RE: Renault Sport Megane 280 vs. Hyundai i30 N

[Frimley111R]

nickfrog said:

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.

According to Performance French Cars magazine this month:

Power upped to 300bhp
Torque to 400Nm
Cup chassis
19" alloys
Bi-material brake discs

[bimbeano]

loose cannon said:

I’m a massive fan of Renault hot hatches but I just can’t help thinking the new megane isn’t really going to be up to the job of replacing my
Current megane rs, it seems to have done a new clio and we havn’t even had any proper test’s yet
I have seen nothing yet to remotely convince me of changing mine and less steering feel
It’s not the first time that has been mentioned
I’m so glad I didn’t order one without driving it first, I will reserve judgement untill I drive it
But it isnt looking good to me already tbh
And if that fake alacantra is the same quality as clio 182 alacantra then it’s going to wear out in 3 seconds which was just about ok in the cheap clio, but it won’t be ok in this at the price point

Edited by loose cannon on Wednesday 4th July 08:52

Your current Megane RS will always feel more 'real' than this new Mégane 4 RS.
I have this new one with the same spec (grey metallic though) since 7 weeks and done 4200 km and i must say i feared worse. Honestly it is an absolute joy to drive both slow and fast but yes it has grown up (evolution they call it apparently).
IMO this new RS is just developed to sell to a broader public and that's why i don't doubt the Trophy manual version will be an absolute hoot to drive.

About the fake Alcantara ... i'm not sure if it's fake but i ave the impression you cannot compare to the Clio 2 .... looks the same as my former 2015 BMW 120 with the M-seats.

In the end i still like my KW-fitted Clio 3 RS more than my Megane but i needed an auto-box (for the wifey)... so i guess i made the best choice not ;-) ;-) ;-)

[bimbeano]

yonex said:

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

Maybe check it out in the flesh ... i've had nothing than positive and crazy reactions to the way it looks.
If it looks bland to you , you probably need to buy a Lambo :-)

[Ahbefive]

I do like both of these cars. And I still think starting a sentence with "And" is clumsy.

I'd be happy to own either of these.

[bimbeano]

Maldini35 said:

I enjoyed that.

Result feels a little biased but no overly so.

Glad to see RS still have the magic.

Still enjoying my old 172 Cup too much to be tempted....yet.
But then it’s quite a jump from £2k to £30k.

By reading a lot of negative things here about this Megane RS .. all i can say is you can have more fun in a Clio 182 than this new Megane.
So why did i buy this new Megane RS ? ( i also kept my Clio 3 RS) ... simple because i can pay for it (that's what i think at least) and i needed a new (extra) car.
In the end i know i will enjoy my Clio 3 RS more for local driving, but the Megane for the longer trips .... 'best' of both worlds i suppose.

By the way ... how many of the posters here have driven the new RS yet ... héhé ... ;-)

[Terminator X]

Seen a couple of i30Ns and tbf they look really good in that blue colour. Sounded good too.

TX.

[Matt Bird]

Raoul Duke said:

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!!

Thanks! 308 comes very highly recommended too, really like those.

[Matt Bird]

Ahbefive said:

I do like both of these cars. And I still think starting a sentence with "And" is clumsy.

I'd be happy to own either of these.

You're probably right... Noted for future!

[Matt Bird]

Alex-i4e8x said:

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.

Valid point! Apologies. It's in the headline now...

[DanielSan]

I know the Hyundai dash screen isn’t a perfect location but how does it look more integrated than the bodge-job looking effort that looks like someone has cut half the air vents out in the Renault?

[Salamura]

Good read. I have no doubt the the new Megane is a cracker, as people tended to say that the original 225 was underwhelming, and I foind it fantastic. I'd definitely have the Megane over the Hyundai. In my eyes it looks much much better, I prefer the design of the interior, and the chassis will almost certainly be better, even in non-cup form. The engine for me is always of secondary importance for a good hot hatch, and these new turbo lumps are all more or less the same in terms of character and power delivery.

I also like the fact the Renault have decided to go for a good passive set-up instead of adjustable dampers. The only thing that puzzles me is the statement that the steering is not as communicative as on the old Megane. The previous car also had EPAS, so I'm surprised that Renault haven't carried it over after all the praise it has received over the years.

[J4CKO]

I suspect the Hyundai will sell more, they are pushing it like nothing else and list for list its cheaper, plus I am guessing there will be more deals around, think the Renault may be more like the CIvic Type R, i.e. its an option but not that many go for them as they wind up being expensive.

WIll be interesting to see if Hyundai do some decent deals and whether it becomes cost effective to lease.

I think they look equally good, the Hyundai is fast enough and a bit yobbish (in a good way) it handles pretty well, the Renault may be better but the Hyundai is plenty good enough in all areas, its not like its an understeering unruly pig of a thing in comparison.

[kambites]

There certainly seems to be loads of i30Ns around here, which considering the relative lack of cheap HP/lease deals is quite surprising. I suppose Hyundai (and Kia) probably attract more cast buyers than most mainstream brands since they seem to be aimed at people who keep their cars for significant periods of time.

[Itsallicanafford]

We run a 2016 275 Cup-S with ohlins, akropovic, recarros etc.

Reading this review I’m thinking that keeping the cup- s and having a sport chassis Mk4 EDC as the family hack could work as they sound like they could be quite different animals.

[rb_89]

kambites said:

There certainly seems to be loads of i30Ns around here, which considering the relative lack of cheap HP/lease deals is quite surprising. I suppose Hyundai (and Kia) probably attract more cast buyers than most mainstream brands since they seem to be aimed at people who keep their cars for significant periods of time.

I've only seen one being driven round where I live, (sounded mega!) which considering I have a massive hyundai dealer 2 miles from my house, is surprising.

Although thinking about it, probably not, since most of the towns aging population seems to drive round in a hyundai i10 at 20mph

[FN2TypeR]

A great read and two superb cars; I'd take the i30N personally, it intrigues me and I think that it looks great, plus it's a little different/left field, I wouldn't blame anybody for choosing the Megane instead, though, what a car.

I'd take the Civic over either of them, for what it's worth.

[Ahbefive]

FN2TypeR said:

I'd take the Civic over either of them, for what it's worth.

Likewise I'd take the Focus RS over either of these or the Civic but I don't think anyone would be disappointed with just about any modern hot hatch on sale.

I think I have only seen 2 I30N's on the road and yet to see a megane.

[nickfrog]

kambites said:

There certainly seems to be loads of i30Ns around here.

Still haven't seen one in Sussex / Hampshire.

[D7Cup]

Great read.

Any comments about the Megane's gearbox?

[jl4069]

loose cannon said:

I’m a massive fan of Renault hot hatches but I just can’t help thinking the new megane isn’t really going to be up to the job of replacing my
Current megane rs, it seems to have done a new clio and we havn’t even had any proper test’s yet
I have seen nothing yet to remotely convince me of changing mine and less steering feel
It’s not the first time that has been mentioned
I’m so glad I didn’t order one without driving it first, I will reserve judgement untill I drive it
But it isnt looking good to me already tbh
And if that fake alacantra is the same quality as clio 182 alacantra then it’s going to wear out in 3 seconds which was just about ok in the cheap clio, but it won’t be ok in this at the price point

Edited by loose cannon on Wednesday 4th July 08:52

Im with you. How the hell does Renault spend years developing this chassis and then make the steering worse than before. And its not like the older cars steering wasn't electric to begin with. Crazy engineers over at Renault. j