We are with the Megane Sedan in Bodrum.
Megane Sedan is one of the models that all of you were lately waiting for impatiently.
As you know I had found an opportunity to examine this car in the Paris Motor Show last week.
But the car is standing next to me now and we will analyse it together extensively.
Come on let’s start.
First, the design of Megane Sedan.
When we look at Megane Sedan from the front we see that it has the same face as its hatchback sibling.
Renault is using its logo here very large now.
It started with Talisman and continued with Koleos and in the Megane family the same big logo and the chromium grill around it are used.
The other Renault signature now is the C form daylights that overflow towards the bumper.
We can call these details the brand characteristics of Renault now.
They may look beautiful to some and ugly to others.
In the beginning this design did not appeal to me much but presumably as my eye got used to it I started to think it is not bad at all now.
When we look at Megane Sedan from the side we see that the part up to the B column is same as its hatchback sibling but the difference starts from after here.
Naturally as this is a Sedan the roof decline here and a boot lid is formed here.
But before getting into the rear there are of course some things I have to say.
The axle span of the Megane Sedan is 2.71 meters.
In other words it definitely is a better value than its rivals in the compact sedan class.
Namely if you take the distance from the center of the two wheels and think that it is 2.71 meters, there is no rival in its class to offer this value at the moment.
But what does this mean?
It means that at the rear seats of Megane a better living space is offered than Fluence.
Let's see if this really is the case in the new Megane.
Yes, as soon as you get in here it is hard to say that it has enormous difference compared to Fluence but it certainly offers a good knee room.
You can see about 4-5 fingers knee room and the seat has been adjusted to my ideal driving position.
I am checking out the head room.
There are 3-4 fingers distance here too.
That is to say two adults can sit here in comfort.
Alright, what awaits the passenger sitting in the middle?
Let me also mention that briefly.
Nevertheless it is not too bad, the seat compared to the ones to its right and left is a bit high but I can not say that it is uncomfortable.
There is a transmission hump here, normally it is not probable to put your feet on top of it but you can place them alongside and the third passenger can sit here.
I am seeing an armrest here.
It is very good that it offers 2-3 cup holders.
This is all I will be saying about the rear seats at the moment.
We are all likeminded about Megane Sedan's front to be exactly like its hatchback sibling's.
Alright, do you see the same thing as me when you look at the rear?
In other words, I frankly don't think there will be any one that will not think that it is a small size Talisman when they look at Megane Sedan from the rear.
Because the design philosophy of Renault here has been taken one to one from Talisman and was integrated to Megane Sedan.
Especially in these tail lights we see this clearly.
As I have previously said that there is no accounting for taste but I have to say that the design of Megane Sedan is younger and more dynamic than Fluence.
If you are making your choice for compact Sedan when you are purchasing a car then it means that boot is important to you.
You know that the loading capacity of Fluence was 530 liters.
In Megane Sedan this value has been increased by 20 liters and now 550 litres loading capacity is offered.
Alright, how do you reach to the boot?
Here, there is a question mark.
Namely, when you want to open the boot from the extension there is nothing to put your hand to.
In other words, either you open it by the button at the left of the steering wheel or by this clever boot system that you buy paying extra,
hence you are able to open the boot lid while the key is still in your pocket.
However beside this, I must say that I am not very fond of opening the boot lid from the extension because you don’t always have the key in your pocket
and therefore you are forced to go to the steering wheel to open the boot.
Okay, what kind of loading capacity does this place have?
As I have mentioned before there is a 550 liters loading capacity offered here.
This is a very good value and due to this wide loading bay you are able to load large articles here easily.
After talking about the design and practicality of the car it is time to find the driving features that you are curious about.
Let's begin.
At last I am behind the steering wheel of Megane Sedan.
Believe me I want to test the Megane as much as you do.
I got the chance today and here I am.
Before the driving features let me give you briefly some information on the interior design of this car.
In the center of the mid-console 8.7 inches vertical multimedia screen has been placed.
Do not think that it is standard because even at the top equipment level icon it has 7 inches horizontal multimedia screen here.
I have to mention that you have to pay extra for this screen.
This system that Renault calls R-LINK 2 software does not work very fast.
Its resolution is not very high but you are able to reach all the menus by this touch screen.
In other words it is possible to reach and implement the navigation, music system, A/C controls as well as indicator panel adjustments.
The indicator panel is digital and you can select various themes and can use according to your pleasure.
I like the standard black, white and red color rev counter and digital speedo meter.
The others seem like toys to me.
But this type of color options presented may be liked by some users.
In the matter of small items cubicles the interior of Megane Sedan is not bad.
There is a large area in the middle of the gear lever.
Behind the gear lever there are two cup holders under sliding lid and by this piece here you can enlarge or reduce this place.
The armrest is an acceptable size.
The outstanding situation here is that the glove compartment is quite large.
The front seats are comfortable and hugs you very well and you are able to drive in comfort.
The quality of the materials used is not bad at all.
Soft plastics are used at the top but just as in all the brands in this class you encounter hard plastic when you reach below.
The viewing angles of the Megane Sedan is quite good.
You do not encounter any bother in the front.
Now by this head up display being offered optionally you are able to follow your speed from this glass screen in front of you.
I can not be optimistic about the rear view
because as well as the baffle board being a bit high the third tail lamp is a bit projecting
therefore when you look from the rear view mirror the rear view is a bit restricted.
You feel this not only when you drive but also when manoeuvring but if you have rear view camera than this is not a problem.
Let us consider the engine and the driving features of Megane Sedan.
It is offered with 2 different petrol engine alternatives.
One of them is the entry level 1.6 litres unit.
This engine is naturally aspirated and develops 115 HP and is offered with only manual gearbox.
The other petrol engine is 1.2 litres and is turbo charged, it develops 130 HP.
This engine is sold now with only EDC automatic gearbox
But this engine will have a 6-speed manual gearbox alternative in 2017.
Allright what is there in the diesel engine side. Let me tell you about it briefly too.
The famous 1.5 litres diesel engine that is used in Renault-Nissan models are naturally used in this car too.
In the entry level it has 90 HP with only 6 speed manual gearbox.
But 110 HP version can be purchased with auto as well as manual gearbox.
In the top of the diesel front there is a 1.6 liter engine which develops 130 HP and can be purchased with only 6 speed manual gearbox.
Under the bonnet of the Megane Sedan I am testing now there is an 1.5 litres engine that develops 110 HP and 250 Nm of torque.
I have tested this engine previously in many Renault and Nissan models I can say that it is an engine I am familiar with.
I clearly like this engine with traction features as well as frugal potential.
It works in harmony with the 6 speed EDC double clutch automatic gearbox.
You do not encounter any bother in normal driving and if you wish you are able to change to manual from the gear level.
On highway performance neither the engine nor the gearbox stir up any trouble.
The passes of the gearbox is smooth and fast. The engine answers your wishes well.
The passes of the gearbox is not bad in other words ultimately it is not as fast as DSG but it is extremely jerk-free, smooth and reasonably fast.
But as I have said in my previous tests this EDC gearbox in the city traffic or on inclines get confused and acts coy on upshifting.
The rev increases and gear changes become jerky.
Apart from that it satisfy the expectations.
Even though the suspension settings are firmer than the Fluence it replaces, it definitely is not uncomfortable.
Especially on this type of road.
But on rough surfaces compared to the Fluence you feel the firmness.
In the matter of the insulation it is apparent that an improvement has been implemented because this cockpit is much more silent than the Fluence’s.
There is not much I can say about the steering system. It is a classical Renault steering we are accustomed to.
It is electrically supported and does give you much sensation but answers guide commands well.
For example in this of cornering it answers your wishes but you do not get any message from the front.
We know that there are models with much better steering systems in this class and one of them is Ford Focus Sedan.
In Megane Sedan you can select driving modes just as in Talisman.
Its short way is placed just behind the gear lever.
By pressing this button you are able to choose between sport and comfort apart from those this car has Eco, Neutral and Perso modes too.
In this short togetherness with Megane Sedan I usually preferred the normal mode Neutral
but at the moment I have chosen the Comfort mode so that the massage specialty comes to be active and your comfort increases
Megane Sedan possesses the comfort and performance expectations of standard driver.
Finally let us consider the fuel consumption of Megane Sedan.
I have been driving around Bodrum for half a day and covered about 100 km mostly on clear traffic.
At the moment the trip computer indicates to me 6.5 liters fuel consumption averages.
In this short period the consumption is not an actual value of course and I keep saying this.
But the value indicated to me is this and I share it with you.
What I will tell you about Megane Sedan is this much.
I hope you liked it.
If you see anything lacking or have anything in your mind that needs answering please do not hesitate to leave it as a comment under the video
I will try to answer all that I can.
Megane Sedan with its more dynamic design is one up on the Fluence it replaced.
I can say that due to CMF-CD modular platform its driving features are more refined.
Megane Sedan is sold between 62.000 TL and 96.000 TL.
I can say that the prices are competitive.
Consequently Fluence was one of the best selling models of Renault and if you ask me the new Megane Sedan definitely has features to continue the tradition
See you...