First Oz look: Megane sedan no bummer

RENAULT has debuted its new Megane sedan, a model that goes on sale this month as the first of three new Megane variants to arrive here this year.

When launched in late March, the Megane sedan will join the three and five-door Megane hatch variants released last year.

While obviously a close relation to the hatch models when looking at the front-end, the sedan boasts a less bulbous and less controversial posterior.

Following on from the sedan will be the Megane coupe-convertible and the Megane-based Scenic five-seater and Grand Scenic seven-seater people-movers, all to be launched by October.

A fourth car - the Megane RS performance flagship - could arrive in December, or tip over into early 2005.



Renault will not release Megane sedan pricing until launch, but hinted in Melbourne it will come in a single feature specification only. Likely opposition includes sedan versions of the soon-to-be replaced Holden Astra and the Ford Focus.

Renault claims the new model will differ from many small sedans in its employment of a wheelbase that’s 610mm longer than that of the hatch upon which it is based.

Megane sedan’s doors and rear overhang are also longer than that of the Megane hatch.

We also know Megane sedan will be powered by a 2.0-litre 16-valve engine with variable valve timing, producing 98.5kW at 5500rpm and 191Nm of torque at 3750rpm.

Transmission choices comprise a six-speed manual or four-speed Pro-active sequential-shift automatic transmission.

The sedan will also feature standard front, front side and full-length side curtain airbags, plus ABS, EBD and EBA.

Renault says the Megane sedan, like its bigger-selling hatch sibling, offers a point of differentiation in the small car class, and will appeal to an older demographic than attracted to the hatch.