New Renault Megane RS Trophy & Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR vs Honda Civic Type R

Behind the wheel

Driving position, visibility, build quality

Inside, the main difference between the TCR and lesser Golf GTIs is that the trademark tartan seat fabric has been swapped for something less retro. The seats themselves are the most conventional here, making them comfortable on long journeys and easy to get in and out of but not ideal for fast driving.

Climbing into the front seats of the Civic and Mégane is harder, due to their heavy bolstering. But once settled, you’re held tightly in place through corners and still remain free from aches and pains even after a few hours at the wheel.

However, the Mégane’s driving position won’t appeal to everyone, because its seat base is angled up towards the front of the car in a way that makes it feel as if you’re in a really supportive deck chair. Fortunately, the £1500 Recaro buckets go some way towards solving this – and look sensational. 

Overall, the Golf feels plushest, mainly because of the tactile plastics and sense of solidity that it inherits from the everyday Golf. 

It also gives you the best all-round visibility, thanks to its comparatively large windows, with these backed up by front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera. The Civic also gets these features, but the Mégane makes do with rear sensors alone.

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