2020 Renault Megane R.S. Photos, engines & full specs

Renault introduced an improved version of the Megane R.S. in 2020, offering customers more power to play with and even a six-speed manual gearbox, which made purists happy.

The French automaker refreshed the entire Megane lineup for the 2020 model year, and the R.S. version was also upgraded. While there were just subtle exterior changes, the interior was revised, and the drivetrain was improved as well. Under the hood, the French automaker planted an engine carried over from the 2017 Alpine A110 sports car, and that made a consistent difference for the hot hatch.

At the front, the 2020 Megane R.S. featured similar LED headlights with C-shaped daytime running lights on their outer areas, similar to the rest of its siblings. The automaker placed the chromed rhomboidal badge between them on the slim upper grille, cutting a piece from the hood. Furthermore, Renault applied some design lines featured on the Renault Formula 1 race cars, featuring a waved-shaped lower splitter fitted inside the apron. The fog lamps looked like checkered flags, with three rectangular lamps on each side.

From its profile, the five-door hatchback boasted its large alloy wheels that covered the big brakes and the red Brembo calipers. Unlike the rest of the Megane range, the R.S. version came fitted with exhaust vents on the front fenders that released the air trapped inside the wheel wells and lowered the front axle lift. Moving to the doors, these featured sculptured lines and black door mirror caps. The chromed line surrounding the window area was similar to the non-facelifted version of the Megane R.S. Finally, at the back, the French hot hatch sported a center-mounted trapezoidal exhaust integrated into the diffuser.

Inside, customers could get the Megane R.S. with a new 9.3” portrait-mode infotainment screen mounted on top of the center stack. At the front, the automaker offered either regular bucket seats or high-bolstered sports ones. A center console between them housed the parking brake, the gear stick, and a pair of cup holders. In the back, Renault installed a bench seat suitable for three adults, although there was virtually no legroom for the middle-seated one. The trunk was quite large for its size, and since the bench seat was split-folding (60/40) type, it could be enlarged to reach a maximum space of 1,247 liters (44 cu-ft).

But the Megane R.S. was mostly about performance and fast driving. It was a car that broke records on various race tracks around the world for front-wheel-driven vehicles, competing in the same segment as the Honda Civic Type R and the Volkswagen Golf GTI. Its refreshed 300 PS (295 hp) powerplant was paired with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic (dual clutch). A Cup chassis fitted with stiffer dampers, thicker antiroll bars, and a limited-slip differential were on the options list.