Renaultsport Megane 250
Hot hatch goes out with a bang as it meets predecessor.
After more than six months on the Auto Express fleet, we’re about to say goodbye to our Renaultsport Mégane. And what better way to bid farewell than to line it up with the most famous version of its predecessor?
Watch our Renaultsport Megane do battle with the R26.R on video
Renault’s motorsport division developed a fitting sign-off for the previous-generation Mégane in the guise of the stunning the R26.R. The zero-compromise hot hatch sacrificed creature comforts to deliver a scintillating driving experience. We wanted to know how the latest model compared to its famous forebear, so we arranged a meeting...
We borrowed this R26.R from driver training company The Drivers Club, and headed to the twisty Curborough Sprint track in Staffordshire to see how our pair of fast Renaults compared.
Look through the plastic rear windscreen of the R26.R, and you’ll see there are no back seats, while the bare weave of the carbon fibre bonnet is another clear example of this car’s weight saving focus. The spartan cabin and bold exterior graphics ensure it looks the part, too, and with only 159 examples sold in the UK, it’s a sure-fire future classic.
When we first tested the car in 2008, we felt it was the best Renaultsport model ever made and proclaimed it the ultimate trackday hatchback. Three years on, the latest Mégane 250 shares lots of the R26.R’s winning traits. The biggest surprise, though, was that our long-term model was faster around the twisty course, which included a standing start and three laps of the narrow track’s handling loop.
We’d fitted fresh front tyres prior to the test, and the Michelin Pilot Sports were better suited to the wet and cold conditions of our test than the R26.R’s hard-compound rubber.
Plus, as we took all the twisty bits in second gear, the newer car’s 30Nm torque advantage came into its own. So, although it’s 157kg heavier, our long-termer accelerated faster and gripped harder than its racy cousin.
Head to a faster and more open circuit in dry conditions, and we suspect the lightweight R26.R would have the edge. But driving these Renaults back-to-back has confirmed what we’ve already established in six months of motoring: the Mégane 250 is no ordinary hot hatch.
That’s not say it’s perfect, asI’ve endured a schizophrenic relationship with HN10 FHZ.
On the right road, or track, the optional £1,200 Cup chassis upgrades and limited-slip differential mean it comes alive and delivers a thrilling experience. If anything, it’s too good, as the limits are so high that the speeds at which it becomes really engaging can rarely be experienced on the road.
And that’s where we’ve struggled to get along. The incredibly firm suspension and sports seats give me backache on longer drives, so I fall out of love with the Mégane in day-to-day use.
At least the cabin quality is good, and the car has been pretty reliable. Our only issues have been restricted to an intermittent LED daytime running light and the passenger door, which has developed strangely uneven panel gaps.
But for all its compromises, I’ll miss the Renaultsport Mégane for those fleeting moments when it reminded me about what makes a great performance car.
