Renault Shifted the Megane into a new generation for the 2016 model year, bring about an all-new look that was more refined and sportier than ever. For 2018, it was time to introduce the all-new Megane R.S., a model that puts the rest of the hot hatch segment in check with its wide stance, unique body lines, commanding front end, and a motorsport-inspired, functional rear diffuser. And, at around $37,000 at current exchange rates, it’s an affordable proposition as well.

2018 Renault Megane R.S.

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2018 Renault Megane R.S.
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 280 @ 6000
  • Torque: 287 @ 2400
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

2018 Renault Megane R.S. Exterior

Renault made some serious upgrades to transform your typical Megan into an all-out R.S. model. To start off, it’s actually wider than the standard model with the rear haunches extended by 45 mm (1.77 inches) and 60 mm (2.36 inches) in the front. This is the most important structural change, but there’s a lot more going on here. In the front, there’s an all-new front fascia that takes on a Formula-1-style blade crossing the larger low air dam. Meanwhile, those larger air intakes are much more menacing. A new grille adds a bit of sportiness here as well.

Moving onto the sides, there’s a lot to write home about. The wider front and rear haunches shine clearly through and provide a nice wide look here. The trim around the rear wheel wells actually feeds down to the side skirt seamlessly, giving the car a body-kit look. That protruding trim on the door is carried over from the standard model but look at that vent on the front – it feeds into that small concave section that is filled with a badge on the standard model.

Around back, things really get dicey in a very good way. For starters, the rear fascia is completely different from the standard model featuring what I can only describe as a micro look of the front fascia, at least in the corners, anyway. In the center sits a true-to-life functional diffuser (try finding this on a Volkswagen Golf R) that is inspired by none other than F1 Motorsport.

To round off the exterior, the R.S. gets new fog lights that feature a three-diamond design up front, and you can choose from 18- and 19-inch wheels that are said to provide a better cornering performance. Finally, there is a small lip spoiler in the rear to go with the usual central exhaust outlet and an R.S. specific color that goes by the name Volcanic Orange.

Rating

-* Overall: 4.6 out of 5

-* Style: 4.5

-* Design: 5

-* Aggressiveness: 4.5

-* Functionality: 4

-* Color and Wheel Options: 5

How Big is the Renault Megane R.S.?

The Megane R.S. is 1,445 mm tall, 1,874 mm wide, and 4,372 mm long. It sits just 101 mm off the ground at it’s lowest point and has a wheelbase of 2,669 mm. Its front track width is 1,615 mm, and the rear track width is 1,596 mm. In comparison to the standard Megane, the R.S. is 60 mm wider in the front and 45 mm wider in the rear. It is small enough to fit in a single-car garage with enough room for a small toolbox in the corner.

What Colors Are Available for the Megane R.S.?

The Megane is offered in eight different colors, including Glacier White, Arctic White, Mercury, Diamond Black, Titanium Grey, Flame Red, Volcanic Orange, and Liquid Yellow. Glacier White is a non-metallic paint, while Mercury, Diamond Black, and Titanium Grey are metallic. Flame Red is a Renault i.d. metallic paint, while Volcanic Orange and Liquid Yellow are a Renault Sport i.d. metallic paint.

What Wheel Sizes Are Available for the Renault Megane R.S.?

The Renault Megane R.S. is available with Estoril 18-inch wheels in Gun Metal Grey, Interlagos 19-inch wheels in Full Black, or Interlagos 19-inch wheels in Diamond-Cut Black. The 19-inch Diamond-Cut Black Interlagos wheels are standard equipment, while the Full Black Interlagos wheels and the 18-inch Estoril wheels are available as options.

What Exterior Options are Available for the Renault Megane R.S.?

The Megane R.S. comes well-equipped, so there are few options, however, these options include metallic paint, Renault i.d. paint, Renault Sport i.d. paint, the 18-inch Estoril wheels, and the 19-inch Interlagos Diamond-Cut Black 19-inch wheels.

What Type of Exterior Lighting Does the Renault Megane R.S. Have?

The Megane R.S. comes standard with Pure Vision Full LED headlights that include an integrated C-Shape LED strip. This is complemented by the daytime running lights with LED light guides and 3d Effect. It also has R.S. Vision Full LED 3 function fog lights in the front apron. Around back, the R.S. has LED 3D Edge daytime running lights.

2018 Renault Megane R.S - exterior dimensions

Overall length 4,372 MM
Wheelbase 2,669 MM
Front overhang 916 MM
Rear overhang 786 MM
Front track 1,615 MM
Rear track 1,596 MM
Overall width without door mirrors 1,874 MM
Unladen height 1,445 MM
Ground clearance 101 MM

2018 Renault Megane R.S. Interior

The interior of the Megane R.S. screams sports car and hot hatch all at the same time. Naturally, it benefits from the Megane’s 2016 redesign, but it’s got lots of R.S.-specific goodies too. For starters, you’ll find the red trim thrown about here and there to go with the red R.S. bad on the bottom steering wheel spoke, and red accents on the hear shifter, instrument cluster, and infotainment system. The steering wheel, by the way, has an off-centered hub, so the low spoke is much shorter than the rest. It’s very sporty and interesting to look at, but it’s also necessary due to the unusually low mounting point for the instrument cluster. That’s not a big deal, though, as that makes for a less obtrusive dash and much better forward visibility. That’s what we like to call a win-win.

Other R.S.-specific cues include the aluminum pedals and the aluminum gear lever – you just can’t get these on any other Megane model. The interior itself is offered in charcoal grey with red top stitching, yet another way to accent the interior and quite nicely too we might add. Sports seats help keep you planted in the bends, and they do offer plenty of support as well as integrated headrests. Finally, the R-Link 2 infotainment system comes as standard equipment and features an 8.7-inch display that’s vertically oriented. The software built into the system is easy to use and, because it’s an R.S., has specific performance features. You can connect a phone or independent camera to record your drive, and you can analyze that data later as it will have performance data built right in. You can even share your video right from inside the car – now that’s cool.

Rating

-* Overall: 4.66 out of 5

-* Style: 5

-* Design: 5

-* Technology: 5

-* Audio: 4

-* Comfort and Safety: 4.5

-* Available Options: 4.5

What Interior Features Come Standard on the Renault Megane R.S.?

The Megane R.S. comes standard with aluminum pedals, Chrome door sills, R.S. black roof liner, Dark Carbon upholstery with red stitching, adjustable steering wheel, front and rear door ambient lighting, R.S. sports seats with integrated headrests, Nappa leather steering wheel and gear shifter, and a seven-inch digital instrument cluster to complement the R Link 2 seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

What Convenience Features Does the Renault Megane R.S. Have?

The Megane R.S. comes standard with cruise control, dual-zone heating and air conditioning, electrically folding mirrors, electrochrome rearview mirror, LED interior lighting, front and rear 12-Volt sockets, hands-free keycard, heated door mirrors, Isofix anchors in the rear, and one-touch windows.

What Safety Features Does the Renault Megane R.S. Have?

The Megane R.S. comes standard with driver and passenger adaptive airbags, stability control, ABS with emergency brake assist, hill start assist, lateral chest-level side airbags (front,) LED indicators on the mirrors, 4CONTROL system with four-wheel steering, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Optional equipment includes a lane departure warning system, rear-view camera, automatic high\low beam, active emergency braking, and speeding alert with road sign recognition.

Are Renault Sport Seats in the Megane R.S. Supportive?

Renault Sport’s seats are high-quality with integrated headrests and plenty of side support. They are on par with what is offered in high-end supercars and are quite comfortable to sit in as well.

What Kind of Audio System Does the Renault Megane R.S. Have?

The Megane R.S. comes with standard Renault sound system, however, you can option a Bose sound system if you really want good sound quality.

Can You Customize the Audio System in the Renault Megane R.S.?

Because the Megane’s infotainment system is interlinked with the rest of the car, installing aftermarket audio equipment isn’t recommended. However, you can opt for a seven-speaker, amplified, Bose sound system and an 8.7-inch vertical touchscreen if the seven-inch R-Link2 system isn’t big enough for you.

2018 Renault Megane R.S. Performance

The Renault Megane R.S. is motivated by a 1.8-liter four-pot that’s good for 205 kW (280 horsepower) at 6,000 rpm and 390 Nm or 287 pound-feet of torque, with the brunt of it coming in between 2,400 and 5,000 rpm. To make this kind of power from a 1.8-liter, Renault gave special attention to the air intake, exhaust system, and cylinder head, with the latter of which being completely redesigned with a little help from Renaults motorsport experts over at Renault Sport Cars and Renault Sport Racing. There’s also a twin-scroll turbo in play too, which explains the high torque figure.

Power can be shifted to the wheels via a six-speed manual or a six-speed dual clutch transmission. I’m sure you’ll want to row your own, but the automatic has been optimized for good shifting and even has paddle shifters with the ability for quick sequential down shifts. On the stopping front, Renault threw in 355mm rear front disc brakes with Brembo calipers and leaves you the option to go with cast iron and aluminum brake discs if you so desire.

All told, the Megane RS can hit the 62-mph (100 km/h) sprint in 5.9 seconds and tops out at 158 mph. It can pull the 400-meter stop in 14.1 seconds and the 1000-meter stop in 25.4 seconds. And, for those of you who don’t just put down the pedal and go, the R.S. comes with Multi-Sense, a system to offers up several driving models that control throttle mapping, gear shifts, and firmness of steering, among other things. These modes include Comfort (doubles as an eco mode,) normal mode, sport mode, race mode (track us only with no ESC,) and Perso mode. There is even a suite of driver assistance systems that include adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, lane departure warning, safe distance warning, traffic sign recognition with over speed prevention, and blind spot warning. It comes complete with a reverse camera and easy park assist or “hands-free parking.”

Rating

-*Overall: 4.375 out of 5

-* Performance: 4.5

-* Fuel Economy: 4

-* Weight: 5

-* Options: 4

Rating

The Megane R.S. can reach a top speed of 158 mph (255 km/h) and can hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in 5.9 seconds. Mid-range acceleration from 80 km/h to 120 km/h has yet to be announced.

How Fast is the Renault Megane R.S.?

The Megane R.S. is powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder. It delivers 280 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 390 Nm (287 pound-feet) of torque at 2,400 rpm. The engine has a bore and stroke of 79.7 x 90.1 and has four valves per cylinder. Valve timing is controlled via a chain that isn’t subject to the normal maintenance schedule usually associated with belt-driven valvetrains.

What Engine Does the Renault Megane R.S. Have?

The Megane RS can be had with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Does the Renault Megane R.S. have a Manual or Automatic Transmission?

Renault’s launch control system on the Megane R.S. is one of the easiest to use systems on the market. Place your left foot on the brake, and right foot on the accelerator. Apply maximum pressure to both and when you’re ready to go, release the brake. It’s as simple as that!

How to Use Launch Control on the Renault Megane R.S.

The Megane R.S. standard with 245/35-R19 tires in the front and rear. If you opted for the 18-inch wheels, the correct tire size is 234/40-R18. All four tires run at standard pressure, and there is no emergency spare wheel.