As an example of how far the family hatch goalposts have moved, the Renault Megane II stands unchallenged. Time was when the purchase of a family hatch was one underpinned by solid fiscal virtues like retail price, economy or servicing costs. With such a lowest common denominator approach, quality was a subsidiary issue, as was safety and style. How things have changed. As well as offering keen value for money, cars like the Renault Megane II also offer more of the aspirational things that define desirability in a car.

Five 1.6-litre models are available if you set the saloons and Tourer estates to one side, all powered by the same 115bhp VVT engine. The range opens at £12,460 for the Authentique five-door or the Extreme 3-door, whilst £13,760 nets you either a Dynamique three-door or an Expression five-door. Fork out another £500 and you'll be able to gain title to a Dynamique five-door with the plush Privilege topping the range at £15,260. It's difficult to think of any comparable new vehicle that offers quite such a style statement for so little. The Megane II manages to make a Focus look lumpy and even makes cars like the Peugeot 307 and Volkswagen's Golf appear pretty dumpy. Only Vauxhall's Astra and the Honda Civic put up any sort of a challenge.

Today's Megane goes slightly further in the style stakes. 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.

The 1.6-litre engine tends to be the most popular choice in this sector and the engine the Renault campaigns with is a good 'un. With a clear 17bhp advantage over its 1.4-litre sibling, the 1.6-litre powerplant emits just 163 grammes of CO2 per km, landing it with exactly the same tax liability as the 1.4-litre engine. It's even able to boast superior urban fuel economy and is a good deal quicker. In fact, the Megane 1.6 can sprint to 60mph in just 10.9 seconds and keep going until it reaches 119mph.

"A credit-card style key and a quick prang of the starter button fires the 1.6-litre powerplant into life"

Whichever model you choose, the ride feels sporting; quite at odds with the flabby barges that have so often come from France over the years. The steering takes a little getting used to as well, the electrically assisted set up having a strong self-centring action that initially feels a trifle odd. You soon get used to it, but it proves just another departure from the run of the mill. With the Megane II, there are so many such features it's sometimes difficult to believe it spawned from the original Megane. This was a car so middle-of-the-road it wouldn't have looked out of place with cats eyes running over the bonnet and roof.

The interior of the Megane II isn't as eye-catching as the exterior lines, but look closer and you'll spot scores of neatly-styled touches. Some of the shapes are voluptuous in the extreme, the cowling over the white backlit instruments saucily suggestive, whilst others like the dramatic handbrake reprise ideas seen on other cars. The interior door handles are neatly sculpted almost Mobius-like swirls which match the metallic finish used on the instruments. Soft feel plastics, quality fabrics and a cohesive design philosophy means a not-so-fond farewell to old-school Renault interiors. A credit-card style key and a quick prang of the starter button fires the 1.6-litre powerplant into life, the engine being pleasantly refined in the lower half of the range, but it reminds you of its presence if you really try to eke out every last horsepower. Space is fine up front with a wide range of adjustments available to the driving position, but long-legged frontal occupants will exact a penalty on rear legroom. That bustle-backed shape does wonders for rear headroom though. Even the three-door car can easily seat a six-footer. Luggage capacity is also pretty good, although the width of the rear aperture may limit the Megane II's ultimate carrying ability.

As with all contemporary Renaults, safety is a priority. 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. There's also twin front and side airbags with full-length curtain bags to protect passengers from flying glass.

It's just as well you've got all that safety equipment because you may well spend a good deal of time admiring the Megane's reflection in plate glass windows. Most of the attention is drawn to the rear, the Megane being treated to an Avantime-style bustle back. Rather than tone down the design, however, Renault have exaggerated it, creating a crazily intersecting riot of straight lines and arcs. When Patrick Le Quement, Senior VP of Renault Corporate design talks of "the understated dimensions of the boot" you really have to wonder whether he's looking at the same car. Perhaps Patrick has a talent for understatement as well as design.

In 1999 a Frenchman called Benoit Borchard produced a fifty page document that proved the genesis of the Megane II. It covered everything from target customers to what sound the doors should make. If the 1.6-litre Megane II models are anything to go by, Borchard should be hailed as a visionary. It's a brave car that campaigns in a traditionally conservative market segment. The only way to reward Renault for not playing safe and offering us another middleweight snoozemobile is to vote with your wallet. Just how brave are you?

TOP 5 MEGANE DEALS

The results below show the top MEGANE deals on buyacar

	Renault Megane 1.6 VVT Extreme 2dr Cabriolet Convertible
	ETR	Mthly £252	Saving £3,522	Price £13,768
	Renault Megane 1.6 VVT Dynamique 2dr Cabriolet Convertible
	ETR	Mthly £268	Saving £4,436	Price £14,559
	Renault Megane 1.6 VVT Privilege 2dr Cabriolet Convertible
	ETR	Mthly £282	Saving £4,698	Price £15,297
	Renault Megane 1.6 VVT Privilege 2dr Auto Cabriolet Convertible
	ETR	Mthly £299	Saving £4,950	Price £16,045
	Renault Megane 1.6 VVT Dynamique 2dr Auto Cabriolet Convertible
	ETR	Mthly £284	Saving £4,688	Price £15,307

typical 10.59% APR

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