What is it?

Do you remember the Renault Fluence? No? Well, you’re not alone. The French brand’s last small sedan was a fairly anonymous proposition so for this new generation model it has kept its small car strategy simple and used the Megane name across hatch, wagon and sedan.

It’s a rival to the likes of the Mazda3, Toyota Corolla, Holden Astra and Hyundai Elantra in the relatively niche small sedan market.

How much does it cost and what do you get?

We’re driving the higher specification Megane sedan that wears the Intens badge. It starts at $31,990 (plus on-road costs) which puts it at the upper end of the segment.

For the money you get 18-inch alloy wheels, cloth upholstery, sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, Bluetooth, navigation, eight-speaker sound system and 8.7-inch infotainment touchscreen.

In a bid to counter any ownership worries Renault Australia offers a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty and five year roadside assistance as part of the package. However, the capped price servicing scheme only runs for three years, so it’s long-term maintenance costs are not clear upfront.

What’s under the bonnet?

It’s a diminutive 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine but it produces a respectable 97kW of power and 205Nm of torque. It may be small in size but it feels punchy on the road thanks to its pulling power.

The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission does a good job extract its best performance and shifts smoothly on the move. However, we noticed an occasional stumble from the gearbox at low speed.

The combination of a small turbocharged engine and dual-clutch ‘box means a claimed fuel consumption of just 6.1-litres per 100km, which is very competitive for this class.

What’s it like to drive?

Renault has done a nice job overall on the Megane, but a few small elements let it down when compared to the class leading small cars.

The ride is comfortable most of the time, particularly at low speed where it soaks up bumps with a minimum of fuss. However, hit a bump in the road at speed and the suspension will crash over it and jar the cabin.

The steering is nicely weighted and the chassis is responsive, so overall the Megane is an easy car to drive, as long as you avoid too many big bumps.

What’s it like inside?

The cabin presents well in the Intens thanks to a simple, clean design. The comfortable and stylish leather seats and tablet-style infotainment screen adds to the feeling of quality.

The infotainment system is intuitive to use and has a simple, large format layout, but the lack of physical buttons for simple controls like turning up the stereo volume or adjusting the air-con fan speed can be frustrating and more complicated at times. And it often requires you to take your eyes off the road to navigate the menus, which isn’t ideal.

But while the front is comfortable the rear space is quite tight for adults. Both knee and headroom are limited so you may want to think twice before you use the Megane sedan as family transport if you have older, taller kids.

It compensates, somewhat, by offering a massive boot for this class with 503-litres of room.

Is it safe?

The Intens comes with Renault’s suite of safety features including autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.

It also gets a reversing camera and 360 degree parking sensors as well as full airbag coverage to complete the safety package.

Would I buy it?

French cars may have a reputation for being ‘quirky’ but the latest Megane is nothing of the sort. It’s a sensible, well equipped and practical small sedan that is pleasant to drive.

But it’s not without fault, it’s a more expensive option that some of its rivals, the ride could be improved and the rear space is tight for passengers.

What else should I consider?

Hatchbacks may be more popular but there are still plenty of four-door options to choose from including the Hyundai Elantra SR Turbo (from $28,990), Honda Civic RS (from $31,3790), Mazda3 SP25 GT (from $29,990), Holden Astra LTZ (from $29,790), Subaru Impreza 2.0i-S (from $28,990) and Toyota Corolla ZR (from $31,920).

2017 Renault Megane Intens sedan pricing and specifications

Price: From $31,990 plus on-road costs

Engine: 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol

Power: 97kW at 5500rpm

Torque: 205Nm at 2000rpm

Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, front-wheel drive

Fuel use: 6.1L/100km

• For more information, visit our Renault showroom.