A New Sporty from Renault - The RenaultSport Megane dCi 175
Features:
Make: Renault
Model: Megane dCi 175
Origin: Braga, Portugal
Price: £18,950
Availability: Currently available
Matching Cars: Volkswagen Golf GT TDI 170, Seat Leon FR TDI, BMW 120d
Description
RenaultSport Megane range dCi 175 is a real hot diesel hatch. A thorough engineering job, that necessarily produce a hot oil-burner and a cracking engine ensures the concept works very well indeed. It comes in three and five-door guise, in base and Lux trim, from £18,950.
Performance
With dCi 175’s 0-62mph time of 8.3 seconds, it is barely faster than the existing dCi 150, and some way off the 225 petrol car’s 6.5sec time. And with diesels 265lb/ft at just 2,000rpm, the Megane has no shortage here. Floor the throttle and, after the slightest delay, you will find it pulling hard. It revs freely and is a remarkably smooth and refined hatch.
Peak power is produced at 3,750rpm but it’ll willingly and usefully go beyond that, without assaulting your ears, and is ideal for fast motoring on twisty roads.
Geared up quickly for the throttle means it responds more eagerly, with barely any more turbo lag than the petrol car, though this does mean it is more susceptible to low-speed engine shunt.
Handling and Ride
The Megane dCi 175 comes with two chassis – standard and Cup. The Cup was a different proposition entirely. First surprise was that, even though it’s stiffer than standard, the ride doesn’t seem to suffer – it’s firm, but not crashy. And into corners, not only does it turn in more keenly, but it simply feels more ‘together’.
Although a bit distant than the standard models, its the steering feels much better. The Cup also has ESP that can be fully switched off. More remarkable aspect is that when you boot it out of a tight corner, you will find there’s no torque steer. This is a complete satisfactory drive. 
Safety & Interior
The seats are a bit too high, and the handbrake is fiddly, rear space is sorely lacking and the tall gearlever controls a shift that’s slightly rubbery and long in throw. The Cup models come mostly in a fully leather interior. And for sure without the Cup’s Recaros, it feels like any other Megane.
It’s certainly a great deal better built than its predecessor Meganes. It’s also very safe, with a full five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating, and a standard stability control system. This is only switchable in the Cup version; turn it off in the standard car and it re-engages above 30mph.
Economy
Fuel economy is the hallmark of this car. In its endeavour to offer higher-mileage drivers, Renault gets better than the 225’s 33mpg. Always ready-to-pounce the Renault emissions are cleaned by a particulate filter too, so there’s no ugly black smoke clouds when you step up with the throttle. CO2 emissions come in at 172g/km – a useful reduction over the 225 petrol’s 200g/km figure, and certainly making it usefully cheaper for tax-savvy company car drivers. It is expected that the fuel saving factor should be able to offset the apparent higher looking price.