When specified properly, the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport does a good job of keeping on the tail of the RS too, but comes in at over £40,000 when decent wheels and tyres and adaptive dampers are added to the already inflated base price. It’s a closer-run thing between the RS and Ford’s Focus ST, the former bettering the latter’s standard models yet coming under serious pressure from the limited-run Edition with its excellent coilovers. Now available with both a manual and dual-clutch transmission, and with updates to the seats, wheels and infotainment, the i30 N is more complete than ever while still holding on to its value advantage at £34,045 for the manual and £35,995 for the DCT. Unfortunately for the Mégane RS, that position was quickly filled by the updated Hyundai i30 N which stands as the new class champion, albeit by a smaller margin than the Honda once held. In terms of rivals, the Honda Civic Type R is currently in a gap between generations, blasting the hot hatchback class wide open for a new leader. Both share the same 296bhp engine specification paired to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, but differ on chassis spec and some hardware. Where once there was a dizzying array of Mégane RS variants with its two chassis options, two engine outputs and two transmissions, the midlife update has dramatically cut the range to just two models. Design – Renault’s big investment in this generation can be seen in its almost completely bespoke body.Interior and tech – Not the Mégane’s strongest element, but it’s no deal breaker.MPG and running costs – Fuel consumption has taken a big dive post-WLTP and running costs are class-appropriate.Ride and handling – The RS 300 and RS Trophy have bespoke set-ups with differing strengths and weaknesses.Performance and 0-60 time – Acceleration time is on-par for the class at 5.7sec, but the engine’s character stands out against others.Engine, transmission and technical details – The RS’s basic powertrain is shared with the Alpine A110 and is as enthusiastic as it is there.The answer to that question is thankfully it’s now something less dour, as while the trackday toy Trophy-R wasn’t reimagined and the manual option was killed off entirely, what remains is a concise range of two quite distinct RS variants with different appeals and their own pros and cons. > 2022 hot hatchback battle: the middleweights Despite the Mégane RS of this current generation having a tricky start to life, there have been real highs amongst some lows, but with some key changes made where does Renault’s only remaining hot hatchback sit following a mid-cycle update? The bad news was that the answer quickly followed, being sort of nowhere.Īside from being the source of some of the greatest hot hatches of the last 30 years, the death of Renault Sport as we know it also has ramifications in regards to the two remaining RS models in the range. When Renault announced its plans to turn Alpine into an electrified performance sub-brand for its mainstream models in 2021, the inevitable question for anyone interested in hot hatchbacks was where it would leave Renault Sport.
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