I have a particular soft spot for the Renault Megane R.S. I'm the kind of person that appreciates an unconventional approach to a theme and will often shun the popular alternative. While this sees me get my fair share of hate mail, it also allows me to spend more time with the weird and wonderful; the black sheep of motoring.
I spent a considerable amount of time behind the wheel of the second generation Megane R.S. 275 Trophy when I took the 1000 km trip down from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth to go and rip it around the legendary Aldo Scribante race track. That 11-hour ordeal was surprisingly pleasant and despite the race-bred suspension and whimsical bucket seats, the journey was comfortable and I felt fresher than I thought I would after the lengthy drive.
Related: Nurburgring Slayer - The Renault Megane RS Trophy 275
When the third generation of the R.S. Cup (based on the Megane IV) arrived at the office, I was hoping for more of the same. I was pleased to see that it was a 6-speed manual as the third generation is the first Megane R.S. to offer a dual-clutch automatic option.
Styling
The Megane has never been what one would deem a 'pretty car'. After the second generation Megane (R.S. I), the styling appeared to be a copy of several other hot hatches. Its profile resembled that of the Opel Astra, Ford Focus and even the VW Scirocco in a way. The new one is further removed but to call it a triumph of design would be amiss.
The first styling cue that makes an impression is the detailing in the headlights with their C-shaped daytime running light elements that extend below the main headlight cluster, framing the edge of the bumper. You can instantly tell that this is an R.S. model thanks to the lower apron in a contrasting grey that is designed to mimic the front wing of an F1 car.
At the rear, the taillights have been pulled into tight strips that extend well into the hatch lid, almost touching and only separated by the Renault logo in the centre. The lower section features a diffuser style insert in the bumper with a large trapezoidal exhaust exit.
The biggest crime befalling the new Megane R.S. is the lack of a three-door arrangement and you can only get the R.S. in a 5-door format now. While this helps you live with the car, it strips some of the sportiness from it. The R.S. Cup rolls on a set of black 19-inch alloy wheels with polished faces. These are wrapped in low profile, 245/35R19 tyres that sadly, do little to improve the quality of the ride.
The Drive
Where the R.S. Trophy that I drove down to Port Elizabeth left me feeling refreshed, a 70km drive in the new R.S. Cup left me exhausted and aching. One gets the impression that the engineers at Renault reasoned that if the previous generation R.S. was good, they should do more of that. As a result, they've completely missed the mark.
Both the primary and secondary ride is harsh and unforgiving on anything other than the smooth surface of a racetrack. In order to help it remain planted through the corners, the suspension has been stiffened by 10% over the Lux version. This is compounded by the firm support of the seats which offer generous lateral support but one gets the feeling that the overall design of the said seats is geared towards the more 'American' build, which I am not.
Performance
Fortunately, not all is lost though and it's once you hit the start button and the new engine fires into life that you see where the efforts were spent. The new 1.8-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine is down on capacity from the previous 2.0-litre offering but despite this, produces 5 hp more than the rather special R.S. 275 Trophy, producing 280 hp.
205 kW and 390 Nm is what you get from this F1-technology-infused lump and when mated to the notchy, direct 6-speed gearbox, you end up with a rather exciting drivetrain package. It's good for a claimed 0-100 km/h sprint of 5.8-seconds, which is coincidently the same as the flappy-paddle alternative which comes with launch control. The manual version doesn't have launch control and is also missing the R.S. Monitor system, oddly enough.
It's in the corners where the R.S. Cup shines. Where the Lux uses a brake-based torque vectoring system for front end control, the Cup is fitted with a Torsen mechanical limited-slip differential. As a result, the car will fight you mid-corner as you apply the power but if you hang in there you will be rewarded handsomely. Traction is excellent (the only benefit to the large wheels and tyres aside from aesthetics) and the rear-wheel steering, dubbed 4Control, sees the turn in sharp and focussed with minimal lateral movement. You have to be really brave to unstick an R.S. Cup.
Space and Comfort
I've addressed the comfort concerns in the R.S. Cup but that doesn't mean that there isn't any space. In fact, the R.S. feels much larger than its predecessor. It feels a little more grown-up, a little more sensible. This could be attributed to the two additional doors but ingress and egress are simple and straightforward, very civil in fact.
The boot is sizeable and measures in at a respectable 434-litres and the split-folding seats allow that number to grow substantially. Ideal then for the growing family looking to upgrade from a Clio.
On the convenience front, I'm sad to report that Renault has dropped the ball again. There are simple omissions like the lack of blind-spot warnings or even a blind-spot mirror and the audio system leaves much to be desired. The R-Link 2 system features a complicated 8.7-inch portrait-orientated touchscreen that has a convoluted menu hierarchy and only has touch controls - if you exclude the audio stalk that Renault still insists on installing out of sight behind the steering wheel.
Safety
Once again, it's swings and roundabouts and while you can criticize the convenience included in the R.S., you cannot knock the inherent safety of the model. Fitted with 5 airbags, the Megane carries a 5-star Euro NCAP rating with an adult occupant score of 88%.
Fuel Consumption
Renault claims that the new 1.8-litre engine is more fuel-efficient than the older engine and claims a combined cycle figure of 7.2 l/100km and I can completely believe this. My time with the car saw a mix of both highway and urban traffic and even with 205 kW underfoot and me exploring its performance on occasion, managed to register 7.8 l/100km. All is well then.
Price
The Renault Megane R.S. Cup retails for R589 900 including VAT and when you consider the competition and the performance to be had from the R.S., it certainly looks attractive on paper. Sadly, there are just too many shortcomings that make me feel that this is more justified a price than the bargain of the century.
The Verdict
I wanted to fall in love with the new R.S. Cup in the way that I fell in love with the old one but no matter which way I tried to slice it, I just couldn't get around the fact that there was too much missing from the package. It genuinely feels like they've tried to make a car that pleases everyone and in the process has pleased no one. Those that can live with the uncompromising ride will not be taken by the styling while those that appreciate the ease-of-use will cringe at the lack of convenience.
Recommended next:
First Drive Impression: Renault Megane R.S.
