Used Renault Megane 2016-2022 review

The Renault Mégane has been around in various forms for a very long time, but it’s fair to say that – sporty Renault Sport versions aside – it’s never quite caught on with the UK buying public in the way the French firm had hoped.

This has perhaps been more to do with the quality of its rivals than any serious faults in the Mégane, because it’s always been a decent car to drive and one with its own unique style.

The fourth-generation model was launched in 2016 and ran until 2023. As well as a bold new look outside, it incorporated a sleek and high-tech interior laden with safety kit and executive toys. The car is larger – being longer, lower and wider – and considerably more sophisticated than previous Méganes.

Engines: It drives well, too, with a good range of engines that encompass a lively 128bhp 1.2-litre petrol unit and a super-quick 1.6, as well as a trio of diesel options that includes the economical 1.5-litre dCi 110 and the punchy yet abstemious 1.6 dCi 130. There’s also a higher-powered 1.6-litre diesel that combines speed with reasonably good fuel consumption. Later models were whittled down to just a 1.3-litre TCE 130 petrol and 1.5-litre dCi 115 diesel engine.

Trims and equipment: Where the Megane excels is the amount of equipment you get compared with its rivals. Even the entry-level Expression+ gets cruise control, air-con, DAB radio and Bluetooth. You also get driver’s seat height and lumbar adjustment.

The Dynamique Nav model has swish night-time ambient interior lighting, power-folding door mirrors and dual-zone climate control. You also get keyless entry, a configurable 7.0in digital display in place of analogue instruments, and a 7.0in touchscreen for the infotainment system that comes equipped with sat-nav. There are also important safety features such as a system to warn you if you drift out of your lane, auto-sensing lights and wipers, automatic headlamp dipping, rear parking sensors and speed limit display.

The GT Line Nav trim adds a sportier theme to the above, with dark-chrome door mirror casings and more aggressive bumpers outside, plus sports seats inside. Dynamique S Nav trim adds the 8.7in infotainment screen, front parking sensors and a rear-view camera; Signature Nav augments that with 18in alloy wheels, LED headlights and leather seat trim.

The range-topping GT Nav is available only in the earlier models with the sportier 1.6 205 petrol engine. A seven-speed automatic gearbox was standard, as well as more macho-looking exterior styling and sports seats inside. The rest of the specification largely mirrors that of the Dynamique S Nav model.

The entry-level 1.2-litre petrol is fine for town driving and shorter journeys, but you need to work it quite hard for motorway trips, making it rather a noisy unit. The diesel engines better suit more robust use. The 1.5-litre diesel unit has similar power to its rivals, but it feels slower in real-world driving compared with a Seat Leon 1.6 TDI 110 or Vauxhall Astra 1.6 CDTi, because the Mégane weighs more. It sounds quiet, even when worked hard, but you do feel the engine’s vibrations buzzing through the pedals.

The 1.6 130 diesel is a good fit, offering flexible performance (without being quick) and relative refinement, plus it’s a smooth runner on motorway journeys. It isn’t the most refined diesel engine in this class, and you will still get a harsh engine note if you push it hard. The more powerful version of the 1.6-litre diesel is quick but less economical and not very refined.

The range-topping 1.6-litre petrol comes in the GT Nav trim only and is matched with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. It’s a warm hatch model designed to compete with cars such as the Ford Focus ST and Peugeot 308 GTi. However, on the road, it feels a little flat and is quite thrashy when revved hard. That auto 'box changes slickly but is occasionally hesitant when changing gear manually with the steering wheel paddles.

Ride and handling: Underneath was a new platform that contributed to the car’s improved road behaviour. The Mégane is still set up on the soft side, however, and although the ride is initially comfortable the car can roll in corners and doesn’t like to be hustled around too quickly.

Interior and practicality: Inside, there’s plenty of space up front, as well as a good and adjustable driving position. Passengers in the rear will feel a little cramped behind a taller driver, though, with less leg room available than in some of the Mégane’s rivals. Likewise, the boot is a good size, but overall capacity is slightly below what is offered by the best in this class.

The interior’s a good and modern place to be, even if some of the functions controlled via the infotainment screen can be a little fiddly to use, and there’s a range of well-equipped trims to seek out.

Ultimately, the Mégane fails to make a dent in the supremacy of its rivals, but it’s a smart and desirable car that will serve many people’s needs well, and there are now quite a few on the used car market at temptingly low prices.

If you're interested in buying a used Renault Megane, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars classifieds site.

Expect a minimum figure of around £5000 for an early 2016 car with a high mileage. Spend between £6000 and £8000 on an average mileage car from a trader. Up the money to between £9000 and £11,000 and there are many good Méganes of various trims and engines from 2017. All these will be of average or below-average mileage for the year with a full history, and will often be from franchised dealers. Spend between £12,000 and £14,000 on 2018 and 2019 cars and £14,000 to £20,000 on 2020, 2021 and 2022 models, a little more for the last 2023 cars.

MPG

There’s some impressive fuel economy on offer in the Mégane range, with the 1.5 dCi claiming an average 76.4mpg in some trims under the older NEDC tests and the lower-powered 1.6 dCi averaging 70.6mpg. Even the 1.2-litre petrol manages a respectable 52.3mpg, while the sporty 1.6 petrol claims 47.1mpg, and the punchy 1.6 dCi 165 diesel averages 61.4mpg.

Under the later WLTP tests, the 1.3 petrol averaged 47.9mpg and the 1.5 diesel 62.8mpg.

Road tax

Those cars registered before April 2017 will benefit from very low annual car tax bills. Those registered after will pay the flat rate road tax, currently £180 a year.

Insurance

Insurance groupings are good for all Méganes, ranging from group 14 to 27 for the sporty petrol-engined car.

Servicing

Renault’s standard warranty is three years and 60,000 miles. When the time comes for servicing, costs should be reasonable. Minor services (which should be carried out every 12 months or 10,000 miles ) cost from £140 for petrol models or £190 for diesels.

The diesel engines better suit more robust use. The 1.6 130 diesel is a good fit, offering flexible performance (without being quick) and relative refinement, plus it’s a smooth runner on motorway journeys. It isn’t the most refined diesel engine in this class, and you will still get a harsh engine note if you push it hard, but it has decent claimed fuel economy of 70.6mpg and low CO2 emissions of 104g/km, all for only a small premium over the 1.5-litre diesel.

Where the Mégane excels is the amount of equipment you get compared with rivals. Even the entry-level Expression+ trim has cruise control, air-con, a DAB radio and Bluetooth. You also get driver’s seat height and lumbar adjustment. However, we’d suggest upgrading to Dynamique Nav. This has swish night-time ambient interior lighting, power-folding door mirrors and dual-zone climate control. You also get keyless entry, a configurable 7.0in digital display in place of analogue instruments and a 7.0in touchscreen infotainment system equipped with sat-nav. There are also important safety features such as a system to warn you if you drift out of your lane, auto-sensing lights and wipers, automatic headlight dipping, rear parking sensors and speed limit display.

Our favourite Renault Megane 1.6 dCi 130 Dynamique Nav

The Seat Leon shares much of its underpinnings with the class-leading VW Golf – and it shows. It’s great to drive, with tidy handling and a good range of punchy and efficient engines. It’s well equipped, too, and relatively cheap to buy as a used car, as well as being cheap to run.

The Golf sets the benchmark for family cars, whether in older Mk7 or newer Mk8 forms. It’s brilliant to drive, well equipped, supremely refined and comparatively cheap to run. The car has a classy quality that all of its rivals struggle to match.

If you're interested in buying a used Renault Megane, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars classifieds site.

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