Renault Megane Sport Tourer practicality & boot space

• Plenty of room for front occupants
• Most will be comfortable in the rear, too
• Taller adults may feel the pinch with headroom

Space in the Megane Sport Tourer isn’t quite up to the standards set by the new Volkswagen Golf Estate, Skoda Octavia Estate or Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer, but should be adequate for most families. Rear space is better than in the Megane hatchback thanks to a slightly higher and longer roofline, however it’s still quite sloped so taller passengers might be a little tight for space. Legroom is good, though, and front-seat passengers have plenty of room to stretch out too.

Naturally, the Sport Tourer is longer than the Megane Hatch on which it’s based, but it doesn’t feel too unwieldy to drive. It’s not too long, nor too wide, so using it around town proves no issue when it comes to narrow roads or tight car parks, plus the availability of all-round parking sensors and self-parking aids (see below) this further.

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Boot space depends on with model, but it's at the lower end of class for capacity (see below). This trails the VW Golf Estate’s 605 litres, the Skoda Octavia’s 610 litres and the Vauxhall Astra Sport Tourer’s 540 litres. Access is good though, thanks to a low, wide opening.

Luggage space (litres, seats up/seats folded)

Petrol: 563/1,543
Diesel: 504/1,484
E-Tech: 447/1,408

With the rear seats folded, space increases to up to 1,543 litres. It’s easy to fold them thanks to levers in the boot, while the parcel shelf can be stowed beneath the boot floor, which itself can be adjusted to a lower level if preferred. There’s also a neat divider that pops up from the boot floor to split the front and back of the boot to avoid items sliding around too much.

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Safety

• Older five-star Euro NCAP rating for hatch
  
• New features introduced for the facelift
  
• Long list of standard safety kit 

The Megane Hatchback has strong safety credentials with a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. As such – and although the Sport Tourer specifically hasn’t been tested – the Sport Tourer is similar enough to be viewed as offering the same protection. It was tested in 2015, so hasn't been tested to the latest standards, but should still be seen as a perfectly safe car for you and your family.

Adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blindspot warning, autonomous emergency braking, safe distance warning, traffic sign recognition and automatic high beam assist are all available on the Megane – several of which are standard, too. We’ve tested cars with most of this equipment fitted and, while it can interfere too much and alter the driving experience, the Megane’s systems are well integrated, easy to use and not normally too intrusive.

For the Phase 2 facelift, Renault has upped the standard equipment list, adding LED headlights and parking sensors. The four features Renault says are the most important to the Megane's safety are:

• Highway and Traffic Jam Assist. Adaptive cruise control keeps you in your lane, manages your  speed and keeps you a safe distance from the vehicle in front.
• Fatigue detection system. The car analyses your driving behaviour and warns you when it detects signs of drowsiness. The alert will recommend you take a break via a message on the driver's digital screen.
• Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking. The Megane warns you and activates emergency braking if you do not react when a pedestrian steps out in front of you.
• Easy Park Assist. This system scans the space available for you to park and performs the manoeuvre for you. It can also help you exit your parking space.

Watch Renault Megane Euro NCAP crash test video