Renault Megane RS review

The Megane has a little engine by hot hatch standards, giving away half a litre of capacity to the Focus ST’s 2.3-litre four-pot. Its automatic gearbox only makes do with six gears instead of the more usual seven, but despite this, it’s not outrageously thirsty. We averaged 25.6mpg, with consumption in the 30s doable during motorway cruising. The torquier Focus and the Civic are easier on fuel, if that’s a concern. Renault claims 33mpg and CO2 emissions of 184-192g/km.

Our preferred model, the standard RS 300, starts at a nudge over £33,000, or around £300 a month on Renault’s PCP across 48 months. At the time of writing Renault is lopping off up to £2,250 with a part-exchange, and including a five-year warranty. Handy, when Hyundai’s superb i30N offers similar peace of mind. 

Oh, and if you’re really taken with the bright colours, be aware they’re not cheap. The retina searing orange and yellow hues cost £1,400. Fourteen hundred quid, in case you thought we’d typo’d an extra zero.

Still sitting on the fence? You can slice your budget in two and get a fairly tasty previous-gen Megane RS (the one made between 2009 and 2016) for £15,000. A really really smart one won't be much over £20,000. It's three-door only, has a weeny boot and rides Firmly with a capital F. You won't care one jot - biggish hot hatchbacks haven't been quite as focused since. It's an all-time great which the classic market hasn't wildly affected the values of. Yet.