Renault's Porsche-bothering hatchback
Top speed: 147mph. 0-62mph: 6.0 secs. Engine: 1,998cc, turbocharged. Power: 222bhp @ 5,550rpm.
The Renault Megane R26 is one of the best hot hatches ever, says Matt Prior in Autocar. And the R26R, the latest, lighter model, is even more special. So much so that the magazine couldn't think of a hot hatch that could rival it. So they tested it instead against the Porsche Cayman S, which costs about double the Megane's £22,990. The Porsche is "a gorgeous machine" and "brilliant" to drive. But "in a day's nip and tuck driving", the Renault kept the Porsche in sight all the time and, even in "mucky" conditions, could carry as much speed through a corner.
The key question is, is it as much fun to drive as the Porsche? The answer has to be no. "Just." But given that the Porsche is a pedigree sports car and the Renault a much cheaper hatchback, it's "a heck of an achievement" to come that close. At 23 grand, "there has rarely been such a brilliant sports car".
Evo magazine agrees. The car won the magazine's "Real World Car of the Year award", up against rivals from BMW and Alfa Romeo, and came a respectable fourth in its ultimate "Car of the Year" showdown, seeing off supercars such as the Aston Martin V8 Vantage and threatening the likes of the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 and Nissan GT-R.
The Renault was the "unquestionable hero" of all the tests, says Evo. On a pure "price to pace" ratio, the "hot Megane would have been a runaway winner". Despite the humdrum family-hatch interior, it still "feels special" from the moment you climb into its bucket seats. It's also surprisingly civilised and rounded for what is basically a road-ready rally car.
