Review of the new Renault Megane Coupe-Cabriolet 2.0T

Everybody is getting on board the coupe-cabriolet bandwagon these days but the results are decidedly mixed. Some manufacturers trade good looks for a boot big enough to fold the roof into and others seem to think that the roof itself will sell the car and skimp on the chassis dynamics. It's good to see one manufacturer taking a more measured approach to the issue. If you want an affordable coupe cabriolet with a dose of pace and looks that won't scare children, Renault's Megane Coupe-Cabriolet 2.0T is a prime choice.

Packing 165bhp from the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine lurking beneath its stubby bonnet, the Megane CC 2.0T is usefully quick off the mark. Yes, your acceleration will be blunted by the fact that you're lugging a whole heap of electric motors up the Queen's highway with you but nevertheless a sprint to 60mph in 8.6 seconds is not to be sniffed at for a vehicle of this ilk. Do it with the hood down and you'd swear it was even quicker, the turbocharger whooshing purposefully as it comes on stream. Given its head, this Megane will run on to a top speed of 136mph.Crucially (for Renault) the Megane manages to pip its 180bhp Peugeot 307CC rival in the sprinting stakes and also manages to offer superior fuel consumption and emissions figures to boot. Factor in a price saving of around £1,500 and it looks an open and shut case in favour of the Megane.

The 2.0T engine is one that Renault have spread liberally across their range and with good reason. Found in Meganes, Lagunas, Espaces, Scenics and once even in the Vel Satis executive cruiser, it's a very impressive installation. The Megane features a strut to reduce vibrations and a revised manifold to give a sporting engine note on the overrun. Fitted to the Megane CC, it emits 189g/km of carbon dioxide and can return a combined fuel consumption figure of 35.7mpg. As you might expect from a turbocharged engine, the throttle response is a little elastic but get used to it and it's possible to take advantage of that surge of torque when the turbo comes on stream to effect some devastating overtaking manoeuvres. Although still far from an outright sportster, the Megane Coupe-Cabriolet 2.0T nevertheless proves an entertaining steer, the thicker rear anti roll bar keeping things flat through corners and the firmer springs and dampers providing decent body control and feedback.

"The 2.0T engine is one that Renault have spread liberally across their range and with good reason"

Two mainstream trim levels are offered. Dynamique, looks set to be by far the most popular, offering a sporting look and feel. Standard equipment includes climate control with pollen filter, cruise control with a speed limiter, a 60 watt CD stereo, a leather trimmed steering wheel, 17" alloy wheels and gear knob and Ruche charcoal grey cloth trim. The Privilege swells the standard equipment list to the tune of beige leather trim, a dash-mounted six CD multichanger, hands-free Renault Card system and electrically folding door mirrors. It also features standard ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) with ASR traction control and CSV understeer control. The alternative is the Dynamique S special edition models with full dark carbon leather upholstery, metallic paint, the same 17" 'Jarsalle' alloy wheels as featured on the GT hatch models, plus chromed roof arches to accentuate the car's roofline and dark grey headlamp surrounds.

The Megane's Coupe-Cabriolet moniker may have Peugeot gnashing their teeth in frustration and although their 307CC will fight directly with the pretty Megane, the Renault appears to have edged the gee-whiz stakes. With the roof in place, few would finger the Renault as a drop top. Although the Mercedes SLK, the Peugeot 206CC and the Mercedes SL all featured folding hard tops first, the Renault's dome is yet more sophisticated. The glass roof has been developed by Karmann and takes a mere 22 seconds to fold in on itself, secreted in a cassette in the boot. No latches need to be undone to expedite this process, a button on the centre console taking care of everything. The actual glass itself is 4mm thick Venus 35 glass and features excellent thermodynamic and acoustic properties. It features a heated rear window and it also eliminates the usual ageing worries associated with soft tops. What's more, it's impressively thief and vandal proof.

Today's Megane Coupe Cabriolet looks slightly different to the vehicle that first hit the showrooms in 2003 thanks to a mid-term facelift. More observant members of the public might spot elongated, sleeker headlamps and alterations to the grille which see everything come together in a 'V' shape either side of a more prominent Renault badge at the front. Inside, the instrument binnacle features chrome-ringed dials with white background lighting.

Luggage space is a class-leading 490 litres with the roof in place, but take this figure with a pinch of salt. Much of this is earmarked for the roof cassette and with the roof folded down you'll only get a meagre 190 litres to play with. Equipment levels are respectable for a mid-range cabriolet. The electric door mirrors, the four electric windows, with one-touch opening, the anti-draught nets and safety hoops, covered with soft foam, contribute to operating comfort. There are several stowage spaces, including a refrigerated 17-litre glove box which is automatically locked whenever the doors are locked, to protect its contents from theft.

Passenger accommodation comes in the shape of provides four proper seats and interior space which is considerable for a car of this ilk. In the front, the lowered position of the seats ensures comfortable headroom in coupe configuration. The slope of the windscreen has been designed to provide the front seat passengers with maximum space and to reduce what designers dub "cap effect". This is the feeling that the windscreen header rail is intruding on your peripheral vision, masking the view of the road ahead, especially on typically undulating country roads. In the back, the headroom, the knee clearance and the available width are among the best in the class. In addition, access to the back seats is made easier by the position-memory of the front seat slides and seat backs.

The Megane Coupe-Cabriolet 2.0T is quick, sleek, aggressively priced and comes complete with a decent array of equipment. Together this combination puts it at the forefront of the affordable convertible market which, it has to be said, has been a mixed bag to date. If Renault can avoid the reliability problems that have plagued many coupe-convertible models, the Megane 2.0T should sweep all before it.