You can’t talk about the family car market without mentioning the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">VW Golf</a>, but while it might have a more upmarket image than the Megane you’ll pay a lot more for a car of an equivalent age, specification, power output and mileage.

The same is true, albeit to a lesser extent, of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/review/n37">Ford Focus</a>, although opting for one of these over the Renault will also buy you a more involving driving experience and much sharper steering response.

Conversely, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/308/hatchback/review/n17380">Peugeot 308</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/c4/hatchback/review/n22373">Citroen C4</a> are similarly cheap to buy but not quite as good to drive as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-e-tech/hatchback/review/n24175">Renault Megane</a>.

<a href="http://www.whatcar.com/classifieds/used-cars/renault/megane/">Find a used Renault Megane in the What Car? Classifieds here</a>

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The Megane hasn’t always enjoyed the best reputation for reliability, but this third-generation model was a vast improvement on its predecessors. That said, some of the interior plastics can still scratch easily so ensure they don’t look too scruffy and test all of the electrical equipment works as it should.

If you’re after an automatic gearbox there’s a choice of CVT, torque converter or EDC dual-clutch units depending on the age of the car and what engine is powering it, so it’s worth trying a couple to see which you prefer. However, keep in mind that both the CVT and torque converter gearboxes seem to have more than their fair share of problems.

The diesel particulate filter that’s fitted to some versions of the 1.5-litre dCi has been known to clog if the car isn’t taken on regular long runs, so unless that describes your style of driving you’ll be better off with a petrol engine.

While <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/renault">Renault</a> didn’t manage a top half finish in the 2017 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2021-what-car-reliability-survey/n23397">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>, it’s worth noting that the Renault Megane itself did pretty well, scoring a solid 83% overall. That suggests that it should be a pretty dependable buy.

<h3>&nbsp;</h3>

Hatchback

Hatchbacks, SUVs, fast cars, electric cars: Renault makes them all, in a variety of shapes and sizes, so it has a line-up designed to tempt pretty much everyone.

From the roadside, the standout feature of them all is the design, with its cars now having a distinctive look that has won the firm a legion of fans for its flair and charm.

To drive and to own, the line-up is typically decent rather than outstanding. Best of the cars when they are rated against rivals are the Kadjar SUV, the fast RS models and the electric Zoe.

With new and used pricing also keen – and Target Price discounts through our New Car Buying marketplace usually more generous than most – there is the opportunity to negotiate an appealing price.

RENAULT

MEGANE

The Renault Megane might not be the flashiest family car around, but with prices as cheap as they are it’s still worth considering

Used Renault Megane Hatchback 2008 - 2016

One of the reasons for the popularity of the 1.5-litre diesel is that road tax won’t cost anymore than £30 per year. Indeed, find a car with this engine that also has stop-start fitted and the sub-100g/km CO2 output ensures you won’t pay a penny.

Most other engines range from £135 to £190 per year to tax, with the exception being the GT models at up to £240 per year.

As far as fuel consumption goes, the standout model is the 1.5-litre dCi, which managed up to 80mpg in economy-optimised Eco guise. However, in the real world this engine returns more like 55mpg, which is about the same as the more powerful 1.6-litre dCi, and 5mpg more than the earlier 1.9-litre diesel.

As with their diesel counterparts, the petrol engines aren’t as efficient in real world driving conditions as the official test results suggest, with all models hovering between 30-35mpg.

You also need to factor in that all engines require a new timing belt every five years or 60,000 miles at a cost of £500 or more if you want it done at a main dealer.

Minor services (which should be carried out every 12 months or 10,000 miles regardless of what the handbook says) cost from £140 for petrol Meganes or £190 for diesels, although again you’ll be able to reduce costs by going outside the dealer network.

<h3>&nbsp;</h3>

The Renault Megane might not be the flashiest family car around, but with prices as cheap as they are it’s still worth considering

One of the worst things about the Megane for those buying one new is the heavy depreciation it suffers. For used car buyers, however, this makes it much more affordable than most of its rivals. You can pay as little as £1200 for a high-mileage third-generation Megane, and something close to £2500 will get you an early, low spec car that hasn’t been to the moon and back.

The more interesting cars start from £3000, which will either buy you a 2009 Megane with less than 70,000 miles on the clock, or a 2012 model that has covered a six-figure distance.

Increasing your budget closer to £5000 will buy you anything from a 20,000-mile 1.6-litre petrol from 2010 to a post-facelift 2014 car with 90,000 miles on the clock and the top-spec 1.6-litre diesel engine.

With £7000 to spend you can buy a low-mileage post-facelift car with almost whatever engine takes your fancy. The market tops out at about £11,000 for a late and very low mileage car, but if you’re spending that kind of money you’ll be better off looking at a fourth-generation Megane instead.

In terms of engines, unless you need the longer range from a tank of fuel that comes with a diesel we’d lean towards petrol power. The 1.2-litre TCe is tempting here, but in reality the vast majority of Meganes are fitted with the 1.6-litre VVT unit, making it the logical choice.

Renault offered a frankly bewildering number of trim levels over the Megane’s lifetime as well as numerous special editions such as the iMusic, Knight Edition and Limited, all of which can represent great value on the used market.

Even entry-level Extreme models (later called ‘Generation’) are fitted with air-conditioning, a CD player and electronic stability control, so are hardly sparsely equipped. Features such as alloy wheels, Bluetooth and USB connectivity can be found on most models above this, and a healthy supply of cars also include sat-nav (denoted by ‘Nav’ or ‘TomTom’ in the trim name). Rather than looking at a particular spec level therefore, our advice when it comes to the Megane is to search based on engine and mileage, and then choose a model with your preferred options.

Our favourite <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-e-tech/hatchback/review/n24175">Renault Megane</a>: 1.6 VVT Dynamique

<h3>&nbsp;</h3>

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of practical space </li> <li>Low running costs </li> <li>A comfortable ride </li> <li>A healthy equipment list </li> <li>Quality materials and thoughtful touches inside </li> <li>Rock-solid reliability</li></ul>

Family cars arguably have the toughest brief of all: they have to be good at pretty much everything. They’re used as the daily drive, on the school run or work commute (often both), and have to be able to cope with a family’s clutter on weekends and holidays.

Family

With so many Meganes for sale there’s no reason to settle for an example that hasn’t been well maintained. A full service history is one good indication of this, but also check the body panels for scratches, dents or mismatched paintwork, and ensure the tyres have a decent amount of tread on them and are from a known brand. After all, if the previous owner has skimped on tyres they might also have neglected fixing other problems.

There have been a handful of recalls for the third-generation Megane, most notably to do with potentially faulty airbags and power steering on cars built up to 2011. Additionally, braking performance on later Meganes could be affected if work isn’t carried out to the brake vacuum pump. If you contact a Renault dealer with the car’s registration number, they can tell you if any necessary recall work has been carried out.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-e-tech/hatchback/review/n24175">Renault Megane</a> has been around since 1995 when it replaced the Renault 19, and went on to spawn several different body styles, including the taller <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/scenic/mpv/used-review/n1002">Renault&nbsp;Scenic</a>, longer estate, sportier coupe and, er, breezier cabriolet. In this review we’ll be talking about the five-door hatchback version of the third-generation Megane, which arrived in the UK in 2008 with a range of petrol and diesel engines.

As with previous Meganes, this version obtained a full five-star rating in Euro NCAP’s industry standard crash tests at launch, although this was subsequently reduced to four stars when retested in 2014 under tougher conditions.

Renault also took the unusual step of prioritising a big boot over space for rear-seat passengers, so there’s appreciably more room for luggage or baby buggies than you get in a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/review/n37">Ford Focus</a> or a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">VW Golf</a> of the same vintage. However, if you want to carry a tall rear passenger or perhaps a rear-facing child seat on an Isofix base in the back seats you wouldn’t want the person in the front to be too much taller than 5ft, and even then, head room is a little tight.

Interior quality is a mixed bag, with the main dashboard feeling quite plush while some of the other panels and control are a little flimsy. Renault’s music system is also fiddly to use, and programming the optional TomTom sourced sat-nav can be tricky because its controls are located by the handbrake.

As for the driving experience the Megane does a solid enough job of being composed and comfortable without ever threatening to offer much in the way of fun. The range of petrol engines earlier in the Megane’s life included a 1.6-litre with 99bhp or 108bhp, a 1.4-litre turbo with 128bhp, or a 2.0-litre turbo with 178bhp. A smooth and punchy 115bhp 1.2-litre TCe turbo was added to the range in 2012.

On the diesel front buyers of early cars can choose between 1.5- and 1.9-litre engines with power outputs ranging from 84bhp to 128bhp. These were later joined by a 1.5-litre dCi with 108bhp or the 1.6-litre dCi with 128bhp.

In 2014, the Megane received a more modern grille design in line with Renault’s other cars. Shortly after this GT models were re-launched with more powerful 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines, uprated suspension and sportier looks, but even in this guise the Megane is no hot hatch to drive.

Used Renault Megane Hatchback 2008 - 2016 review

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With so many Meganes for sale there’s no reason to settle for an example that hasn’t been well maintained. A full service history is one good indication of this, but also check the body panels for scratches, dents or mismatched paintwork, and ensure the tyres have a decent amount of tread on them and are from a known brand. After all, if the previous owner has skimped on tyres they might also have neglected fixing other problems.,There have been a handful of recalls for the third-generation Megane, most notably to do with potentially faulty airbags and power steering on cars built up to 2011. Additionally, braking performance on later Meganes could be affected if work isn’t carried out to the brake vacuum pump. If you contact a Renault dealer with the car’s registration number, they can tell you if any necessary recall work has been carried out.,,The Megane hasn’t always enjoyed the best reputation for reliability, but this third-generation model was a vast improvement on its predecessors. That said, some of the interior plastics can still scratch easily so ensure they don’t look too scruffy and test all of the electrical equipment works as it should.,If you’re after an automatic gearbox there’s a choice of CVT, torque converter or EDC dual-clutch units depending on the age of the car and what engine is powering it, so it’s worth trying a couple to see which you prefer. However, keep in mind that both the CVT and torque converter gearboxes seem to have more than their fair share of problems.,The diesel particulate filter that’s fitted to some versions of the 1.5-litre dCi has been known to clog if the car isn’t taken on regular long runs, so unless that describes your style of driving you’ll be better off with a petrol engine.,While Renault didn’t manage a top half finish in the 2017 What Car? Reliability Survey, it’s worth noting that the Renault Megane itself did pretty well, scoring a solid 83% overall. That suggests that it should be a pretty dependable buy. 

What to look for when buying a Renault Megane 2008 - 2016, covering common problems to check for and overall vehicle reliability.

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Used Renault Megane Hatchback 2008 - 2016 review

Renault Megane 1.5 DCi I-Music Euro 4 5dr

Renault Megane 1.9 DCi Dynamique TomTom Euro 4 5dr

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