Renault Megane Sport Tourer practicality & boot space

• Not specifically tested by Euro NCAP
• Megane hatch received five stars
• Long list of standard safety kit 

The Megane Hatch 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 estate should be a very safe car to drive in.

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.

• Plenty of room for front occupants
• Most will be comfy 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 VW Golf Estate, Skoda Octavia Estate or Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer.

Rear space is better than in the Hatch 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 this further.

Boot space is 521 litres with the rear seats in place – which is almost exactly the same as the car it replaced. 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.

With the rear seats folded, space increases to 1,504 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.