Renault has some form when it comes to hot hatches. Pick virtually any year in the modern era of performance cars and you'll find a Renault challenging for honours in the pocket rocket class. From the Renault 5 Turbo 2, through the 5 GT Turbo, Clio 16v and Clio Williams to the modern Clio 197, Renault has always been there or thereabouts. The problem it had was that while the smaller cars were fantastic, whenever the French company tried to make a slightly larger sports model, it fell flat on its face. Anyone remember the Renault Fuego Turbo or the 18 Turbo? Ugh. It was only with the Renault 19 16v that some sort of form line appeared and the latest Megane Renaultsport models see the French company at the very top of the pile for the very first time in this sector. It took the market a while to catch onto quite how good these cars are but for the committed enthusiast, there really is very little option but Renault.

First off, it's probably best to run through the Megane Renaultsport team sheet. First up are the most modest versions, the dCi175 diesels, available in either three or five-door form, standard or Lux. Then there's the three-door 225 Cup Sport Hatch and the hardcore 230 F1 Team R26 and at the top of the range, either three or five-door 225 Lux models.

The diesels will get to 60mph in 8 seconds on the way to a 137mph top speed. Think of them as Renaultsport's gentle introduction. If you're intent on leaping in at the deep end, go for one of the 225 models. The power delivery is smooth with the 300Nm maximum swell of torque hitting the road at 3,000rpm and the full power arriving at 5,500rpm. 60mph comes and goes in 6.5 seconds. For the full-on hit, go for the F1 Team R26 edition and accept no substitute. Its clever differential gives it incredible front end grip and that 230bhp engine catapults it out of corners like you wouldn't believe. It'll notch off the sprint to 60mph in just 6.2 seconds and rides on a stiffer chassis with beefier brakes. One to go supercar hunting with in other words.

"Hot hatches should be about handling, handling and yet more handling"

One of the most appealing things about the Megane Renaultsport range is despite being graded from warm or hot to incandescent, all models, whether three or five-door, retain a respectable level of practicality. You'll get adults in the back and a decent amount of luggage in the boot. While being rapid cross country transport, these cars rarely draw attention to themselves unless you're the extrovert who opted for a Liquid Yellow F1 Team R27 with the graphics across the roof.

Build quality appears good. We ran a 225 Cup for some time and despite being treated to an appalling leathering on track on a regular basis, it still felt as tight as a drumskin when we handed it back to Renault. 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 mean 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. Some have groused about the Megane's styling but that 'bubble butt' look has worn in well and the wheel and spoiler kits fitted to these models aren't overly in your face.

Prices kick off at £18,950 for a dCi 175 Sport Hatch (Renaultspeak for three-door) with the Lux model tacking £1,400 onto that price. The entry level car comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, grey cloth upholstery, ESP stability control, and leather trim for the gearknob and wheel. Lux specification includes 18-inch rims, an uprated stereo, climate control, leather upholstery, metallic paint and a hands free Renault key card.

The 225 Cup Sport Hatch is priced at £18,960 and this features a stiffer chassis, beefier brakes and sharper steering. Pay another £900 and you get the jewel in the Megane Renaultsport firmament, the 230 F1 Team R26 with its bucket seats and anthracite 18-inch alloys. The most intriguing inclusion on the R26 Megane is that of a limited slip differential to help it deploy all that power through the front wheels. The differential can divert torque away from a wheel that's loosing traction so that the chance of wheelspin is lessened and forward progress is better maintained. The car is available in the Liquid Yellow metallic paint which once graced the bodywork of the Clio Renaultsport V6. Many will find this car a little too rabid for everyday use and will instead prefer the 225 Lux models in either three or five door form priced at £19,860 and £20,360 respectively.

Although the upfront prices seem quite beguiling when compared to something like a Golf GTI, it's worth bearing in mind that if you buy a Megane Renaulsport model, it is overwhelmingly likely that you will drive it as if you get bonus points for keeping the throttle mashed to the bulkhead for as long as possible. Even the comparatively sensible dCi175 diesel model rewards press-on driving. This will mean that even the diesel's 43.5mpg combined fuel economy figure will be tough to replicate. Even harder will be attempting to get close to the 33.2mpg published figure for the petrol cars.

The good news is that the cat is now truly out of the bag and performance enthusiasts everywhere know that these cars are the real deal. The upshot of that is that residual values, which were initially very weak, have firmed up nicely as used examples that haven't been too badly abused become increasingly sought after. Insurance for the petrol cars is rated at Group 17. It sounds a lot but viewed in the light of the ability these cars possess, take it from me, it's a bargain.

Hot hatches should be about handling, handling and yet more handling. Virtually everything else is just trimming. Having watched a Ferrari 360 Modena fall off the Spa race track trying to stick with my Megane Renaultsport 225, there's little doubt that this car has what it takes. Factor in some very good engines and you have the required ingredients for a future hall of famer.

The dCi diesel models represent an interesting first step and make sensible real world choices but just on occasion it's worth volunteering for the full-on experience and for that you need to be pouring unleaded down your Megane Renaultsport's neck. Forget about the Volkswagen Golf GTI, the Ford Focus ST or the SEAT Leon Cupra. Hot hatches come no more pugnacious than the Megane. It's always up for a ruck. The question remains are you?