MEGA SPACE (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 98

MPVs tend to dominate the limelight with their versatile interiors and clever storage solutions, but the estate car will still be a better solution for many families. This Renault Megane Sport Tourer, an estate based on the Megane hatch, is a great example of a compact station wagon, especially in this post-2016-era MK4 form, where it gained sleek looks, solid driving dynamics and lots of space in its well-designed boot area. Later versions got extra sophistication inside - and under the bonnet, where E-TECH plug-in hybrid tech was on later models offered at the top of the range.

Modelsword count: 16

1.2, 1.3, 1.6, 1.8 [petrol] / 1.5, 1.6 [diesel] [Play, Iconic, Dynamique Nav, GT, R.S. Line]

Historyword count: 254

Have you got a young family? Then you need an SUV. At least, that's what the advertisements tell us. On TV and in the press, the SUV is set up as the ultimate route to wholesome family life. Beaming children spill from its wide door openings, bikes, kites and kitchen sinks are lifted from its huge boot and the seats magically flip, fold and twirl so the most can be made of its cavernous interior. It's all very convincing but where does it leave the good old fashioned estate car? It's certainly been eclipsed in recent years by the SUV, but does it still have a role to play? Renault thinks it does and between 2016 and 2022, found space in its fourth generation Megane line-up for this Sport Tourer estate variant, a car with the longest load capacity in its segment. Renault has probably done as much as any other manufacturer to promote the idea that families need an SUV, rather than a car like this Megane. From the pioneering Captur to the big selling Kadjar, the growth in the popularity of compact crossovers owes a lot to this French brand. But nailing all your colours to one mast is never a great idea, so in this period, Renault didn't give up on the good old traditional estate car. All right, it called it a 'Sport Tourer', but the basic 'hatch with a long tin roof' deal is as old as the hills. The Sport Tourer sold until Spring 2022 and wasn't replaced.

What You Getword count: 240

The Megane Sport Tourer isn't merely a Megane Hatch with a conservatory on the back. It's properly practical in thisMK4 form, with a 580-litre boot and potentially, the longest load area in the segment from its period, at almost 2.8m (assuming you take advantage of the fold-flat front passenger seat you can only have with base 'Iconic' spec petrol engine models). The modular boot is extremely straightforward to use and its floor has two positions. Selecting the high position creates a flat floor when the rear seat is folded to facilitate the loading of bulky items. In this configuration, further storage space is available beneath the cargo bay. Alternatively, setting the floor in its lower position creates maximum load volume in a single area. Nice touches include lateral storage bins on each side of the boot, next to the wheel arches. In addition, there's a hook on both sides from which bags can be hung. As an option, a luggage safety net that can be used vertically was available. It is also possible to separate the boot into two compartments, front and rear, to prevent items from sliding around. Thanks to handles located within the boot area, Renault's Easy Folding system enables simple unlocking and automatic folding of the 60/40-split rear seat. Visual changes to the post-'20-era improved model were centred around the headlights, no longer of the old fashioned halogen variety but of the Renault 'LED Pure Vision' type.

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