Renault Megane RS review

The basic Mégane RS is much cheaper than the more powerful Honda Civic Type R and Volkswagen Golf R. That’s true whether you’re paying cash, signing up to a PCP deal or getting one as a company car – and it remains the case after you’ve factored in all the bills you’re likely to face during three years of ownership.

We’ve driven the Cup and Trophy versions only in the UK so far, but we suspect the former will be the sweet spot of the range for most buyers. It doesn’t cost that much more than the softer-edged regular Sport variant and really ramps up the aggression. That said, while the Trophy looks much more expensive than the basic car on paper, once you’ve factored in the cost of the Cup chassis, upgraded brakes and larger wheels, the gap narrows massively. Indeed, you’re only paying a few hundred quid for more power, a fruitier exhaust and lightweight battery. If you plan on a few trackdays, it’s the one to go for.

Standard equipment is pretty generous and includes climate control, LED headlights, rear parking sensors and keyless entry. We’d recommend adding metallic paint and, more importantly, the Safety Pack Premium, which adds automatic emergency braking (AEB) – a crucial safety aid that really should be fitted as standard.

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