RE: Renault Sport Megane 280 vs. Hyundai i30 N

[minismithy90]

Good read was that. We are spoilt for choice these days and i really wouldn’t have a clue to which one i’d buy.

[British Beef]

Megane looks nice on the outside, but the dashboard..... it looks designed to have a Tesla style giant 18" IPad, but then they fitted a 7" version with lots of cheap looking plastic around it.

I am amazed that in this day and age a large flat screen with touch screen controls replacing air con and all infotainment is not cheaper than still having all the vrious switches and knobs still present on most cars.

[Vocht]

I agree, great read!

This really is a fantastic time to be in the market for a hot hatch. For me though, I think the Renault is too little too late. It just isn't a strong enough proposition in a single 'niche' within the sector.

If I wanted any of the below niches, there's something for them already and at better value.

Want lairy and fwd? Civic Type R.
Lairy and awd? Focus RS
Understated fwd? i30 N
Understated awd? Golf R/S3
Rwd? M140i
Premium awd? RS3/A45

[Raoul Duke]

Interesting read, think on balance I'd probably prefer the Hyundai out of those two, personally.
Am currently giving serious consideration to replacing the Audi co. car with one of these latest hot hatches at the moment.
However, the current front runner is neither of these two, with the 308 gti currently looking the most likely choice with its lighter kerbweight and passive only dampers appealing more to my desire for something with a more old school feel.
Provided I can forgive its touch screen for everything layout and ignore my sensible head with it's repeated shouting of just get the golf!!

[loose cannon]

framerateuk said:

Yeah exactly. The 265 has positive reviews all round, yet the only difference was the 15bhp hike in power (and the updated speedo cluster that didn't turn invisible in cloudy weather).

Took me ages to get used to driving my Caterham and build the confidence. The same was true of the last Megane, I didn't appreciate how early you could get on the throttle in corners until I'd owned the car a while. That's going to be even more pronounced with the new rear-steer system.

I didn’t find that with mine I found it to be like an old friend within the first day of owning it but then I had an r26 before that so it was just a better screwed together r26 for me but with a better gearbox, I will have a test drive at some point if that is ever possible but I think I already no I don’t want it tbh it has to many nots for me already, engine, doors ,rear lights,
horrid digidash, horrible pad on the dash which seems unavoidable in any new car and Those seats bit crap ain’t they coming from the lovely ones in my current megane,
Perhaps I will change my mind on it once I have driven it, but it has a very very tall order indeed
To get past all the negatives I don’t like about it

[anonymous-user]

As much as I like the Megane I can't get over how bland it looks, same goes for the Hyundai.

[rob.e]

@ Matt when are we going to get a Megane RS vs. Civic Type R review?


Also, on pricing, there's no reason why IMO the renault needs to be that expensive. My order is pretty basic so it's still a sub-30k car (just!)

[WCZ]

the megane looks huge to me!
I'd find it hard to look past a 2 year old RS3 personally at the 30k price range

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Vocht said:

I agree, great read!

This really is a fantastic time to be in the market for a hot hatch. For me though, I think the Renault is too little too late. It just isn't a strong enough proposition in a single 'niche' within the sector.

If I wanted any of the below niches, there's something for them already and at better value.

Want lairy and fwd? Civic Type R.
Lairy and awd? Focus RS
Understated fwd? i30 N
Understated awd? Golf R/S3
Rwd? M140i
Premium awd? RS3/A45

Totally agree on the choice options, especially when you consider everything else available such as Seats, Focus Sts, M140/M240 etc etc

Depending on who's doing what cheap PCP lease or whatever there is absolutely something for everyone.

My Type-R will hit the 3 year old mark next spring and I really want to keep it until 5 years old as I like it so much but with all the options, itchy feet is hard to ignore!

[otolith]

Matt Bird said:

FestivAli said:

Here is a proper test. South Wales, that tight troupe of tarmac ribbons just beneath the Brecon Beacons, and the Hyundai i30 N; a car as shocking to the hot hatch world as Sandy was to the T-Birds at the end of Grease""

Troy Queefe, is that you?

Busted. I promise the original edit was slightly different...

Troy Queefe after watching a little too much of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall ardently alliterating.

[C.A.R.]

That Meganne looks gopping to me - far worse than the outgoing model.

The Hyundai looks great IMO. Yes, it's not a lairy colour like the Renault, but it has all the right cues in the right places. The red details, the not-OTT spoiler.

I hired an i30 recently - only a basic 1.4t - and was thoroughly impressed. The infotainment screen is as fast and responsive as my VW Golf and it also included access to android auto / apple carplay - on the "Premium" cars this feature is a subscription you must pay extra for, even though it's just dealer-activated!! Infuriating.

I'd have the i30N all day long at that price point.

[AmosMoses]

I really need some seat time in a Megane, if it drives better than the i30 N it must be be amazing!

I do prefer the looks of the Megane, it has that wide stance like my 197 which looks awesome on a hatchback.

[Alex-i4e8x]

I read the entire review without knowing if the Megane had the Cup chassis option, it was only revealed in the specs section - given how important the Cup chassis option is to the dynamics of the car, shouldn't this detail be one of the first points to cover?

I would take a zero optioned Megane, although the interior looks terrible. i30N is very appealing apart from all the configurable settings, they put me off buying a new car.

[CrippsCorner]

It's funny everyone saying how much choice we have these days when it comes to hot hatches! You're absolutely right... but for me, I only want a 3 door, so there's less choice than ever lol. I think I only have the Fiesta ST, MINI JCW and Golf GTI/R left?

Anyhoo, I think these two do look like good motors and it's so, so impressive of Hyundai to get so close to Renault as a first attempt. Can't wait to see one on the roads! The Megane colour looks great, I wonder how good the car would look in a boring colour.

[ZX10R NIN]

Hyundai have done a cracking job on the i30N it's a great drive (I had one for the TT) but it's also good to hear Renault have retained their magic.

[irish boy]

Really like the look of the i30, seems to be a superb all round package from all I've read.

[Frimley111R]

I'm not sure what people are expecting of the Trophy. It's just this car with the Cup chassis, 20bhp more and a few minor tweaks. It's not going to be any big step up for the car.

[Frimley111R]

irish boy said:

Really like the look of the i30, seems to be a superb all round package from all I've read.

Its good. Perhaps the only thing against it is its quite heavy compared to its competitors iirc.

[Vitorio]

CrippsCorner said:

It's funny everyone saying how much choice we have these days when it comes to hot hatches! You're absolutely right... but for me, I only want a 3 door, so there's less choice than ever lol. I think I only have the Fiesta ST, MINI JCW and Golf GTI/R left?

Anyhoo, I think these two do look like good motors and it's so, so impressive of Hyundai to get so close to Renault as a first attempt. Can't wait to see one on the roads! The Megane colour looks great, I wonder how good the car would look in a boring colour.

Abarth 595? The competizione isnt shy for power with 180hp in what is still a tiny little box of a car.

[nickfrog]

Frimley111R said:

I'm not sure what people are expecting of the Trophy. It's just this car with the Cup chassis, 20bhp more and a few minor tweaks. It's not going to be any big step up for the car.

Yes I would be surprised if there was more than the small power increase and cosmetic stuff which was the case last time round.