The Coupe-Cabriolet is, on average, an astonishing 25% heavier than the Megane hatch. This has serious implications when it comes to performance. Take the most popular 128bhp 1.4-litre petrol turbo (TCe 130.) It has to cope with a hefty, big-car 1.5-tonne kerbweight. Against the clock it takes 10.7 seconds to complete the 0-62mph dash and it tops out at 124mph. That doesn’t sound too bad even though it is a whole second slower than the hatch. On the road it’s a different story. Quite frankly the little turbo struggles and has to be worked very hard, which is completely at odds with the relaxed nature of the droptop Megane. We would avoid it and the 2.0-litre CVT petrol (0-62mph 11.7 seconds) and consider the 178bhp TCe 180 instead. That engine helps reduce the 0-62mph to 8.6 seconds and has far more low-down punch. A better bet still is the 128bhp dCi 130 and the 158bhp dCi 160 diesels. Although even then, the most powerful 2.0-litre diesel, still feels underwhelming in the performance department. Despite plenty of torque, 0-62mph takes 9.4 seconds topping out at 134mph. The firm’s new double-clutch auto is also available, but only on the base 109bhp dCi 110. The new auto offers smooth changes, but again, weight blunts its best efforts.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Renault Meganne Cabriolet
The Coupe-Cabriolet is, on average, an astonishing 25% heavier than the Megane hatch. This has serious implications when it comes to performance. Take the most popular 128bhp 1.4-litre petrol turbo (TCe 130.) It has to cope with a hefty, big-car 1.5-tonne kerbweight. Against the clock it takes 10.7 seconds to complete the 0-62mph dash and it tops out at 124mph. That doesn’t sound too bad even though it is a whole second slower than the hatch. On the road it’s a different story. Quite frankly the little turbo struggles and has to be worked very hard, which is completely at odds with the relaxed nature of the droptop Megane. We would avoid it and the 2.0-litre CVT petrol (0-62mph 11.7 seconds) and consider the 178bhp TCe 180 instead. That engine helps reduce the 0-62mph to 8.6 seconds and has far more low-down punch. A better bet still is the 128bhp dCi 130 and the 158bhp dCi 160 diesels. Although even then, the most powerful 2.0-litre diesel, still feels underwhelming in the performance department. Despite plenty of torque, 0-62mph takes 9.4 seconds topping out at 134mph. The firm’s new double-clutch auto is also available, but only on the base 109bhp dCi 110. The new auto offers smooth changes, but again, weight blunts its best efforts.
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