Renault Megane Coupe Cabriolet

HerCar Review

The Megane Coupe Cabriolet is a 4 seater perfect for those who want some style and a sense of freedom in an easy to drive car. You have a choice of a 2.0 litre manual or an automatic. The model reviewed is the automatic, which has sufficient power but lacks a little excitement. The car is well equipped with safety features to boot and a 5 star Euro NCAP safety rating to prove it.

Driver Comfort & Visibility

The visibility is good both with the roof up and down. As the rear seats are sunken, you can see well out of the rear window even when you’ve got a full load of passengers. The front seats are bucket style leather that hold you firmly in place. All controls are in easy reach, so no stretching to change the CD. There is an outside temperature gauge and clock located high in the dash which makes it really easy to read. The cruise controls are mounted on the steering wheel for easy use. The audio controls are mounted on a lever sitting behind the steering wheel, but take a little while to get used to as you can’t see them when you're sitting back in your seat.

Features We like

6 stack in dash CD player, climate control air conditioning, central locking, power windows, power steering, power door mirrors, huge glass roof.

Safety

Renault is renowned for their commitment to safety, and the Megane CC is no exception. There are driver and front passenger front airbags, side airbags and anti submarining front seat airbags. There’s also ABS with Electronic Brake Distribution and Brake Assist as well as Electronic Stability Program-all of which contribute to a more controlled drive in emergency situations. Given it’s a convertible there’s the added safety of a fully integrated automatic roll over bar.

Rear Passenger Comfort

The rear seats can only accommodate 2 people, which is the norm for convertibles. There’s a reasonable amount of head and shoulder room, but the car is lacking in legroom. With the roof on, it’s a little claustrophobic in the rear, but again, this is fairly normal for this style of car. The good news is that it has power windows in the rear so your passengers can get some fresh air when it gets a little too cosy. There’s plenty of room for 2 kids, but as the seats are sunken, their visibility is limited.

Roof Facts

The Megane has a steel and glass roof that automatically folds into the boot in about 22 seconds at the press of a button. When the roof is down there is limited storage space; however, I managed to squeeze in 2 razor scooters and 6 bags of groceries. The bread got a little squashed, but this related more to my packing technique than lack of space. Overall, I was quite impressed with how much I could get in.

Storage

It’s got some good storage options including a good sized centre console box, glove box, front door pockets, 2 drinks holders in the centre front and pockets on the back of the rear seats. While the boot space is limited with the roof down, there is quite a bit when the roof is up, more than enough space for a weekly grocery shop for 4 people.

Green Factor

The Megane CC consumes about 8.7 litres per 100kms, which is a bit higher than average for a car of this size. Its air pollution and greenhouse rating put it at about the middle of the pack. If you’re looking for something a bit “greener” and are happy with a manual, try the Ford Focus Convertible.

Overall View

An easy car to drive, with lots of features and the comfort of a 5 star safety rating.

Test Drive Tips

• They key is a square black disc that slides into the dash. You then push a button to start/stop the car.

• The indicators are on the left hand side of the steering wheel.

• The audio controls are mounted on a stick behind the centre of the steering wheel and are difficult to see unless you lean forward.

• The cruise control activation button is located on the lower dash on the right hand side of the steering wheel.

• The park brake is a little “sticky”. You need to squeeze the right hand button fairly tightly, and then push the lever down.

If you are considering this car you might also like to test drive the Volkswagen Eos, Peugeot 307 CC, Holden Astra Twin Top and Ford Focus Coupe Cabriolet.

Features of Model Reviewed

* Excludes on road costs
# All new vehicles sold in Australia (up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass) are tested to determine the level of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions (Greenhouse rating), which are displayed on the fuel consumption label attached to the windscreen of the car. The Green Vehicle Guide rating combines the Greenhouse Rating and Air Pollution Rating and awards a star. 5 stars is the best rating.  For more information, click here.
Information is correct at the time of the review. Please check with your local Renault dealer for the most recent information.

Date Reviewed: August 2008