Renault Megane Sport Tourer on sale in December from £18,550

The new Renault Mégane Sport Tourer will go on sale in Britain on 1 December, priced from £18,550, with first deliveries expected before the new year.

Design

The estate version of the fourth-generation Mégane is longer, wider and lower than the car it replaces. It’s claimed to have the longest maximum load length of any car in its segment, and features modular boot arrangements for better practicality.

Inheriting the same front-end design as the new Mégane hatchback, the estate gains roof rails and an extended rear with a larger boot. As with the Mégane Hatch, the Sport Tourer range is headed by a GT model, which gets Renault Sport input for its design, drivetrain and chassis setup.

Engines and gearboxes

At launch, two TCe turbocharged petrol engines are on offer, a 1.2-litre with 128bhp and 151lb ft of torque, and a 1.6-litre with 202bhp and 207lb ft of torque. However, the latter is exclusive to the GT model.

There are also two turbocharged diesel alternatives, a 1.5-litre dCi unit with 108bhp and 192lb ft of torque, and a 1.6-litre dCi with 128bhp and 236lb ft of torque. The smaller diesel is the most efficient and it offers up to 76.4mpg (claimed) and emits 96g/km of CO2.

In 2017, two models will join the line-up. The first will be a hybrid assist model that mixes the 1.5-litre dCi diesel with an electric motor, and the second will be a 1.6-litre dCi twin-turbocharged diesel engine for the GT, producing 163bhp.

The car comes with a manual six-speed or EDC seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The former comes as standard on lower models, while the latter is the default choice for the GT.

The more driver-focused Sport Tourer GTs also benefit from 4Control four-wheel steering to improve manoeuvrability, and Multi-Sense technology, which constantly adjusts the car’s suspension settings to cater to varying driving circumstances.

Practicality

Renault’s new estate also offers as much as 570 litres of boot storage – matching the outgoing model – while adding more lateral storage bins and under floor space. The whole boot compartment can be spit into two sections to prevent items from sliding around, the rear 60:40 seatbench can be automatically folded and the front passenger seat folds flat for maximum space.