With a power output of 165kW and 300 Newton metres of torque avaliable at 3000rpm all the way to redline, the Renault M?gane 225 Sport is a cracking little car to drive.
Having that much power in such a small car is always fun.
But, I must admit, the M?gane 225 Sport does have its work cut out, with the likes of the Ford Focus XR5, VW Golf GTI, Mazda3 MPS and Honda's Civic Type R all being strong competitors.
People love thier perfomance enhanced hatches, and, why do you ask? Because they are small and easy to park, they're cheap on fuel, they're relatively affordable to buy and, most of all they, deliver the kind of performance you would expect from a larger vehicle.
I don't know about you, but that sounds pretty good to me.
Stepping inside the M?gane 225 Sport I was greeted with a sleek looking interior, but no ignition barrel for a key.
Instead, the M?gane uses a 'keycard' system. About the size of two credit card stuck together, the keycard is slotted into the centre console and then you hit the starter button - like most cars these days.
I found myself patting down my pockets as if I'd misplaced my keys on a few occasions.
Once I had engaged the key, the car prompted me to put my foot on the brake and press the start button. So, start button pressed and the engine jumps into life with an aggressive hum coming from under the bonnet, that noise hints at the cars performance.
The clutch is light and has a short distance to travel, the 6-speed manual is a smooth shifting unit which makes changing gears easy.
Like most hatchbacks the car turns out to be very easy to drive - thanks, in most part, to the short wheelbase.
Driving around town the car is very good, especially when taking off at traffic lights (very zippy), while its size ensures that parking is effortless. That said, it became apparent that the 225 Sport was designed to be more sport than comfort, as this vehicle has a very firm spring rate. It's not impossible to live with on a day-to-day basis, but it does have an overly firm ride - much like the Civic Type R.
Sitting low to the ground, with big 18-inch wheels and fat tyres to match, the M?gane Sport 225 feels at home on winding mountain roads and deserted country tracks.
