 12 sources of interior lighting are provided. The air conditioning system has a solar radiation sensor for more precise regulation of interior temperature.
Every possible area of free space within the cabin of the saloon has been transformed into stowage space, whether in the front and rear door panels, the front side armrests, and even the front footwells, offering no less than 46 litres of storage space. The cubby is refrigerated by the air conditioning system, and has a capacity of 17 litres. Five CD cases can be accommodated in each front door armrest.
South African buyers of this saloon will be able to choose from a trio of four-cylinder powerplants: An 83 kW 1,6 litre, a 98,5 kW 2,0 litre, and an 88 kW 1,9 litre direct injection common rail turbodiesel with an electronically-controlled variable nozzle turbocharger, providing a maximum torque of 300 Nm.
The saloon is available in three equipment levels, starting with the Authentique (available on the 1,6 engine). Standard features include tinted glass all round, intelligent windscreen wipers, heated rear window, electric front windows trip computer with warning system, remote controlled central locking via Renault Card, RAID (Renault Anti-Intruder Device), manual air conditioning and time delay lighting.
Other features include a smart rear wiper and double optic See-Me-Home headlamps, 15-inch steel wheels with full wheeltrims, colour-coded bumpers and black door handles.
The next level, Expression (available on the 1,6 manual and auto), is characterised by a charcoal grey instrument panel and metallic grey handbrake lever shaft, gearshift pattern and the outer rim of the instrument binnacle. Upholstery is in a beige/charcoal grey cloth.
Additional features over the Authentique level include 16-inch alloy wheels, colour coded heated electric exterior mirrors and door handles, electric windows front and rear with “one-touch” and “anti-pinch” functions, exterior temperature indicator, roller sunblinds for the rear window and the rear side windows, lumbar support adjustment for driver’s seat, 60:40 split rear seatback, automatic headlamps and front windscreen wipers.
Xenon headlights, a panoramic glass sunroof with sunblind, automatic air conditioning, leather upholstery, and a six-disc CD shuttle are optional.
The Privilege equipment level (available on the 2,0l and 1,9 dCi) features 16-inch Reinstella alloy wheels, a heat reflective windscreen and satin chrome door handles, amongst others. Upholstery is a beige Leather/Cloth combination.
Service intervals and oil changes are required every 15 000 km for petrol engined models and 10 000 kms for the turbodiesel model, while spark plugs and air filters need only be changed every 60 000 km.
The Saloon comes standard with a 3-year/100 000 km warranty, a 3-year/60 000 km maintenance plan and a 6-year anti-corrosion warranty.
Prices: :
1,6 Authentique R163 000
1,6 Expression R179 500
1,6 Expression Auto R191 500
2,0 Privilege R199 500
1,9 dCi Privilege R209 500