Renault Megane II RenaultSport dCi 175

What we liked
>> Refined muscular diesel
>> Boy-racer stance (and those gunmetal grey wheels!)
>> Practical five-door hatch beginnings

Not so much
>> Why not RS-tuned stability control system as per petrol cars
>> Cup version is unlikely to come Down Under (there goes those wheels!)
>> Up for replacement soon

Overall rating: 3.5/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 3.5/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 3.5/5.0
Safety: 3.5/5.0
Behind the wheel: 4.0/5.0
X-factor: 3.5/5.0

About our ratings

Coming Down Under later this year, the Megane RenaultSport dCi 175 couples la Regie's hot-shoe Golf-segment hot hatch chassis with a newly-developed, muscular 2.0-litre turbodiesel powerplant.

The same direct-injection common-rail powerplant that will debut locally in the new Laguna (look out for our Aussie launch review soon), the 2.0-litre is an altogether more modern and muscular engine than that which features in the previous single local Megane oiler offering -- the 1.9 dCi sedan. Indeed, with 127kW (175hp hence the name) and 360Nm at its disposal, the new engine all but matches the muscle of the Laguna GT (131kW/400Nm) and comprehensively outguns the 1.9-litre cooking model's 96kW/300Nm. And though the Megane 225's turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol powerplant beats the dCi in terms of power (165-168kW depending on model), even it is 20Nm behind in terms of torque.

As an added advantage, the dCi records an impressive 6.5L/100km (combined) according to Euro fuel economy testing.

The Carsales Network was able to get behind the wheel of a Cup version of the RS dCi on its home roads southwest of Paris near RenaultSport's headquarters at Viry-Chatillon. Though the drive impressions won't literally translate to 'our' version of the dCi, it was enough to be able to suggest the French marque could have a minor cult hot hatch hit on its hands.

In France you can purchase the RS dCi in both three and five-door body styles and in standard and Cup variants. Down Under we'll likely be limited to five-door, non-Cup only.

The bad news is the non-Cups don't get the sweet gunmetal grey wheels of the car we drove (see photos) -- nor the racier (better?) suspension, xenon headlamps and some other goodies. The good news, however, is that Renault Australia is aiming to position the non-Cup dCi above the $37,990 three-door Megane RS 225 but below the turbo petrol 225 five-door ($42,490) and 225 Cup ($44,490). Equipment levels are expected to echo the 225.

That will place the dCi at around the same price as the DSG-equipped Golf GT TDI. Given that vehicle features the same race-road-ready suspension as the Golf GTI, the competition should be fierce.

From the seat of the pants we reckon the RS might be a tad quicker. There's no doubt the Renault's balance-shaft equipped turbodiesel engine is more refined and revs more freely than the VW's 125kW unit.

Built on the same line as the Megane 225s at RenaultSport's Dieppe production facility on the Normandy coast, northwest of Paris, the dCi features the same chassis and suspension enhancements as the petrol models. Front suspension rates have been retuned for the heavier diesel powerplant, but save for dumping the limited slip differential (only fitted to the R26 anyway), the running gear is largely unchanged.

The other major difference is electronic. Unlike the petrol RS Meganes, the stability control system on the non-Cup version of the dCi cannot be completely switched off and does not feature launch control. Another reason to opt for the Cup, Renault Australia?

On official figures the dCi is considerably slower off the line than its petrol stablemate (8.3sec 0-100km/h, versus 6.5) but its big torque numbers augur well for in-gear performance. Overseas testing has the RS dCi beating the 225 soundly in fourth-gear roll-ons from 55-75mph (95-115km/h).

Certainly on the winding French country lanes towards the Abbaye des Vaulx de Cernay and back to Marcoussis (near the historic banked circuit of Montlhery), the muscular midrange of the oiler impressed. There was none of the breathlessness that some turbodiesels exhibit, nor was there the nose-heaviness present in many diesel hatches.

We were also impressed with the feel and feedback from the dCi's steering which directly translated to an ability to accurately place the car on the narrow lanes.

Though it must be said we were far from driving at ten-tenths, our RenaultSport chaperones swear noir et bleu that the dCi matches its 225 Cup stablemates when it comes to point-to-point blasts. Only at elevated speeds (over 200km/h) does the petrol car stretch a noticeable gap on the dCi, they claim. In the police state that is Australia, that's hardly going to worry anyone.

As noted above, our time behind the wheel of the Megane II RenaultSport dCi 175 was very limited so we'll leave the drive impression there. Suffice to say, we'll look forward to significantly more time behind the wheel when the car arrives in October this year.

Yes, alas, at this stage it's going to take that long for the car to arrive. Thus it looks likely the dCi will also take the honour of being the ultimate RenaultSport version of the Megane II to go on sale in Australia.

With Renault's B-segment hatch to be replaced with what's tipped to be a much more mainstream-styled Megane III by year end in Europe, the RenaultSport versions won't be too far away. Even allowing for lag, expect the new car to arrive here by the middle of next year. Whether that range also includes a dCi will largely depend on you...

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