Renault Megane RS review - pictures

The long awaited 276bhp Renaultsport Megane R.S has stiff competition in the crowded hot hatch market.

The interior keeps the Megane look with some Renaultsport badges scattered around the place and racy red stitching.

The engine is smaller than the previous generation but the 1.8 litre turbo is more powerful and produces 276bhp and 390Nm of torque.

Both a manual and automatic gearboxes are available for the Megane R.S, following the criticism of the automatic only Clio R.S.

Four-wheel steer is standard for the Megane R.S and helps give it a stable feel through fast corners.

The portrait infotainment system groups together the sat-nav, driving modes and hi-fi controls giving the dashboard a clutter free look.

The R.S features special graphics including brake pressure and throttle percentage.  

Despite its sporty badge, the R.S is reasonably economical with a quoted 39.2 mpg.

Renaultsport badges are subtle reminders that this car is capable of hitting 60mph in under 6 seconds.

The Megane R.S builds on the standard Meganes striking looks, including the eye-catching LED’s.

The ride in the R.S is a little rough on its 19-inch wheels and you can feel the car bouncing in and out of potholes.

The exhaust notes are artificially enhanced, like most other hot hatches, with fake sounding pops on the overrun.