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When: February 2010
Where: Ireland
What: Renault Grand Mégane GT Line
Occasion: Irish test drive
Inside & Out: 7/10
Méganes are now everywhere. Renault's full-blooded assault on to the Irish market over the past 18 months has seen them go from zero to hero and now this car is a very familiar sight.
The Grand Mégane might not be though but this might change now that we have the GT Line model and in this trim the car gets you a Sport Pack and it features 'GT Line' badging on the grille and tailgate and sits on 'Dark Metal' coloured 17" Celsium wheels.
The door mirror housings also come with a 'Dark Metal' coloured finish. Inside, 'GT line' badging can be seen on the dashboard trim strip, head rests and front door sills. The car does look the part and really lifts the look of the Grand Mégane, which wasn't the prettiest of that range.
Inside, you are getting the full bells and whistles and that means you get built in TomTom navigation as well as climate control air conditioning amongst other items. The seats are good too, supportive and comfy.
Engine & Transmission: 7/10
There car we drove had the 110hp 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine and this is a decent engine. It is little on the noisy side, but it terms of fuel economy and the all-important emissions, there is little to grumble about to be fair.
0-100km/h takes 11 seconds which isn't that bad and it can return 4.4 l/100km on the combined cycle and emissions are just 114g/km. It isn't the quietest diesel engine around with a fair bit of clatter but this gets a lot quieter on the motorway. The gearbox is slick enough, but doesn't feel as chunky and solid as some of its rivals.
Ride & Handling: 7/10
Despite the addition of a sports suspension and large alloy wheels, the Renault Mégane remains one of the most comfortable cars in the class. It offers a soft set up and doesn't really feel as agile or fun-to-drive as a Ford Focus or even the VW Golf, but lets remember that this is being offered at thousands less than both of those with much more equipment. Plus we really like the Grand Mégane model for the space it offers.
Equipment, Economy & Value for Money: 9/10
It is very hard to fault this car in this regard. You get pretty much everything on this GT Line model, from the large alloy wheels, body kit, TomTom satellite navigation, to climate control air conditioning and cruise control. Plus, the diesel engine had Band A emissions so you pay just €104 per year in annual road tax. It is a very good value car. Our model starts off life at €25,700 but if you qualify for the various discounts and are trading in a ten-year old car it can wind up costing as little as €19,900 and this is a serious bargain at that price.
CompleteCar Index: 8/10
If this car was a €25,700 car then it would probably get a 6 or 7 out of ten but the fact is that it is much easier to access this car for an awful lot less and that makes it a real bargain. The Grand Mégane, for me anyway is the best car in the Mégane range too.
Car: Renault Mégane 1.5 dCi 110 GT Line
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel
Maximum power: 110hp at 4,000rpm
Maximum torque: 240Nm at 1,750rpm
Acceleration (0-100km/h): 11 seconds
Maximum speed: 242km/h
Fuel economy (combined cycle): 4.4 litres/100km (64.2mpg)
CO2emissions: 114g/km
Motor tax band: A
Annual road tax: €104
Retail price: Official price of test car without options is €25,700