Category: Hot Hatchbacks 
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Sublime handling, incredible grip, bargain pricetag.
Poor practicality for a hatchback, lack of radio and soundproofing make Megane tiring over long distances.
Raw and uncompromised R26.R will be too much for most. Shame, because it's one of the finest hot hatches to have ever turned a wheel in anger.
We kept the Megane R26.R away from its natural race circuit habitat preferring to base our drive instead on typical, bumpy winding B-roads. Often stiffly sprung track-orientated cars will often propel you off line by harsh mid-corners bumps, but not so with the R26.R. Its lightened kerbweight has enabled engineers to soften, not harden spring rates, and that stops you from constantly having to wrestle with uneven road surfaces that can, potentially, throw you into the scenery.
Let's be clear, The R26.R isn't cosseting, but the softer springs and new dampers do help it adapt to road imperfections rather than fight them.
Even more impressive things happen when you push on. Turn into a corner at speed and the tyres grip harder than you would ever believe. Ease the power on earlier than you would think sensible and the limited slip differential hooks up, allowing full power to be deployed efficiently. This all means you have the feeling of being catapulted into, and out of corners.
The Toyo tyres fitted to our car deserve a special mention. Despite looking like they might be illegal for road use they are very rarely unstuck.
The 227bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol isn't a total monster and it is comprehensively outgunned by the 301bhp Ford Focus RS. Even in the featherweight Megane you would still have to work hard to keep up with the Ford, but at least with a generous 229lb-ft from just 2,000rpm, the R26.R feels relaxed when you're not chasing lap times. There's very little torque steer to put you off your stride also.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Renault Megane RenaultSport
wrote on 18 03 2007