AUSTRALIA’S small passenger car segment is notoriously competitive and cut-throat, to the ultimate benefit of consumers.

With 30 models on offer, the variety is staggering – bewildering even – so it is no surprise people go for safe bets from Toyota, Mazda and Hyundai, between them accounting for around half of all small cars sold in Australia each year.

Considering the economies of scale and brand awareness available to those companies due to the sheer number of their cars on the roads, Renault has to talk pretty loudly to get noticed with the Megane.

The French company’s job is made even harder by the Volkswagen Golf that has established itself as the go-to European option and happens to be a benchmark-setter in almost every aspect – at least from behind the wheel.

By adding sedan and wagon options to the Megane range, Renault hopes to soak up some segment sales it has been missing out on since the hatch launched here in October 2016.

Shame then, that the best variant is also least likely to make a big impact on final sales figures: the range-topping GT wagon that we found to be a charming high-speed hauler.

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