Renault unveils facelifted Megane

Renault has facelifted the Megane range for 2012 with the main changes coming under the skin with three new engines - all coming with stop/start. On the outside there are subtle updates with now seemingly de rigour LED daytime running lights while inside there are new trims including a two-tone leather pack.

The Megane hatchback, Megane Coupe and the estate Sport Tourer have all been facelifted and there are new paint colours available too - Azzuro Blue and Arctic White. But it's the engines that are the main changes. The Megane is the first model to come with the new 1.2 TCe 115 engine which features direct fuel injection and a turbocharger. It effectively replaces the 1.6-litre 16v engine and has more power and torque - now up to 190Nm. Thanks to the start/stop engine system fuel consumption is 53.3mpg while CO2 emissions are 119g/km.

The second new engine is the 1.5 dCi 110 Stop & Start which is capable of an impressive 80.7mpg and emits just 90g/km of CO2, making it one of the cleanest engines around. The final engine is the 1.6 dCi 130 Stop & Start which develops 320Nm of torque and - as the name suggests - 130PS. Economy is 70.6mpg while CO2 emissions are just 104g/km.

As with the Renault Scenic, the revised Megane is available with Visio System which features a camera fixed to the windscreen behind the rearview mirror. It has two functions - one which automatically switches from main to dipped beam headlights and the other which is a lane departure warning. If lane markings are crossed without the indicators on, visible and audible warnings are automatically activated.

Other new features include a Hill Start Assist function while Renault has finally followed pretty much every other manufacturer and fitted three-flash one-touch indicators. Why it has taken the brand this long is anyones guess. Elsewhere, all radios are now equipped with Bluetooth as USB/jack sockets which enable music stored on mobile devices to be controlled by the vehicle’s steering wheel-mounted fingertip control.