Auto Express – July 30, 2019

78 SpecialIssue http://www.autoexpress.co.uk

Powerhikeand chassis upgradeshelp sporty

French hatchback pack evenmoreofapunch

THERenaultMéganeR.S.rangehasfourvariants:thestandard276bhp

modelandthis296bhpvariant,bothinmanualandautomaticforms.

Themanualboxismoreofanenthusiast’schoice,andmatchesthe

manual-onlyCivic,soit’sthisversionoftheTrophythatwe’retesting.

It’seasytospotthankstoitsunique19-inchalloyswithredaccents

andthestandard-fitR.S.-specificleatherandAlcantarasteeringwheel,

butthemainchangesareundertheskin.Ithasanextra20bhpand

10Nmoftorque,whilethere’salsoanupgradedexhaust,andtheCup

chassis(optionalonthestandardR.S.)isincluded,featuringalimited-

slipdifferentialandstiffersuspension.Thecarcostsfrom£31,835.

Mégane

vs Civic

HEAD-TO-HEADTEST

Renault Sport’slatest Mégane R.S.

takes on ourreigning hothatch

champ,the Honda CivicType R

ANEWversionofaRenaultSporthothatchisalways

exciting.Overtheyears,theFrenchmanufacturerhasbuilt

areputationforcontinuallyimprovingitscarsintheirlifetime.

ThishappenedwiththeoriginalClioRenaultSportTrophy, as

wellastheMéganeR26.RandthepreviousMéganeTrophy-R.

SothearrivaloftheTrophyversionofthislatestMéganeR.S.

isbignews.Whilethestandardmodelwasn’tabletobeatthe

HondaCivicTypeRinourfirsttest,thisRenaultMéganeR.S.

300Trophyhasevenmorepowerandafocusedchassis,and

hasitssightssetfirmlyonthemightyCivicTypeR.Herewe’ll

findoutwhichmodelisthemostthrillinghothatchback.

FORANDAGAINST

For:Lively engine, chassis is excellentwhen

pushed hard, muscular but reservedlooks

Against:Doesn’t have the Honda’s

breadth of ability,notchygearshift

WHATWELOVE

RenaultMégane

R.S.300Trophy

Price:£31,835

Engine:1.8-litre4cylpetrol

Power/torque:296bhp/400Nm

Transmission:Six-speedmanual,front-wheeldrive

0-60mph/topspeed:5.8seconds/162mph

Testeconomy:33.3mpg

CO 2 /tax:183g/km/£145

Options:Metallicpaint(£1,300),BOSEstereo

(£800),Reversingcamera(£400),Visiosystem

pack(£250),RecaroSportspack(£1,500)

Renault

Mégane R.S.

FIGURES

Noise

The Mégane’s punchyengine

sounds great; there’sapleasing

induction note and the exhaust

pops, giving plenty of personality

Length/wheelbase:4,372/2,669mm

Height/width:1,445/1,874mm

Boot(seatsup/down):384/1,247litres

ROADTESTS RenaultMéganeR.S.vsHondaCivicTypeR