The Renault Mégane will return in 2023, although totally different

Not long ago we had the chance to see some statements by Laurens van den Acker, Renault’s Head of Design, who forecast a bleak future for the Renault Mégane. According to the interpretation of those words, the French manufacturer had considered withdrawing the well-known and popular compact from the brand in favour of other, more practical and better-selling models.

But, fortunately, it seems that the Renault Mégane is getting one more chance to stay in the race. A new generation of this model will arrive in 2023, as has been revealed in recent days. Thus, one of the models most often seen on roads across Europe will remain a benchmark for drivers in France and across the rest of the continent.

Possible changes to the Renault Mégane

However, although the brand still backs the model name, it is not clear that it will continue to be a compact car. The project has been approved and is called Project BFN, although it is not yet clear that it will remain the car we know today. The reasons are simple: currently there is a clear trend towards SUVs, even compact ones.

For this reason, several models with these characteristics have become compact SUVs that may be better received by potential European buyers. It should not be forgotten that a model such as the MPV Peugeot 3008 became the Peugeot 3008 SUV because of that commercial pressure, and that best-sellers such as the Volkswagen Golf are losing ground to models like the Tiguan.

That seems to be the path Renault will follow with its popular compact, which could become a compact SUV, while also keeping some of the characteristics that have made the model legendary. The new generation will be built on the CMF-C platform, which will allow for more possibilities when it comes to electric mobility.

As for traditional engines, the diesel powertrain will likely be dropped, with the focus on petrol engines. These will be the most relevant offer, alongside hybrid drivetrains. For now, it should be noted that this is not confirmed, and that the fifth generation of the Mégane may bring other surprises.

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackRenault Megane3 versions · from 39,650 €