2019 Renault Megane DCI 1.5 turbo diesel from Turkey
Summary:
Very comfy for passengers, but not a "driver's car" at all
Faults:
Nothing went wrong as I had it as a rental and did about 2500 with it.
General Comments:
The general feeling is very positive.
I like:
- Sound proofing: although not the best maybe, but a huge step forward compared to Renault's of 10-15 years ago.
- Suspension comfort: That was a huge surprise in the positive meaning of the term. Very smooth all around, comfy particularly on potholes and bump. However, you need to get to adjust your speed otherwise it's going to overreact. It's not firm and smooth, it's just smooth.
- Auto transmission: Good overall on gear selection and operation. However, it's my feeling that you need to adapt a certain driving manner in stop and go traffic, otherwise you may have your clutch prematurely worn out.
- General fit and finish: Again, a real step forward compared to previous Renaults, however not the best around. That said, much more than acceptable.
- Steering: Extremely light below 30 kph, harder above. Very light while parking.
I don't like:
- Suspension: Very comfy, but might be concerning if you tend to drive sporty. Going over a bump or through a pothole on a fast curve may result in a sensible modification of your line.
- Steering: Light, easy but feeling less.
- Driving position: Apart the latest Peugeot 508, I am really hopeless about finding a French car that I would recommend for its driving position. To me, the steering wheel does not go down enough, always too high. If I level up the seat higher, I cannot see the top section of the instrument cluster. Plus, when I'm high up the seat, I feel as if I am too high above the ground, like almost driving a minivan. If I lower the seat, the wheel is too high. Plus, on top of that the instrument cluster is positioned on an incline so that you really have to look at it from high up for best visibility. Also, like older Renaults, the steering wheel is a bit inclined which forces you to sit higher... An altogether no, no, no.
It took more than 20 years for French manufacturers to find out how and where to install the electric windows and mirror buttons; some day they are going to get their facts together to design a correct seating position.
Conclusion: I travelled on a very few instances in a Renault Megane 4 as a passenger before, but that was the first time I drove one. I really appreciate this car better as a passenger than as a driver.
I won't really comment about infotainment, and such as the only function that I used was the Bluetooth phone connection for calls and listening to music.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 15th January, 2021
26th Jan 2021, 03:39
I am 46 and still prefer sitting lower, although getting in and out becomes a bit acrobatic at times. Try the latest 508, lower the seat as much as possible, pull back the seat as much as possible, then pull the steering wheel towards you as much as possible and that's it. I do not want to look at the road towards high up, but to have a sight parallel to the road and always look as far away as possible. Then I am not interested on what's going on at the edge of my bumper.
26th Jan 2021, 04:33
Also, I should add, to me the seating position is not about age, but is about how you want to perceive the road ahead of you. Really, unconsciously, sitting higher and having to "look down" to the instruments and an inclined steering wheel invites you to look down more at the edge of the hood than far ahead. That's first.
Second, driving as if you were sitting on your desk is not an ideal and relaxed position to me.
And all this is amplified with the fact that the seating is higher from the ground compared to cars of 15-20 years ago, pushed by the safety regulations and the aim of the constructors to extract a maximum length of habitat from a given length of wheelbase.
24th Jan 2021, 19:01
Renault used to have inspiring driving cars. Sad to see they are getting more ordinary. As for the driving position, there are two types of persons: younger males prefer sitting lower to the floor (a little like in a sports car) while older persons maybe at 40 or more, like sitting higher. It is actually a preference. Being tall, I found sitting higher, my legs stay in a more natural posture and my lower back feels more relaxed.