Alternative review of Renault Megane Coupe Cabriolet

Here in the UK, most convertibles are summer cars. As soon as the first rays of spring shimmer across the dew-laden grass dealerships throughout the land shift that long-forgotten soft-top to a more prominent position on their forecourts. Car buyers awake from their winter slumber when avoiding the unforgiving elements is the top priority and stride confidently into the light. This year will be the year they throw caution to the wind and buy a convertible. There's something about a bit of sun that stirs the blood of the British motorist and evokes a dormant desire to drive a car without a roof. Unfortunately, when Renault's Megane Coupe Cabriolet arrived for a week-long test it was the middle of a particularly wet spell and I was battling a particularly persistent cold. At that time, experiencing the wind-in-your-hair thrills of open-top motoring did not feature highly on my to-do-list. Not only is the Megane Coupe Cabriolet one of these hard-top convertibles where the solid canopy folds itself into the boot at a flick of a switch but it's also the first car of this type to feature a glass roof. Even with the cover on, you feel like you're outside but the glass insulates the cabin remarkably well, keeping the heat in and the noise out. With the top down, the Megane takes on the traditional wedge-shaped cabriolet profile and really looks the part. With the hood up it develops a slightly ungainly boot but the overall effect works well. Good looks are vital in a good coupe or convertible and it's safe to say that the Megane has them.

As soon as you let on to people that the car you're driving has a folding hard-top - something that they may not work out for themselves such is the fluidity of the Megane's hood-up styling - they usually ask if they can see it in action. It's testament to both the wow-factor and the user-friendliness of the Megane's roof that I was only too happy to demonstrate the folding mechanism to virtually anyone who asked - even while the weather was doing its worst. Then, unless they'd lost interest completely, I'd show them again. 22 seconds of engineering magic is all it takes to drop the Megane's top and have it neatly slide away out of sight. There are no catches to fiddle with, just a simple button mounted on the centre console. With the roof in place there's a class-leading 490 litres of luggage space but all that roof's got to go somewhere so this figure is reduced to a mere 190 litres with the top down. Passenger accommodation comes in the shape four proper seats and interior space which is considerable for a car of this ilk. If you've grown used to cabriolets with rear seats that you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy's Chihuahua, the Megane Coupe Cabriolet will provide a nice surprise. 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.

The entry-level engine is a 115bhp 1.6-litre VVT unit, there's also a 136bhp 2.0-litre VVT powerplant for those with a heavier right foot and real speedsters will like the 165bhp 2.0-litre Turbo. A little moment of history was made as well - the Megane Coupe-Cabriolet is the first hard-top cabriolet to feature a diesel engine. Nowadays, there are three, a 130bhp 1.9-litre dCi, a more affordable 106bhp 1.5-litre dCi and a range topping 2.0-litre dCi 150. Don't expect blistering pace and sportscar handling from the Megane Coupe Cabriolet. There's a lot of weight tied-up in that wonderful roof and that does have an effect on performance. The car's extremely comfortable though, with a smooth ride and light, responsive steering - ideal, in other words, for cruising the streets and being seen. The main problem during my road test was that anyone with any sense was staying off the streets to avoid the torrential rain so my attempt at cruising was a little aimless. I can, however, confirm that the windscreen wiper work well.

Given the amount of sun that we see in this country, our unswerving fondness for convertible cars borders on the inexplicable. Models like the Renault Megane Coupe Cabriolet, however, are the perfect solution for motorists who love the open air but flinch at the sound of rain-drops on canvas. It really can offer nearly all the advantages of a family hatch as well as the fun and dynamism associated with a convertible but for me, it's the process of transition and that amazing roof that's the real crowd pleaser.