Renault Megane Sport Tourer road tests and consumer car reviews

Renault Megane Sport Tourer 2007

We have a Renault Dynamique Sport Tourer 2007 reg, purchased from a Renault dealer via "Renault to go" in 2008. We have had a clutch judder since purchasing the vehicle from Renault’s dealer in Norwich. The car is still under warranty (until April 2010), but Renault UK have refused to replace the clutch to date and will do nothing to help us. The judder has become so bad now when the clutch is warm, that it is now unsafe to pull out at junctions or roundabouts and having a baby in the car, this is really frightening me. I’ve had two near misses and am just waiting for that serious accident to happen, either to me, or to someone else. We are currently threatening Renault UK with legal action (we don’t know what else to do!), unless they try a replacement clutch in the vehicle, or indeed fix the problem they have created. Renault UK have confirmed that clutch judder is a manufacturing defect, due to the materials they use within their clutches and is a common problem with many Renaults, not just Meganes. When the clutch becomes hot, the materials used cannot grip due to lack of moisture, which causes the clutch to slip, resulting in the judder. Apparently Renault used to use asbestos in their older clutches, which worked very well, but are no longer allowed to do so under modern legislation. Renault are apparently working on a solution but will not confirm when this will be sorted and will not replace the clutch in view of this! In the meantime, everyone with a dangerous vehicle is left still driving on the road with no other option. I’m just waiting for the accident to happen. Then, if me and my baby boy are still here, I shall be suing them big time!

Responses to this review

I had to respond to this report as we have exactly the same problem as Juliette. We have a 2008 renault megane which has recently developed a judder when pulling away particulary on an incline in first and second gear, again this is noticible when the car is warm The garage claim it is not dangerous but we lose acceleration pulling off and cannot respond safely to the road conditions. Our car is a motability car for our disabled son. The garage has said that they are waiting for a modified clutch to be delivered from renault and have waved a vague two week promise at us. Meanwhile I’m waiting for that accident to happen too, particularly as we have to use short sliproads on to dual carriage ways and busy roundabouts everyday on our sons school run to his special school. Good news is that motability if the RAC agree with us about this fault being dangerous will provide us with a hire car for the duration but this situation is not satisfactory. This fault is dangerous not just inconvenient - Fiona from England

Renault Megane Sport Tourer 1.9dci 2004

Having had Renault’s before I was aware of the cost of parts and labour, which are not cheap in comparrison to other brands. Therefore it was important to find a good example with service history. After getting a 70k model the first thing I had to do was get a service and cambelt change, be aware that most independant garages are recomending a water pump change and gave good reasons to do so... Renault did not! Renault agents were expensive as you would expect at £670 for service and belt. The paint work is what I have found not to good, it appears to be quite thin and the undercoat on my blue version does come through rather easily. The isofix seat in the rear is also suspect as constant use of it down does tend to mishapen it and therefor create problems getting it to sit correctly. Fuel economy seems to be very good at around 37 around town. It is early days for us, but this is what has jumped out at us so far.

Renault Megane Sport Tourer 130 Dynamique 2007

I'm really impressed with this car. It's pitched at the mid-market 'family car' end of which there is loads of choice, but I think it feels a notch above. I have had Saabs previously but frankly I prefer this at 60% of the cost! It's a 130hp diesel and goes ***** well! Overtaking is really brisk for a 1.9 litre and it cruises at about 2,500 rpm/80mph which keeps the fuel bills down nicely. The suspension is nicely set up where you don't dread the potholes, and it sticks to the road fine. It's got all the toys you need except Climate Control but the manual a/c is fine really. Oddly I miss the rain sensitive wipers my previous Primera had but it doesn't keep me awake at night! It's not a huge car but unless you've got a big family or need to cart loads of stuff around a lot I can't imagine you'd have any problems with space. It's a bit of a Tardis! Everything else is covered as you'd expect from a car in the 'noughties', let's face it, it's quite hard to find a really bad car these days. I lease mine, but I think it costs about £17,000 to buy. Not the cheapest car by a long way but I think it represents good value against other makes. It feels as well built as a Golf (the benchmark still). It must be safe (it's a Renault) and to be honest I can only think brand snobbery should stop you getting one over a Volvo S40 estate or Audi A3 5dr. Renault have never been considered particularly 'posh' but this car feels really well sorted. I'm converted, Thought I might treat myself to a Laguna next time, but this actually is big enough!

Renault Megane Sport Tourer Dynamique 2005

I own a 55 reg with the 17" alloys and split tail gate. Having done 12,000 miles (it’s the wife car!) it has been very very good. Only one weird problem.... the door leaks water and it collects in the storage holder at the bottom. This same problem happens on my friends Megane. Very comfortable and an impressive list of standard features. More than a BMW! I can recommend this car without any hesitation. 5 out of 5!

Renault Megane Sport Tourer 1460 Turbodiesel 2006

Owned the car for 16 months now; sparkling performance from a little engine with a surprising turn of torque for 1460 cc. Economy is good too; I never believe manufacturers mpg figures because I don’t drive like their testers - I live in a real world where town driving has a real time effect on economy. This serves to focus on the economy of 48 mpg around town that I’ve experienced. A good load carrier - buy the roof bars for £70 for a real carry car. A shame that at six feet tall the back seats won’t fold down flat when I’m driving, but the split rear seats are good. Comfort, cosseted by leather panels, is reasonably good with loads of adjustment and the adjustable steering wheel really does work to find a good driving position. Steering is not overly light as some have claimed, but I know what they mean when they say there’s little feel, it’s true but so what. Six-speed box is very light to operate and gives quiet motorway cruising ability with a genuine tank measured 59 mpg on motorway work over 400 miles. Not many cars can achieve that! When we ordered the car, I was prepared to pay the additional pounds for the 17 inch alloys, but the salesman advised against them. Having driven the same car with the 17 inchers, how right he was because the wheel comes as standard with a lower profile tyre which may fill the wheel arch in a visually attractive way but you lose out on the comfort and road noise aspect. Headlights - main beam needs more power/longer throw but that may be me at 59 years old. Climate control is excellent; all cars will have this eventually, but this is the first that I’ve had which actually works when your tie’s done up in a summer traffic jam. We ordered a dark grey one with cream (no other colour available!) fully expecting to be frequently busy with the cleaning chemicals but I’m amazed to find that it’s survived without a single wipe over during our tenure. Build quality is good as are the materials; having been a VW buyer for 30 years, I was prepared to be disappointed and critical but I am genuinely pleased as no rattles have papered and no part has fallen or vibrated off, and I don’t expect it to.