Another stylish offering from French company

The Renault Megane GT Line coupe is essentially a sports version of the Megane coupe that borrows a lot in terms of style from its more powerful and more serious stable mate, the Megane RS. This road test is on the new Megane three-door coupe GT Line, powered by Renault's 1.5 DCI diesel. The new style is fresh and contemporary. It is also distinctive and manages to look elegant. The alloys look good and the sweeping curves of the coupe look well. The rear mimics that of the more powerful RS car with a rear diffuser and stylish lights. The cabin is a real revelation. The layout is clean and concise, while the materials feel top class. The fit and finish of everything are beyond reproach and the sound ergonomics of the design means everything is easily used. There are a variety of trims and finishes to suit your taste. The driving position is good, with height adjustment for both the seat and steering wheel, allowing one to get the best seating position possible. Standard equipment is comprehensive, with multiple airbags, ABS, ESP, EBD, power windows, remote key card entry with push-button start, Bluetooth climate control, multi-function steering wheel, half leather upholstery, CD/MP3 disc player, and much more. The car on test is the TomTom edition of the GT Line coupe. This edition, of course, comes equipped with a fully integrated satellite navigation system. Accommodation up front is fine though, it's a tight fit in the rear, if you can bend and twist enough to get in. The boot is practical and a decent size too, for a coupe. The 1.5 turbo diesel engine is a real revelation. It is a gem. Producing some 110bhp, it proves quite lively, refined and frugal. Performance is good at about 12 seconds to 100kmh from a standstill but more importantly mid-range torque is impressive, making for good overtaking and in-gear acceleration. This lovely engine is mated to a smooth six-speed gearbox, and over the test period, the GT Line Megane burned just 6.1 litres of diesel per 100km, giving it a mighty range of almost 1,000km between refuels. Road tax is just €104. The set-up of the new GT Line is good, offering a good balance between comfort and handling. The car feels nimble and agile through corners. It is actually good fun to drive, with sure-footed handling, high levels of refinement and great comfort. Time at the wheel of the new GT Line Megane was enjoyable. It looks and drives well, is economical and is well equipped. With the heavy discounting that is part of Renault's marketing campaigns, residuals could be a concern - but Renault has lovely cars on offer at excellent prices! The Megane coupe starts at €19,500 for the 1.6 petrol. The new Megane GT Line coupe as tested here costs c€23,500.