2017 Renault Megane Estate 1.6 dCi 130 Acceleration Test vs. Hatch

But the new generation of the Megane sedan has downsized to the point where you can't buy the 2.0 dCi. This has been replaced by the bi-turbo version of the 1.6-liter, which is new and very expensive to buy.

So that makes the Estate 1.6 dCi 130 a major sweetspot in the range. But the deal might be powered by the lack of performance.

The video below shows how the Megane IV Estate, or GrandTour as the French call it, reaches 100 km/h (62 mph) in 10.6 seconds. The 1.6-liter turbodiesel delivers the same 130 PS and 320 Nm of torque in the hatchback. But because that's about 70 kilograms lighter, the sprint takes just 10 seconds. Watch that happen in the second video.

So why would you get the slower car? The answer is obvious: practicality. It starts with a trunk opening that starts much lower, so you don't get a lip. After that, the estate shows all sorts of magic tricks, including clever dividers and buttons for folding the seats. You can even specify an option that lets you fold the front backrest. Compared to that, the hatchback seems... crap, but it's still good enough for your average owner.

With the rear seats in place, you get 580 liters of space, plus another 50 under the floor. When they are down, the volume grows to 1,504 liters. You could probably even transport canoe in there if you fold the front seat.

Something we quickly want to point out that, while the press release claims the new generation of the Megane is much better in every way, its performance isn't improved. For example, a 2013 Megane Estate that had the same engine could reach 100 km/h in 10.1 seconds, and that's because it was lighter by about one passenger. The added weight is down to the safety systems and technology that burdens the car.