New Renault Megane estate to turn on the style ~ station of gear

Renault Megane estate - exclusive picture

Our exclusive image shows how the practical Renault Megane estate is set for a dramatic look

2016-02-03 10:00

Renault is preparing to take on family wagons such as the Ford Focus Estate, Seat Leon ST and VW Golf Estate with its new Megane Sport Tourer. Our exclusive main image shows how the car could look after our spies caught it winter testing ahead of sales starting later this year.

The Sport Tourer could make its public debut as soon as next month’s Geneva Motor Show, but if Renault decides against it we’ll have to wait until early summer instead, with sales due in the autumn.

• Best estate cars on sale right now

Whenever it does arrive, expect the more practical Megane to build on the dramatic overhaul that’s just been completed by Renault’s chief designer Laurens van den Acker on the fourth generation of the conventional five-door hatchback.

The oversized diamond badge and LED daytime running lights will be carried over, as will the hatchback’s complex rear-end treatment, which features a strip of LEDs between the tail-lights. However, the estate will get an extended rear overhang in a bid to boost boot capacity to around 1,600 litres with the back seats folded down.

Image 3 of 4

Image 3 of 4

Renault hasn’t resorted to extending the Sport Tourer’s wheelbase over the hatch model’s, but the fact that the Megane is one of the wider cars in its class should give it a reasonably athletic stance. That width could also help the interior, freeing up space across the rear row of three seats. The cabin will have the hatchback’s 8.7-inch portrait-layout touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard, plus the option of a head-up instrument display for the driver.

The engine line-up will follow that of the Megane hatchback. Renault has yet to decide which of that car’s motors it’ll bring to the UK – it’s not due on sale until this summer – but we expect the range to feature 1.2 and 1.6-litre turbocharged petrols, and 1.5 and 1.6-litre turbodiesels. The estate is also likely to get the 1.5-litre diesel hybrid that’s due in 2017 with CO2 emissions of less than 80g/km.

The range-topper will be badged GT and will have either a 202bhp petrol engine or a 163bhp diesel, a dual-clutch automatic transmission and firmer suspension.

Renault is also said to be considering allowing its Renaultsport performance division loose on a full-blown 300bhp version of the Sport Tourer, which would be a rival for the Golf R and Focus ST estates. However, it’s some way off even if it does get the green light; it’ll have to wait until the hardcore Renaultsport version of the Megane hatchback arrives first, and that’s not due until late 2017 or early 2018.

Mainstream Megane Sport Tourers are likely to match the pricing of the outgoing editions, with a starting figure of around £18,500.

What do you think of the new Renault Megane estate? Let us know below...

John McIlroy

Thank you for reading the article about New Renault Megane estate to turn on the style in blog station of gear If this article was helpful please bookmark this page in your web browser by pressing Ctrl + D on your keyboard keys.