Renault Megan Sports Tourer

Those want something that drives better than an MPV but need more space than a sedan might do well to look at the Renault Sport Tourer

What's New
In a word, everything. This is the first time an estate version of the new Megane saloon has been available in Singapore and slots in next to the bigger 2.0-litre Renault Laguna estate.

The Sports Tourer shares the same platform as the rest of the new Megane family (saloon, three and five door hatch and Coupé-Cabriolet) and also comes with the same 16 valve 1.6-litre engine as the saloon and hatch versions. According to Renault, the Sports Tourer shares 80 per cent of its components with the saloon. Extended bodywork accounts for the major changes.

With the Megane getting a top five-star rating in the respected NCAP Euro crash tests, the Sports Tourer also comes with a top pedigree in safety, which should be a strong selling point for the car.

How it Performs
The Sport's Tourer's four-cylinder engine won't set any driver's pulse racing like the superfast Megane RS. It is a quiet unit though, which takes a while to wind up to speed from standstill.

Still, the elastic characteristics of the 16V powerplant, which features variable inlet valve timing, certainly give it a relaxed, endearing nature once you become accustomed to it and realise what the nature of this car is all about - a refined and reasonably economical load carrier with great suspension for comfortable long distance hauls up north with a car full of people.

The Sport Tourer only comes with a four-speed proactive auto box, unlike the saloon which also has the option of a five-speed manual. Doubtless a manual gear may stir more life into the 115bhp engine, but in all honesty the 4-speed ratios of the auto are well spaced enough. On kick-down the engine's output is well muted.

The most responsive part of the engine lies in the 4,000 - 5,500rpm range, which is just what is needed for overtaking on long hauls up to the likes of KL or beyond.

The Sports Tourer offers sure-footed handling combined with a great suspension that combines good ride comfort without trading off for a floating ride around corners. The only criticism would be a somewhat rubbery feel to the steering, which doesn't impair the nimbleness of the chassis. With the rear seats folded down, storage capacity is increased to 1,600 litres, which makes this a perfect cross-over vehicle for either business or family trips.

The interior of the Sports Tourer is uniquely Gallic in appearance, with a well thought-out driving position that offers good comfort for long stints behind the wheel. The simplicity and clean look of the instrument panel is something more manufacturers should take note of: a large, easy to read speedometer on the left and equally visible white-on-black rev-counter on the right make everything easy to digest with just a quick glance, instead of having to learn the rudiments of more complicated layouts found on some other cars.

How it Stacks Up
No other estate car in this class offers the same levels of safety as the Sports Tourer. With a total of six airbags (front driver and passenger, front and rear curtain bags on each side) and the same programmed deformation zones on the bodywork as the 5 star NCAP winner, the Megane Hatch, the estate version offers great value for money for this level of security and degree of practicality.

Technical Specifications

MODEL Renault Megan Sports Tourer ENGINE Engine: 1,598cc 16v in-line four cylinder Max Power: 115bhp @ 6,000rpm Max Torque: 152Nm @ 4,200rpm TRANSMISSION 4-speed automatic TOP SPEED 180 kmh 0-100km/h 13.2s