The Incredible Renaultsport Megane Is Now Cheaper And Even Better Than Before
Of the dizzying array of hot hatches available these days, the Renaultsport Megane remains the most driver-focused. It’s an incredible machine to get behind the wheel of, and there’s no need to add any ‘for a front-wheel drive car’ caveat: it’s stonkingly good full stop. With that in mind, we were rather happy to hear today’s Renaultsport related news: the now six-year-old RS Megane just got even better, and a whole lot cheaper.
The old 265 is gone, with all models now being ‘275’ (271bhp) spec, and there’s a new entry-level car: the ‘Cup-S’. It ditches a few creature comforts but - crucially - as it has the Cup chassis package, you get burly four-pot Brembo brakes, firmer springs and dampers, a stiffer anti-roll bar and a mechanical limited-slip differential.
The price? £23,935. Not bad considering the old 265 with a Cup chassis was nearly £27,000.
If you want something a little plusher, the 275 Nav has - as you probably gathered - a navigation system, as well as dual-zone climate control, automatic lights and wipers and rear parking sensors with a reversing camera, among other things. If you want the Cup package on this car, it’ll be a further £1350 on top of the £25,935 base price.
Our advice? Get the Cup-S, and spend the money you save on the £2000 optional Öhlins adjustable dampers. Based on our experiences with the 275 Trophy and Trophy R, that’d give you one of the finest hot hatchbacks money can buy.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
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