Great value; looks great
Good chassis needs more engine
Renault is on the move with an avalanche of exiting new products heading our way. In many ways the arrival of the all-new Renault Megane (hatchback and coupe-convertible) is the first wave, although we also have the new Fluence and Latitude sedans now on-sale in Australia.
The French giant has a long motor sports history and Renault engines still power many F1 teams, including the championship dominating Red Bull squad headed by Aussie Mark Webber. Renault shows-off its performance car credibility with the rip-snorting Megane RS models.
So if you’re considering a European coupe-cabriolet, expand your thinking beyond the Germans – very sharply priced at $45,990, the Renault Megane CC packs a lot of car, oozes French style…and your left-over dollars could buy some nice French bubbly to celebrate.
Renault Megane Coupe-Cabriolet Overview
Megane is Renault’s big volume small car – it is to the French what the Golf is to the Germans. Arrival of the all-new Renault Megane lineup saw massive improvements in every department – and the coupe-cabriolet is a big part of the picture.
In the same league as its French rival the Peugeot 308CC and Volkswagen’s EOS, the Renault Megane CC delivers chic European style, a superb glass roof, lots of technology and sharp on-road dynamics.
A four-seater (but with a rear seat which tests lanky adults), the Renault Megane CC is at the sharp end of the field on price ($45,990 to $51,490 for the EOS) and comes comprehensively equipped.
Renault Megane Coupe-Cabriolet Engine
Renault Megane CC employs Renault’s trusty 2.0-litre, naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, which is good for 103kW at 6000rpm and peak torque of 195Nm at 3750rpm. Combined cycle fuel consumption is rated at 8.1l/100kms.
Drive is to the front wheels via a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).
It’s a handy performer with strong acceleration throughout the rev range however we just wonder if Renault’s turbocharged 2.0-litre with 125kW/270Nm might have been a been a better bet to tackle Volkswagen’s EOS running a similar turbocharged engine with 155kW/280Nm.
Renault Megane Coupe-Cabriolet The Interior
Climb inside the Renault Megane CC and you immediately know this is a European car – the combination of quality materials and colour palette have the hallmarks of a French designer. There is also a feeling of light and space even when the roof is closed – the windscreen header rail is 60mm further forwards compared to the previous Renault Megane CC.
Up front the seats are nicely sculptured and the driver scores heating and electric height adjustment. The leather-wrapped steering wheel adjusts for rake and reach for a handy driving position.
Renault Megane CC runs a dashboard layout like the hatch – a nicely presented combination of round housings and digital displays.
Audio is an Arkamys eight-speaker single CD with Bluetooth streaming and digital sound processing software.
Rear seat accommodation in the Renault Megane CC – like others in this segment – is limited but OK for adults on short journeys (Volkswagen’s EOS offers the most rear seat room, but even then four adults would be squeezed – but hey, we’re talking coupe-cabriolets here).
With the roof in place, the Renault Megane CC affords a handy 417-litre boot capacity (211-litres with the roof open and stored).
Renault says the Megane CC’s one square metre glass roof is the largest in the segment and the dark-tinted two-piece design can be lowered in just 21 seconds. The roof is made by the German specialist Karmann and delivered to the Renault plant in Douai ready for installation.
Renault Megane Coupe-Cabriolet Exterior & Styling
After some years of bland cars, Renault has returned to the sharp end of the styling field and two great examples of this newfound ‘coolness’ are the latest Meganes - hatchback and coupe-cabriolet. In trendy St Kilda, a group of young passers-by paused to check out our parked Renault Megane CC – the previous model didn’t attract that sort of attention.
We like the modern front-end (shared with the Renault Megane hatchback) with distinctive, large, curved, clear-glass headlights and sporty air intakes and we love the look of the glass roof finished in glossy black.
But for us, it’s the handsome rear-end which really is a standout of the Renault Megane CC. Here, Renault’s stylists have delivered a strong presence with wrap over taillights and a high deckled adding a classy look that oozes French style.
Sporty five-spoke alloy wheels finish an excellently styled package that has ‘street cred’ stamped all over it.
Renault Megane Coupe-Cabriolet On The Road
It was bucketing down much of the week we had the Renault Megane CC in our garage – not the best for cabrio motoring but ideal to test chassis dynamics. In fact Renault’s engineers have excelled with the chassis under the new Renault Megane CC – complex technical changes mean the latest generation is streets ahead of its predecessor.
Rear suspension is a compact flexible beam (common with the latest European small cars) while the front is a MacPherson strut design mounted to a ‘horned’ subframe – the latter combining with a body structure three times more rigid than its predecessor to provide a much more cohesive/stiffer feel.
Tipping the scales 160kgs heavier than a regular Megane hatch, the Renault Megane CC’s springs, dampers, anti-roll bars and beam are all stiffened (front springs by 13 per cent and the rears by 17 per cent). And a unique structural strengthening (compared to the Megane hatch) helps keep the cabin taught under extreme cornering.
The result is a much-improved performance over the twisty stuff (helped by significant improvements to the power steering). Our Renault Megane CC put in a strong showing over Car Showroom’s high-speed mountain roads loop.
We liked the chassis balance and slick turn-in – in fact the chassis was so good, Renault’s naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre and CVT automatic transmission felt a bit underdone.
Back in the city, the Renault Megane CC was a commendable performer with adequate acceleration for freeway merging and nice assistance from the power steering (1.4 turns lock-to-lock and a 10.9-metre turning circle) for easy parking. A special mention for the all-round visibility and rear parking sensors (the latter optional on some rivals), which meant street parking was a snack – often difficult in coupe-cabrios due to small glasshouses and complex B-pillar designs.
Renault Megane Coupe-Cabriolet Challenges
Compared to the Volkswagen EOS’ turbocharged 2.0-litre engine with 155kW/280Nm, the Renault Megane CC is a tad ‘under-engined’. Renault’s turbo 2.0-litre with 125kW/270Nm (as fitted to the Laguna) might have been a better choice.
Renault Megane Coupe-Cabriolet Verdict
A major advance over the old model, the latest Renault Megane CC delivers French chic, a clever glass roof and lots of kit at a smart price.
Make no mistake, the French giant is rolling out some great cars again and this is one of them.
Renault Megane Coupe-Cabriolet The Competition
Volkswagen’s EOS is the star in this specialized segment but it’s $5,500 premium over the Renault Megane CC is considerable.
We love the Peugeot 308CC and its French style rivals the Renault Megane CC, however it’s hard to justify the Peugeot’s extra $3,500.
The Audi A3 Cabriolet exudes the hallmark Audi class and driving dynamics but at $50,500 it’s a lot more coin than the well-equipped Renault Megane CC.
