Monday 8th January 2018

New Megane Renault Sport prices (sort of) revealed

It's 37,600 euros for the manual or 39,400 euros for the EDC, but we don't have UK prices yet...

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2018 is the year of the hot hatch, with everything from the new Fiesta ST to an A45 'Predator' expected over the next 12 months. And because Renault Sport is good at these things, the next fast Megane is one of the most eagerly anticipated. We've seen the specs, we've seen it at motor shows, we've seen the awkward pics with Nico Hulkenberg... Now all that's left is to drive the thing.

Oh yes, that and what it costs. Today European prices have been revealed - but with an English release too - confirming that the "agile, efficient and versatile" Megane R.S. will cost €37,600 in manual Sport form and €39,400 with the EDC dual-clutch transmission. At today's exchange rate that's £33,100 and £34,700 respectively. For a Cup pack you'll need another €1,500 on the Continent, which is currently around £1,300. The release available rather confusingly states that the EDC car will be available to order from February but won't have the Cup option until September, whereas the manual car will go on sale in "spring 2018" and have the Cup option box ready and waiting to be ticked. Bizarre. As a reminder the Cup pack brings - like so many great fast Renaults before it - a lower, stiffer chassis as well as mechanical limited-slip diff and red Brembo brake calipers. You're getting the manual Cup, right?

While we're on the subject of extras, it's probably worth detailing the other option prices currently released - still only for Europe, don't forget. The 19-inch 'Interlagos' wheel upgrade is €1,000 (£800), an 'Alcantara Pack' is €1,500 (£1,300), two R.S. Monitors are available at €250 (£220) or €450 (£400) with smartphone capability. Orange Tonic or Sirius Yellow 'Exclusive' colours are down as €1,600 (£1,400) and the sunroof is €800, or just over £700.

All Meganes will get 18-inch 'Magny-Cours' wheels, aluminium pedals, hydraulic bump stops (like the Clio), grey brake calipers and a sports exhaust. At least in the specification sheet currently available.

For those of us who can remember a £12,995 Clio 172 Cup 15 years ago, the idea of a regular Renault Sport Megane beyond £30K may seem extreme. Very, very different cars, yes, but still. As a point of reference a Civic Type R GT is £32,995, a DSG and five-door Golf R is £34,790 and a Hyundai i30 N Performance - perhaps the Megane's closest rival in terms of power and remit - is £27,995.

We'll eagerly await the full UK press release on prices and spec for the Megane, because we all know it's a car that has very high hopes behind it. What do you think it should cost to succeed in the UK? It's not going to be short of competition...

[Sources: Renault Sport, Autocar]

[Andy665]

That's pretty strong pricing - either confidence or arrogance at play

[David87]

I hate being the guy who moans about the price, but this does seem pretty steep. I assume that no-one will actually pay list for it?

I very nearly bought a Mégane R26 in 2008 and (fully specced), I think it was £19k. My R26.R (including Ti exhaust!) was £23,500 in 2009.

[4340BB]

Hot hatches should not be allowed to exceed £30,000

[Yipper]

£35k for a Renault...

Ahm oot.

[GrumpyTwig]

These are going to fly off the shelves

They've not had a clue how to price cars for a while, or simply can't compete. The Clio 200t was always very "rich" for the segment so this is just another step in the wrong direction.

[DanielSan]

Price will be the factor as to whether many of these are seen on the road. If they’re over £35k plus options they’ll be rare

[CraigV6]

Unless the U.K. gets pricing not linked to exchange rates, a Brexit vote has potentially added around £5k to the cost of these compared to pricing at exchange rates pre-Brexit vote.
This is the world we voted for!

[D200]

Holy cow - that is expensive!

Cup pack is basically mandatory so if those prices are right that’s £36k before other options

Plus their PCPs prob make it even more expensive

A fair bit more expensive than Civic Type R, Focus RS M140i, GolfR never mind the Golf GTI or i30N or Leon etc

The estimated price of this car was way out, most publications assumed sub £30k

[davidc1]

Ten years ago i paid just under 13 k for a 197 cup . Back in the day rs was a cheap , super focused car . Man , this car looks good , but crazy expensive. I guess alot will depend on the monthly figure ...
This has to be one if the most competitive sections of the market . Alot of quality and choice.

[anonymous-user]

Was very excited about these as it's the first 5 door megane rs, and for those of us who love fast 5dr hatches... that is fking steep.

Used at 3 years old it is!

[pmr01]

davidc1 said:

Ten years ago i paid just under 13 k for a 197 cup . Back in the day rs was a cheap , super focused car . Man , this car looks good , but crazy expensive. I guess alot will depend on the monthly figure ...
This has to be one if the most competitive sections of the market . Alot of quality and choice.

mine was a series 2 megane 225 cup in 2006 in that lovely sparkly black...£13,999 on the road.

[Hothouse]

CraigV6 said:

Unless the U.K. gets pricing not linked to exchange rates, a Brexit vote has potentially added around £5k to the cost of these compared to pricing at exchange rates pre-Brexit vote.
This is the world we voted for!

I noticed that the article mentioned "the English release" so perhaps they are pre-empting the remaining parts of the UK getting a separate more favourable trade deal. Might not help though because you would still need to pay the tax to get it back to England.

[FerdiZ28]

CraigV6 said:

Unless the U.K. gets pricing not linked to exchange rates, a Brexit vote has potentially added around £5k to the cost of these compared to pricing at exchange rates pre-Brexit vote.
This is the world we voted for!

Small price to pay.

[Jakg]

BAM225 said:

Was very excited about these as it's the first 5 door megane rs, and for those of us who love fast 5dr hatches... that is fking steep.

No it's not, the 225 / 175 came in 5 door.

[DoubleD]

Wow thats expensive

[Turbojuice]

Worth it if the head gaskets are good

[Loyly]

Pricey but the quality will shine through as it always does with the RS Meganes. Looking at the options I'd want, it's a £40,000 car. I daresay the cheaper Civic Type R would be my choice if I were looking for a hot hatch.

[406dogvan]

I get the feeling that the crazy pricing of recent 'hot hatches' (they're really FAR more than that in tech and power terms) is aimed more at creating a status point for the customers who will be LEASING them - no-one is actually mad enough to put £30-odd grand of cash into a Renault are they (let alone finance that!?)

The reality is the monthly payment - not the list price - and that will be set by whatever Renault is willing to risk 2-4 years down the road I guess...

There are lease deals out there for Civic Type-Rs and Golf Rs which simply do not make sense when you look at their list price/residuals - the payments are crazy-low in some cases, I think list price is there for no better reason than for the odd random loon who turns-up with a suitcase of cash (and yes, I know they'd not take that - it's just a metaphor!)

That said - maybe Renault just decided to bleed 'Renaultsport' customers for everything they can - Seat have done something similar with their pricing in the last few years - they're not dead yet...

[st33ly]

HAHAHA!!!!

£35k with a few options for a Megane! Like many others have said already. Not a chance!! I'll stick my money in a fast very capable AWD German car that will hold its value hell of a lot better than this will. Mental. Just mental. Or if you're smart buy a R26R or previous gen with OHlins and akra exhaust and save £17k LOL.

[kambites]

Is it expensive? What was the list price of the last generation in Euros at release? I don't really have a feel for hot hatch prices in Euros.