Renault Megane RS Review: A Driving Experience to Remember

I drove the Renault Megane RS a little over a week ago, and to be honest, it took me a while to figure out the best approach for this article. After considering a few ideas and drafting different stories I wasn't comfortable with, I decided to simply tell you my story, how I got to drive the Megane RS, and how good (or bad) my experience was.

Getting Into the Megane RS

A couple of months ago, my colleagues Anas and Zaran got the car. Not because they are part of the team, but I truly believe they are the only ones that deliver unbiased, trustworthy, and real car reviews in this region. In simple English, they say what they like and what they don't like about the car. Most importantly, they can keep a discussion and address facts. They both know I am a huge fan of the Volkswagen Golf GTI. We speak about it every two to three weeks, and since they know me, I have constantly been nagging them to buy one.

My Reluctant Journey

Back in the day, we got this car for four days. I still remember those days. They couldn't stop trying to convince me to drive it. Every single day, I received the same message:

• “Jorge, you need to try this car.”
• “Jorge, if you drive this car, there is no chance you will like the Golf anymore.”
• “Come on Jorge, take it for a spin.”

My answer? No, no, no. I don't want to. Just leave me alone with my own thoughts.

A couple of weeks after, Zaran's video was released, and I watched it over and over again. I liked it, to be honest. On top of that, I learned that Anas’ brother had bought one and he also has a Nissan GT-R. Over time, the thought of driving the Megane RS started to become persistent. Something was telling me, why not try it?

The Driving Experience

A couple of weeks ago, we had a meeting with Renault’s PR agency, and the Megane RS became a topic of discussion. Long story short, the Megane RS was delivered to our office for me to drive. Out of all the previous feedback I received about the car, this one was the cherry on top, allowing me to finally stop being stubborn and drive the RS for a week.

So, overall, here are the key points I couldn't stop repeating during those days:

• The color: This orange-ish/yellow-ish is the perfect color for this car. Don't buy it in black or white as it would not do justice. Black or white will look nice, but not special. And this is a special car.
• The power: You get a 1.8-liter turbocharged engine that performs as if it was nearly twice its size. The Megane RS proves that driving it in "Comfort" mode feels uneasy and wrong, but in "Race" mode, everything feels right, and the car feels even better.
• The corners: I felt empowered to take as many corners as I could. It made me want to drive 24 hours non-stop in Tecom (Barsha Heights now that we have greenery). With the Megane RS, changing lanes is beautiful compared to a straight boring drive on Sheikh Zayed Road.
• The exhaust: That power, paired with a dual-clutch transmission and that exhaust will make you think twice about whether you want to play the radio or connect your phone to listen to your favorite playlist.
• The seats: They feel tailor-made for those corners and drives. They feel good, and they grip your body perfectly.
• The price: Lastly, I can get all of this for AED 138,000, which is significantly less than similar models that it competes with.

Final Thoughts

Now, here are two essential points to note:

1. I am sold. I would love to have the Megane RS in the YallaMotor garage for a lot more than a regular Test Drive.
2. I am concerned. When will I be able to drive such a great hot hatch again?