Think of an estate car and you're probably beset with images of a flat-capped cove with a grubby Barbour jacket at the wheel and a panting Labrador in the back. A battle between secondhand pipe smoke and the unmistakeable odour of wet dog being waged in the cabin. That image still holds true for many of the traditional estates on sale today, but a generation of smaller, sportier estate cars has sprung up that are more dynamic than dowdy. The Renault Megane Sport Tourer is a worthy addition to the ranks.

From a personal perspective, it has to be said that we're a huge fan of the bold styling of the Megane hatch. More so since the facelift that installed 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. It also has to be said that there are plenty who find the whole hefty rump thing a little too much for their palate. Renault have diversified the Megane with the Scenic, Grand Scenic, Coupe Cabriolet and Sport Saloon versions but for those who truly appreciate a tidy rear end, the Sport Tourer has to be the pick of the bunch. Prices start at £14,230.

Manufactured in Palencia, Spain alongside the hatchback models (The saloon is assembled in Bursa, Turkey) the Sport Tourer cuts quite a dash. Although the nose is familiar Megane fare, the rear end tapers to a neat facsimile of the Laguna Sport Tourer, itself quite a looker. In common with the Megane Sport Saloon, it features an additional 61mm grafted into the wheelbase. This means that rear seat passengers will be able to stretch out that little bit more. The bigger wheelbase also means that the rear pair of doors are more generously cut which eases access to the back seats.

The rear overhangs behind the rear wheels have been stretched by 230mm which helps the Megane Sport Tourer to a quite eye opening luggage capacity. With the rear seats in place, there's a full 520 litres available, which makes it a good 45 litres larger than the sleek Laguna Sport Tourer, a car that's meant to function as the Megane's big brother. Challengers such as the Peugeot 307 SW and the Fiat Stilo Multi Wagon can only look on in envy.

"For those who truly appreciate a tidy rear end, the Sport Tourer has to be the pick of the bunch"

Three petrol engines are available; a 98bhp 1.4-litre 16v, a 115bhp 1.6-litre 16v with variable valve timing and a 136bhp 2.0-litre 16v, again with VVT. Four diesels are also on offer, 86bhp, 106bhp 1.5-litre dCi powerplants for budget customers and a 130bhp 1.9-litre dCi unit or a 150bhp 2.0-litre dCi for those looking for something with a little more shove. The diesel engines are certain to prove more popular with British buyers and Renault's expertise in this field gives it a significant advantage over many rivals. The dCi diesels are all smooth and pleasantly punchy, but the 150bhp 2.0-litre unit is exceptionally good. If you want a diesel automatic, now you can have one with the 1.9-litre dCi 130 offered in conjunction with Renault's Pro-Active gearbox.

In case you're wondering why the Sport Saloon and Sport Tourer are built on production lines thousands of miles apart, it's largely due to the fact that despite the stretched chassis, the Sport Tourer actually shares some eighty per cent of its parts with its hatchback siblings. Renault's brand strategy here is particularly clever. The Sport Tourer and Sport Saloon models will help fulfil Renault's international development objectives by notching up over a third of their sales outside the company's traditional Western Europe stronghold. The two cars are specifically designed to complement each other geographically. The Sport Tourer will appeal to markets in northern Europe and Italy, where estate cars are an established part of the automotive scenery, whereas the Sport Saloon is aimed largely at markets outside Western Europe, in which 'three-box' saloons are popular.

No matter how striking you may find the exterior styling, for many the biggest surprise will come when they drop into the driver's seat of the Sport Tourer. The design is neat without being gratuitously radical, but the real revelation is the great strides forward made in terms of quality of materials and finish. It's almost as if a Renault designer's company hack was rear-ended and he got an Audi courtesy car for the week. Soft feel plastics, quality fabrics and a cohesive design philosophy means a not-so-fond farewell to old-school Renault interiors, many of which were built with the visual drama and structural integrity of a film set.

Genuine innovation is in evidence. Take Renault's anti-submarining airbag, a device which leaps forth from the seat cushion to protect the pelvis. This replaces the traditional (and some would say uncomfortable) hump at the front of the seat and is a neat solution that provides both comfort and unparalleled safety, effectively making it impossible to slide beneath the seatbelt in the event of an accident. Renault's unparalleled experience in the MPV market shines through, not only in terms of passenger space - which is excellent - but also in the provision of multifarious cubbies, boxes and pockets. There's a hatch in the floor to stow valuables, storage boxes between both front and rear seats and even a chilled glove compartment. The metallic hoop handbrake is a neat touch, although motoring anoraks will remember a similar device in the Alfa 75 of the eighties.

The Megane Sport Tourer is a car that younger customers may well find appealing. The traditional estate buyer will still look to big Volvos and Subarus but if you need a sporty, modern way of transporting your lifestyle addenda or DIY paraphernalia, the Megane Sport Tourer makes a good fist of the job. Never frumpy yet still able to lug surprisingly big loads, it's enough to change your perception about estate cars.

TOP 5 MEGANE DEALS

The results below show the top MEGANE deals on buyacar

	Renault Megane 2.0 dCi 150 Dynamique 5dr Tourer Estate
	ETR	Mthly £256	Saving £5,317	Price £13,400
	Renault Megane 1.9 dCi 130 Dynamique 5dr Auto Tourer Estate
	ETR	Mthly £257	Saving £5,300	Price £13,418
	Renault Megane 1.5 dCi 106 Dynamique 5dr Tourer Estate
	ETR	Mthly £229	Saving £4,638	Price £12,043
	Renault Megane 1.5 dCi 106 Expression 5dr Tourer Estate
	ETR	Mthly £230	Saving £3,732	Price £11,970
	Renault Megane 1.5 dCi 86 Dynamique 5dr Tourer Estate
	ETR	Mthly £220	Saving £4,410	Price £11,586

typical 12.52% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000