In an age where the nation's pimply adolescents flatly refuse to fawn over a hot hatchback unless it's packing at least 150bhp and the doormen at the supercar club are liable to forcibly eject any vehicle without a 400bhp rating, you might view 20bhp as a trifling amount of grunt. Renault don't, they offer 86bhp, 106bhp, 130bhp, 150bhp and 175bhp diesel powered versions of their Megane. In fact, these apparently small power increments make a surprising amount of difference and the 106bhp dCi Megane we examine here has a surprising amount going for it.

Give a 500bhp BMW M5 a 20bhp shot in the arm and you'd barely notice the difference but by adding that same amount to an unspectacular family hatchback, you can drastically change its character. Even in this knowledge, the Renault Megane diesel range still looks a little tightly populated but that's until you realise that there are actually three different diesel engines here. The advanced 2.0-litre dCi develops 150bhp or 175bhp, the 1.9-litre dCi is available with a 130bhp output while the 1.5 dCi unit can be ordered in 86bhp or 106bhp states of tune. Predictably, the 2.0 and 1.9-litre options feel more muscular and relaxed with their larger capacity, while the smaller 1.5-litre units provide significantly better fuel consumption at a tighter price. If you're after a nice blend of superb economy and respectable performance, a 1.5-litre dCi 106 Renault Megane could tick the right boxes.

The 1.5-litre dCi models actually have the best fuel consumption of any Renault Megane and they deliver a sound thrashing to the majority of family hatchbacks in the wider market with an outstanding 60mpg average in the 106bhp car. The less powerful 1.5-litre dCi 86 can average 63mpg. With economy like that, you might expect a trade off in the shape of sluggish performance. Sure enough, the dCi 106 isn't quick but 0-60mph in 11.1 seconds isn't too awful and the engine's torque-laden power delivery makes the mid-range feel quite lively.

"The 1.5-litre dCi models actually have the best fuel consumption of any Renault Megane and they deliver a sound thrashing to the majority of family hatchbacks in the wider market ."

The Renault Megane dCi 106 Euro IV engine is available in all the Megane bodystyles. That means the 3-door Sport Hatch, the 5-door Hatch, the 4-door Sport Saloon, the Sport Tourer estate and the Coupe Cabriolet. As for trim levels, buyers must don their thinking caps and make a decision between Expression and Dynamique. Expression is the budget option but still includes body coloured bumpers and door handles, air-conditioning, CD stereo, electric windows, and front fog lamps. Dynamique, meanwhile, adds 16" alloy wheels, a leather steering wheel and gear knob ensemble, a Thatcham approved alarm and chrome door handles but it does cost £500 more. Prices start at £14,730 for a dCi 106 Sport Hatch in Dynamique trim and rise to £16,230 for a dCi 106 Privilege 5-door but you can also get the engine in the Coupe Cabriolet model if you have over £20,000 to spend.

Today's Megane II doesn't differ all that much from the original, with Renault sensibly deciding to gently massage their winning formula rather than drastically change it. 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. The rear benefits from it's own re-sculpted bumper and revised light clusters while, inside, the instrument binnacle features chrome-ringed dials with white background lighting.

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 Megane II. The design is neat without being gratuitously radical, but the real revelation is in terms of the 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 dCi 106 models provide excellent fuel economy and none too shabby performance. Renault provide a large selection of diesel-engined Meganes with apparently similar attributes and choosing between them can present a problem but anyone opting for the dCi 106 is unlikely to feel hard done by.

TOP 5 MEGANE DEALS

The results below show the top MEGANE deals on buyacar

	Renault Megane 1.5 dCi 106 Dynamique 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £207	Saving £4,132	Price £11,638
	Renault Megane 1.5 dCi 106 Dynamique 5dr Tourer Estate
	ETR	Mthly £229	Saving £4,423	Price £12,462
	Renault Megane 1.5 dCi 106 Dynamique 4dr Saloon
	ETR	Mthly £224	Saving £4,484	Price £12,051
	Renault Megane 1.5 dCi 106 Expression 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £194	Saving £3,850	Price £10,920
	Renault Megane 1.5 dCi 106 Expression 5dr Tourer Estate
	ETR	Mthly £215	Saving £4,140	Price £11,745

typical 10.98% APR

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