![]() ![]() The Civic currently holds the front-wheel-drive lap record at the Nürburgring - it beat the more hardcore Mégane Trophy R's time by over four seconds - but our tests on the more technical layout of Bedford Autodrome's infield (where power is less important) suggest that both the R and the more user-friendly Trophy are slightly faster than the Civic. Though its substantially more powerful - it's turbocharged 2-litre engine produces 306bhp and 295lb ft of torque - and far more striking in its design, the Mégane still edges it for dynamic adjustability. This is £3,005 more than the regular Mégane Nav, but a substantial £7500 less than the extreme, track-biased Trophy-R with which this shares much of its chassis setup (you can even option in the R's track-focused dampers and springs).Ī key rival that's currently hogging the hot hatch limelight is the Honda Civic Type R. ![]() The Mégane Nav Trophy (as it's called in full) starts at £28,930. But for now it’s good to know that even if you can’t get your hands on one of the 30 Rs coming to the UK, or if you actually need back seats, or if you simply don’t have another £7500 to spend, then the standard Trophy is still a quite brilliant hot hatch. I want to try the Trophy-R soon, because it should be fantastic. ![]() The steering could perhaps be a smidgen tighter immediately off-centre, the touchscreen is too hard to reach (even with my long arms) and I’m not sure the Recaros hold you quite as securely as you need given the cornering forces encouraged by the chassis (the R gets huggier buckets), but these are minor niggles given the rest of the car’s talents. It even sounds more appealing than the 265 thanks to the new Akrapovic titanium exhaust, which adds a bit of growl on the way up the rev range and some overrun pops on the way back down. Overall, it’s extremely hard to fault the 275 Trophy. Down the bumpiest stretches of B-road the nose is inclined to wander slightly with cambers under full throttle, but it’s only enough to make you grip the Alcantara wheel a little tighter rather than make you back out of the throttle. The power increase feels greater than 10bhp too, the Mégane ripping through its relatively short gearing with real intent and giving the front axle plenty to think about. The ride is still firm and superbly controlled, yet the edges have been taken off so that it no longer feels as harsh and unforgiving. The change is subtle, but others have noticed it too. It is, after all, a hatchback and therefore likely to be purchased and used by families. The Mégane 265 was certainly one of the firmer cars on that route, and much as I loved its single-minded attitude in placing precision and performance over plushness, I did wonder how many people would be forced to choose a Golf GTI instead, purely to hush the complaints of passengers. Even the two sleeping policemen that I encounter have familiar degrees of severity. My favoured route to and from evo Towers is a mixture of roads and surfaces with a preponderance of lumps and bumps that I have come to know pretty well over the years. Renault Megane RS Trophy-R (2019-2020) review - is Renault's record breaker worth its price tag?īy the way, the Trophy's drivetrain is identical to those found in the red-blooded Trophy-R and regular 275. ![]() >Watch - Trophy R vs Honda Civic Type R | evo DEADLY RIVALS Engine, transmission and 0-60mph time It's also far more practical, as it features rear seats and an updated infotainment system - things the R does without. Just 30 are headed to the UK, so this, the regular Trophy, is far more accessible. Our test car doesn't have these - it's suspended on the regular Renaultsport items - but any concerns that these aren't up to the job will be quickly quelled, as you shall soon find out.įor those wondering, the trick suspension our car doesn't feature comes from the Trophy-R, which is the full-on, limited-edition, son-of-R26.R, roll-cage, Cup tyres car that set a nifty 7:54 lap record around the Nordschleife. The 275 Trophy sits on 19-inch Turini Speedline wheels, and it's also available with optional adjustable Öhlins dampers and Allevard composite springs. It mixes the firepower of the R with the usability of the regular 275, to become one of the most capable and well-rounded offerings in this segment. This, the 275 Trophy, is a more user-friendly version of Renaultsport's Nürburgring-focused hot hatch, the Trophy-R. ![]()
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