2022 Renault Megane

Renault Megane RS 2021-2022 Review

Usually when a car has a lot of history associated with its particular nameplate, there’s a certain amount of pressure for a manufacturer to deliver a product that lives up to its reputation – a worthy successor for lack of better words. In many cases these days, this can be extremely difficult to execute when there are immense requirements for improvements in crash safety and refinement, as well as emissions regulation restrictions.

The Renault Megane RS manages to survive until today in its most current iteration, though this hasn’t been the easiest of tasks and in many ways the engineers at Renault Sport have had to sacrifice certain elements in order to make the car a feasible proposition, as well as adjust their design and development approach to appeal to a broader range of consumers.

As a result the Renault Megane RS was introduced with both a manual and dual clutch option for the first time, as well as the transition from a three-door hatchback to a five-door hatchback body style. After two generations the engine has also finally been downsized, and a number of additional systems have been added to aid drivability.

The global launch of this third generation Renault Megane RS was back in 2017, with the initial models being offered as a 280 Sport or Cup trim. Malaysia received the 280 Cup variant back in 2019, and this was eventually replaced by the 300 Trophy variant in 2021-2022. For all the improvements that the Renault Sport engineers have made, this Megane RS did manage to reclaim its Nurburgring track record for a period of time.

Renault Megane RS 2021-2022 Specifications

Beating at the heart of the Renault Megane RS 300 Trophy – being the sole variant available in Malaysia – is a turbocharged 1.8-litre petrol engine that makes 300 PS and 450 Nm of torque – the former figure being what the number in the name refers to. This is the most potent variant of the Renault Megane RS yet, and in previous forms locally it was paired with a six-speed manual transmission.

As of today, however, the Renault Megane RS is only available with the EDC, or efficient dual clutch, transmission. This is a dual-clutch type automatic transmission with six forward gears, and drive is delivered exclusively to the front wheels as has been the traditional case with the Renault Megane RS.

New to this generation of the Renault Megane RS was the introduction of rear-wheel steering, which contributes in a massive way to the handling and agility of the car although the feeling may not necessarily be linear or natural. At lower speeds the rear wheels steer in the opposite direction of the front wheels, tightening the turning radius and allowing for sharper turn in. At higher speeds the rear wheels turn with the front wheels, making for better stability.

Renault Megane RS 2021-2022 Exterior

The most common colour for the Renault Megane RS happens to also be its hero colour: Liquid Yellow. That being said, there are a number of other paint options such as Orange Tonic, Flame Red, Pearl White, and Diamond Black. The overall design language falls in line with the most current Renault products – although in Malaysia that would be the Renault Koleos and the Renault Captur as there aren’t very many Renault products to compare it with. The Renault Megane RS is your fairly typical two-box hatchback shape, though the aggressive touches such as the chequered-flag-esque fog lamps and the extremely large 19-inch alloy wheels. Perhaps the other standout item are the bright red Brembo brake calipers hiding behind the front wheels.

Renault Megane RS 2021-2022 Interior

The inside of this generation of Renault Megane RS is very different from its predecessors, which were arguably more bare-bones and track focused. Were it not for the R.S. sport seats and the more aggressive instrument cluster, you would be hard pressed to tell that you were in a hot hatchback at all. The portrait-oriented infotainment screen dominates the dashboard, while ambient lighting helps to set the tone depending on which drive mode you’re in. Renault even throws in some sporty aluminium pedals as well.

Renault Megane RS 2021-2022 Safety Features

There aren’t a particularly large number of advanced safety features when it comes to the Renault Megane RS which is a bit of an oddity in today’s automotive climate. The only listed items on its specification sheet are things like ESC, ASR (stability control), ABS with EBD, and brake assist. Beyond this, you also get six airbags throughout the cabin.

Renault Megane RS 2021-2022 Strengths & Weakness

There’s no doubt that the Renault Megane RS has become a far more mature product – not least of which is indicated by the fact that it now comes exclusively in a five-door form rather than the three-door layout that was used of generations past. In a way that’s also a nod to the fact that it’s becoming more and more difficult to develop bespoke platforms for performance cars – or even sportier platforms as the market shares are shifting towards other body styles and take-up drops.

The interior is definitely a far sight better than its predecessor, as are the material choices on the whole and the aesthetics. However, there is most definitely a certain measure of substance that is missing from the current generation – a bit of magic that made the Renault Megane RS something to be both feared and revered.

In isolation, the current Renault Megane RS is a good enough hot hatchback with the right components and elements to fit the description. That being said, it isn’t nearly as playful as its predecessors were in terms of the way the chassis reacted to inputs, and the overall power delivery and feel just isn’t as fun. The lap times may indicate that this new car is quicker, but it certainly isn’t as fun in practice.

Renault Megane RS 2021-2022 Price

As of today, you can only purchase the Renault Megane RS in a singular variant: the 300 Trophy with the EDC automatic transmission. This variant goes for RM 326,476.61 if you buy it in Peninsular Malaysia. There are additional cost options such as the Orange Tonic and Liquid Yellow paint colours tacking on RM 9,000 to the purchase price, as well as various tinting options between Raytech and V-Kool.

Renault Megane RS 2021-2022 Features

In terms of features, the Renault Megane RS isn’t fitted with a particularly varied list of items. Both the infotainment system and the instrument cluster are 7-inch units, the former being a touch screen with Bluetooth connectivity and the latter being a TFT screen that allows for personalized designs. One feature that has also helped the Renault Megane RS maintain its competitive edge over the rest is the inclusion of a torsen-type LSD from factory, offering better traction when putting the power down on the exit of a corner.

Renault Megane RS 2021-2022 Fuel Consumption

The manufacturer quoted fuel consumption rating for the Renault Megane RS 300 Trophy is 8.1 litres per 100 kilometres, or roughly 12.3 kilometres per litre. The problem however is that this figure is contingent on someone driving relatively sedately and not wringing the engine out – which is going to be a very common driving style when it comes to performance cars. As with all turbocharged engines, fuel consumption increases quite dramatically depending on the way you drive.