Renault Megane Sedan – global model for 30 countries

Renault has released more info and images of its new Megane Sedan, first seen in July. The booted version of the fourth-generation Megane is simply called Megane Sedan this time around – no more Fluence, as we know the outgoing car here.

The Megane Sedan will be made at Renault’s Bursa plant in Turkey for the world, almost 30 countries to be precise. Algeria, Australia, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldovia, Morocco, Oman, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tunisia, Ukraine and the UAE are the markets listed. If you were looking out for Malaysia, sorry. But since there are right-hand drive markets in the list, we might yet see it here in the future.

Designed and developed in tandem with the Megane hatch and estate, the Megane Sedan sits on the same Renault-Nissan Alliance CMF C/D architecture as its siblings, and larger cars such as the Espace crossover, Talisman sedan and new Koleos SUV.

Measuring 4,632 mm long and 1,814 mm wide, with a very long wheelbase of 2,711 mm, this is one very handsome C-segment sedan with nice proportions. Contributing factors are the car’s low height (1,443 mm), low ground clearance (136 mm) and the widest tracks in the class.

Renault is also proud of the car’s large 550-litre boot (achieved at no cost to the looks) and “coupe-like silhouette”. Chrome detailing on the grille, side mouldings, door window strips, door handles and exhaust tailpipes adorn high spec variants. Wheel sizes go up to 18 inches in diameter, like the car you see here. Renault says that the panoramic sliding glass roof is a class first; it improves aesthetics too. Speaking of looks, the car’s front and rear light signatures will not be mistaken for anything else out there.

The dashboard is as per the hatch, dominated by the same optional portrait-format 8.7 inch capacitive touchscreen (with pinch-to-zoom functionality) for the R-Link 2 infotainment system. Also offered is a 7.0-inch TFT LCD instrument display, a colour head-up display and a Multi-Sense system with five driving modes.

Already available in the Espace and Talisman, Multi-Sense allows users to personalise their driving experience by modifying the accelerator pedal and engine response, adjusting the speed of the gearshifts (only for the EDC auto), controlling the weight of the steering and modifying the cabin ambience lighting. There’s also a retractable colour head-up display and foot-detecting auto boot opening.

Renault says that the frames of the dual-density foam seats are the same as those used in the larger Espace and Talisman. Heated front seats and massage function for the driver’s chair are available.

The engine range starts from the SCe 115, a 1.6 litre naturally aspirated unit with 115 hp and 156 Nm, paired to either a five-speed manual or Nissan’s Xtronic CVT automatic. Moving up, there’s the Energy TCe 130 EDC. This combo is made up of a 1.2 litre turbo engine with 130 hp and 205 Nm, mated to a 6MT or seven-speed EDC dual clutch automatic.

There are three dCi diesel engines – 90 hp/220 Nm (6MT), 110 hp/260 Nm (6MT or six-speed EDC with 250 Nm) and a high-tech 1.6 litre with 130 hp and 320 Nm, which is manual-only.

The French carmaker says that it has struck the balance between comfort and dynamic handling, and that significant work has gone into ensuring vertical damping and acoustic comfort performance is at the best level.

Unlike the Euro-centric, Golf-fightng Megane hatch, the sedan is a global player and has to withstand the unique conditions and weather in each of the almost 30 countries it will be sold in. To ensure reliability, the car was put through 276,000 km on Renault’s test tracks in conditions designed to accelerate ageing, in addition to tests already carried out on the hatchback. That’s the equivalent of 828,000 km of real-life use, Renault claims. 24 vehicles covered more than one million km in order to detect any potential issues.

Combined with the road tests, the EDAU test procedure (tests of functional and visual durability) simulates three years of vehicle use by repeatedly performing the following actions: getting into and out of the car and adjusting the seats, raising and lowering the windows, clipping and unclipping the seat belts, changing gear, opening and closing the doors and tailgate, washing and cleaning, and climatic chamber tests.

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