This fourth generation Renault Megane is the most evolutionary update Renault has ever given its family hatchback. The company plays things safer these days, aiming to avoid controversy and instead give buyers the sort of conservative solidity that makes the Volkswagen Golf so consistently popular. There’s no backside-based advertising tomfoolery this time around.

The body is quite stunning – far better in real life than it photographs – but the interior doesn’t quite follow suit. It does get better depending on how much you pay, though. A Megane in Dynamique+ spec or above is furnished with a delightful (and massive) 8.7-inch touchscreen in portrait orientation, similar to the one you’ll find in a Volvo XC90 or a Tesla. And unlike so many infotainment screens, this one is both pretty and easy to use.

Lower level Megane models make do with a smaller touchscreen, and the most basic get plain old-fashioned buttons. Imagine that. Thankfully the Megane gets the basics right. It has a highly adjustable seat and wheel, clear switchgear and low running costs. There’s a sense of solidity and quality inherent in the Megane that’s easily a match for the SEAT Leon – a family hatch that the Megane surpasses on the tech front too.

Options like a full colour head-up display, the aforementioned giant touchscreen, and four-wheel steering are things that a SEAT owner could only dream about, if he or she were so inclined. And even without that stuff, the entire driving experience is as refined and generally serene as you’d expect in a car the class above.

 

The range of engines is a demonstration of the gains being made generally in fuel efficiency – even the 205PS turbo engine of the GT model, which gets the car to 62mph in 7.1 seconds, emits just 134g/km of CO2. The 1.5-litre and 1.6-litre dCi units both put out just 96g/km CO2, returning averages of 76.4mpg and 68.9mpg respectively.

And so, equipped with one of the diesels, and with a specification that includes the fancy media system, the Megane makes for a very reasonably priced hatchback with a modern look and feel. A solid car and a solid investment – very much like a Golf, but without being a Volkswagen.

The Megane offers relatively competitive CO2 emissions, whichever engine you choose. The most popular version for company car buyers will be the 1.5 dCi 110 that comes in under the magic 100g/km of CO2. However, its emissions are still bettered by rivals.

Leasing the Megane can work out more expensive per month than the rivals, too, but if you are a private buyer, PCP finance is very competitive.

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.

However, we’d suggest upgrading to the Dynamique Nav model. 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 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. We’d add the optional automatic emergency city braking to that lot as well.

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 with the sportier 1.6 205 petrol engine. A seven-speed automatic gearbox is 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.