2017 Renault Megane GT Review – Not Too Sporty, Not Too Soft
For buyers tempted by the ascending scale from sensibilities to sports often offered within a small hatch range, the 2017 Renault Megane GT may deliver an answer.
This 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol five-door hatch is no entry-level model. It looks slick and upmarket, and its chassis is tuned by the hot hatchback masters at the Renault Sport division.
Yet this is no hardcore hot hatch in the same vein as the previous-generation Megane RS 265. As its Grand Tourer designation indicates, the GT is meant to balance the pragmatic virtues of the base Life with some dynamism from the RS.
Priced from $38,490 plus on-road costs, it is also out to tempt buyers away from the Volkswagen Golf GTI that in automatic DSG forms asks another $5000 – a sizeable saving of biscuits for those who don’t need the sliding scale set at ‘max sports’.
Vehicle Style: Small hatchback
Price: $38,490 plus on-road costs
Engine/trans: 151kW/280Nm 1.6 4cyl turbo petrol | 7sp dual-clutch automatic
Fuel Economy Claimed: 6.0 l/100km | Tested: 8.3 l/100km
OVERVIEW
Specification for the Golf GTI is almost mirrored with the Megane GT. The Renault steps forward exclusively with heated front seats, digital radio and auto park assistance, but the Volkswagen counters with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone mirroring technology, bi-xenon headlights and adaptive suspension.
The GT tested here gets a 151kW/280Nm 1.6-litre and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic; the GTI gets a 162kW/350Nm 2.0-litre and six-speeder. The 0-100km/h performance claims are 7.1 seconds and 6.4sec respectively.