New Renault Megane 2014, presentation and test drive in Palencia

Renault has renewed with small changes the model that has delivered the most sales, even in previous generations; we are talking about the Renault Megane, which is now being updated. In total, more than 1.3 million Renault Meganes have been sold.

At this presentation we were able to drive the new Renault Megane with the 1.6 dCi Energy 130 CV engine, as well as visit the Palencia factory where the Megane is built. We will tell you everything about the novelties in the range and about the factory we were able to visit.

Megane, Made in Palencia

All Megane bodies except the convertible and the MPV are manufactured at the brand’s factory in Palencia (including the Megane RS). From 1997, when production of the first generation of the Megane began, to today, with the third generation, all of them have come out of Castilla y León.

At the factory, 1,700 people work, with a car rolling off the line every 57 seconds, and in total they build 585 Meganes a day (of which, as a curiosity, 20 are the sporty model).

At the factory it became clear that they seek maximum quality, controlling the manufacturing process at several stages and verifying that all cars meet the same quality standard. Checks are carried out at intermediate stages to avoid ending up with a car that has faults, so errors are corrected during the assembly process itself.

New Renault Megane 2014

The Renault design team wants to give more prominence to the brand logo, placing it in a prominent position on the front and unifying the front end of its models. That is why the logo is now larger and has been changed on all new models from the French manufacturer.

Among the exterior changes to the new Megane, there is a new bonnet as well as new headlights and front bumper. The LEDs change position and move to the lower part. At the rear, there are no significant changes compared with the previous model.

That said, there are new wheels and new upholstery inside. The equipment levels have also been redesigned and simplified to just three: Life, GT Style and Bose.

New engines also appear: on one hand, the entry-level engine will be the 1.5 dCi 95 CV , now with a six-speed gearbox, with more power and more torque, and fuel consumption drops thanks to the sixth gear, down to 4.1 litres per 100 km (official consumption).

Another novelty is the pairing of the 1.2 TCE 130 CV petrol engine with the Renault EDC dual-clutch gearbox. This improves consumption, which now sits at 5.6 litres per 100 km, and emissions are also reduced.

The car we were able to test over more than 500 km, though mostly on motorways, was the most powerful engine in the diesel range, the new 1.6 dCi Energy 130 CV. The engine has strength and good response from low revs, but at high speeds you need to rev it higher to get the most out of it; it is precisely at high revs that you notice it is only a 1.6-litre.

Furthermore, the gearing of the six-speed gearbox is quite long, which helps consumption but not so much when it comes to making the most of the 130 CV. We really liked the suspension setup: it is firm without being uncomfortable and keeps the car very composed in any situation, something we could verify off the motorway on the roads of Castilla heading towards Palencia.

One point to improve is the interior soundproofing, quite a lot of aerodynamic noise gets in, whereas the engine is barely audible. The average consumption, at a relaxed pace and focused more on testing the car than on achieving good economy, was 5.8 litres per 100 km. This is a very indicative figure because the car was still new and unbroken in, so it is easy for it to drop considerably.

The Megane is available from 15,350 euros (without counting PIVE scheme or financing discounts) for the 1.2 TCE 115 CV petrol, or from 16,650 euros for the 1.5 dCi 95 CV diesel. With discounts the price of the car comes down to a very attractive figure, a car with adequate interior quality for its final price that also handles well on the road, with the 110 CV diesel perhaps being the best balance between performance and consumption.

For those looking for strong emotions, the Renault Megane RS with its 265 CV is always available from 28,500 euros, that is, a full sports car for under 30,000 euros.

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackRenault Megane3 versions · from 39,650 €