Renault Megane impresses with its modern styling, hi-tech cockpit and smooth silhouette

MUSCAT: Combining eye-catching looks and stunning performance, Renault Megane, the chic saloon, has been impressing auto aficionados in Oman. Admired for its driving performance, Renault Megane is known for its driving comfort, technology and safety features.

The charismatic Renault Megane is a real head-turner. With its sedan body, dynamic lines and generous proportions, it has a style of its own.

Mansour Al Hajri from Muscat likes Renault Megane for its attractiveness and vibrancy. He says,“Offering driving comfort and safety features, the incredible sedan makes a bold statement, unveiling its performance excellence and high-tech interior.”

Hamad Al Mahdouri cherishes Renault Megane for its smooth silhouette, high-tech cockpit and sophisticated styling

He adds, “With a roomy trunk and enough space for four passengers to relax in comfort, Renault Megane is also an ideal road-trip partner, made even better by its comprehensive set of standard driver-assistance features and intuitive infotainment system.”

It is no wonder that with its elegant line and definite sense of French flair and style, Renault Megane is among the most exquisite cars found on Oman roads.

Usama Al Haddabi says, “With a near ideal blend of performance, driving range, and accessible pricing, Renault Megane is sedan that lives up to the sedan.”

Adil Al Siyabi feels with compact body, daring expressive design, assertive style – Renault Megane’s lines give a distinguished look for an exhilarating drive.

He says, “With its sedan body, dynamic lines and generous proportions, it has a style of its own, both lively and elegant.”

Ahmed Al Balushi enjoys the enjoy the pleasure of a smooth and relaxed drive. He says, “From the dynamic brand light to the ergonomics of the digital instrument panel and the 550-litre boot capacity, it is a masterful example of originality. Behind the wheel, assisted by a set of innovative aids.”

A spokesperson for Renault Oman, from the house of Suhail Bahwan Automobiles (SBA) said, “Megane presents a high-class driving experience, thanks to its technologies, design, and roominess It is a popular car and much-loved car in the Sultanate.”

Status-enhancing appeal

Megane presents a high-class driving experience, thanks to its technologies, design, and roominess. Renault Megane, which is available in 2.0 litres engine configuration along with 1.6 litres variant, is a popular car and much-loved car in the Sultanate.”

Renault’s designers have drawn upon their acclaimed expertise to seamlessly incorporate 503 dm3 VDA of boot storage capacity without compromising the vehicle’s aesthetic appeal. Its generous dimensions (4.63m long and 1.81m wide, with a record wheelbase in its class of 2.71m) underscore its status-enhancing credentials and provide additional room for occupants. Its sleek profile is the result of painstaking work on the proportion of glass to metal (one-third / two-thirds), as well as its low height (1.44m) and ground clearance (13cm).

Fitted as standard either across the range or in the higher-end versions, chrome detailing (grille, side mouldings, door window strips, door handles and exhaust tailpipes) point to the model’s quality and reinforce its status-enhancing appeal. Its 1.57m front and rear track – the widest in its class – and its range of wheel sizes up to 18 inches imbue it with a striking stance. Its broad, sculpted shoulders express its sportier style.

Megane is available in a choice of eight exterior colours. Its seven metallic options include Pearl White, Mercury, Mink Brown, Cosmos Blue, Comet Grey, Flame Red, Dune Beige. It is one non-metallic finish: Glacier White.

The Megane shares many styling features with its larger sibling Renault Talisman, including its lighting signature which is visible night and day. Available as option on the top version of the Megane are full LED (LED Pure Vision technology) head lights. The rear LED lights form a unique horizontal 3D-effect signature featuring Edge Light technology. The slender brush stroke-like lines emit a deep red light.

Travelling comfort

The carefully appointed ‘cockpit’-feel cabin exudes an unmistakable ‘cockpit’-feel thanks to sculpted, enveloping seats and features such as a configurable colour 7-inch TFT data Display, Mid-range 9.3” screen multimedia system, auditorium sound, R-LINK 2 which supports Apple carplay and Android Auto. Furthermore, the positioning of all the vehicle’s technological features has been thought through to facilitate their everyday use.

Travelling comfort is further enhanced by the careful attention that has been paid to the interior finish, to the quality of the soft-to-the-touch materials, which are within easy reach of the driver and passengers: Materials found in Renault’s higher-end models, Plush foam-backed covering selected for the dashboard, upper door panels, door inserts and armrests, Satin-effect chrome instrument, air vent and centre console surrounds, Full-grain Nappa leather-trimmed steering wheel, available on the top trim level.

Great technology

The precision-designed seats promise and provide class-leading comfort and support thanks notably to the use of dual-density foam. The frames are the same as those employed for Koleos and Talisman. Leather seats available as option on the top version offer massage function for the driver plus electrically-adjustable lumbar support.

The cabin offers a generous level of space for the driver and passengers alike: Shoulder and elbow room are amongst the best in the class (1,441mm shoulder room in the front and 1,377mm in the rear, with 1,492mm elbow room in the front and 1,413mm in the rear). 216mm knee room in the rear. The angle of the rear-seat back (27 degrees) optimises head room for taller passengers and improves postural comfort.

The Megane is based upon the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s CMF-C/D modular architecture which it shares with other high-end Renault models, including the Talisman and the Koleos. The Megane comes with a wide range of features more commonly associated with the next segment up and unique in the segment: a configurable 7-inch TFT colour screen instrument display and the R-LINK 2 multimedia tablet available in two formats (7-inch landscape format,).

Higher-end versions of the Megane come with R-LINK 2 with a 9.3-inch landscape format. Unique in the segment, it benefits from a capacitive ‘pinch and zoom’ screen for simplified use, much like that of a smartphone or tablet computer.

R-LINK 2 is a control centre that manages the vehicle’s various functions: multimedia, navigation, telephone, radio, driving aids (ADAS).

R-LINK 2 offers: an intuitive, easy-to-use interface, similar to that of a tablet or smartphone: click-and-drag to move icons, page scrolling, two-finger zoom, etc, easy customisation, courtesy of three configurable ‘home’ pages with widgets (icons) and up to six different profiles that allow swift access to pre-selected driving settings and in-car ambience preferences, a control centre which enables the activation and deactivation of the majority of the car’s functions, including the audio system, the hands-free telephone, the navigation and driving aids, connectivity, with smartphone replication Apple car play and android auto (available depending on market).

The Megane equipped with R-LINK 2 also benefit from 3D Sound by Arkamys® and eight speakers. Thanks to its special digital signal processing software, this system adds depth and texture to listening pleasure.

Connectivity and charging options include: Bluetooth® for hands-free use of a telephone and audio streaming (standard on all versions), one or two USB ports (depending on version), a 3.5mm jack socket (standard on all versions), one cigar lighter cum 12V power source and one 12V power supply at rear (standard on all versions) and a SD card slot (standard with R-LINK 2),

Driving data (speed, RPM, fuel consumption, etc.) is displayed on a personalisable 7-inch colour screen situated behind the steering wheel, in the driver’s line of sight.

Driving comfort and safety

More traditionally found in higher-segment vehicles, useful and easy to use ADAS contribute to driving comfort and safety. The Megane benefits from the very latest driving aid (ADAS) technologies that also equip Renault’s high-end models (Talisman, Koleos).

Unstable Trajectory Alert: this system detects the driver’s fatigue signs, and alert to prevent accidents.

Rear View Camera: When reversing, this camera provides a view of the space behind the vehicle on the touchscreen display. To further assist the manoeuvre, this image is accompanied by a moving guideline and a static guideline.

Front, rear and side parking sensors: These sensors assist the driver in successfully completing parking manoeuvres, without relinquishing any control of the car; 360° ultrasonic detectors alert the driver when there is the risk of hitting an obstacle, thereby protecting the vehicle.

Easy Park Assist: After helping the driver to identify a suitable parking spot by measuring the available space with its sensors, this system subsequently takes charge of the steering during the parking manoeuvre. Easy Park Assist caters for three different types of parking: parallel, perpendicular and angled. The central screen displays all the information required to complete the manoeuvre (graphic illustration, reversing camera and sensors). In every case, the driver has control over the braking and acceleration during the manoeuvre.

Makes life easier

In addition to these technologies from Renault’s high-end models – unique in the segment – and depending upon the version and market, the Megane offers the following features from the next segment up, designed to make life easier: Hands-free entry card with automatic vehicle locking. The electronic parking brake immobilises the vehicle when the engine stops and frees up space on the centre console. Automatic dual-zone climate control.

Easy Trunk Access (ETA): a hands-free boot opening system that works by detecting movement underneath the rear bumper. This is a unique feature in the compact saloon segment.