Drop the top, feel the sun and watch the world go by.
Walk by a cafe anywhere in France and you’ll be able to tell who the locals are – they’re the relaxed customers slowly sipping their coffee (French pressed, no less), watching traffic go by from behind their sunglasses.
There’s no rush to get up and go, for they are perfectly content to sit and savour the moment.
Casually watch the ladies’ heads turn as you cruise by.
It is this well-known facet of French culture that the Renault Megane CC so consummately embodies. Style-wise, the car gives off a swanky vibe that calls attention to itself wherever you drive it.
The curvy lines on the bonnet contrast nicely with the rakish headlights and chiselled front bumper, while subtle lines down the sides add texture to what might have otherwise been a plainer profile.
Bright red upholstery ups the Renault Megane CC’s va-va-voom factor.
Being ordinary is not, of course, what the Renault Megane CC is about. Most convertibles with folding hardtops usually lug a clunky rear end, but the Renault Megane CC avoids this by utilising a two-piece (instead of a three-piece) folding roof, which collapses into a thinner stack.
Of course, the use of sharp, angular lines to break up the boxiness of the boot area also helps to maintain the car’s elegant stance.
Motorcycle-type meters are the sportiest part of the Renault Megane CC.
Mirroring the exterior’s refined appearance is the red upholstery of the interior, which lends “spiciness” to the cabin. Aside from the matching red stitching on the steering wheel, however, the rest of the inside features the layout of the Megane hatchback, save for the inclusion of the same TomTom navigation system as in the Fluence.
Unlike the system in the saloon, however, the one in the Renault Megane CC does not come with remote control. In its place is a set of dedicated buttons (each one clearly labelled for function), along with a knob that functions as a joystick to move between menus.
Pushing this button broadens your horizons.
The theory and the intentions are all good, but the system’s execution still doesn’t go as smoothly as planned. You get the feeling that the navigation system and the Bluetooth sync for your mobile phone are functions that remain unaccepted by the car’s designers.
It’s like how the French guard their language: If there’s no French word for it, it doesn’t belong in their dictionary.
TomTom control panel has a sensible layout, but using it while driving compromises safety.
Speaking of belonging, only children should be allowed in the rear, for despite the new Renault Megane CC having an 87mm longer wheelbase compared to its predecessor, squeezing the average adult in the back is about as practical as trying to put on a pair of your 10-year-old jeans: They might fit, but you’re definitely not going to be comfortable.
Having a large expanse of glass makes for an enjoyable cabin, but since it lets in so much heat, you might as well do away with the roof and go topless altogether. After all, open-topped motoring is what the Renault Megane CC was made for, and the car comes into its element once the glass roof is stowed in the boot.
Watching the rest of the world go by will come naturally, as the 140bhp 2-litre engine copes with the car’s 1540kg mass – which is a substantial 201kg heftier than the larger Fluence saloon.
The relaxed pace of the engine’s delivery suits the 6-speed CVT, which is smooth and unhurried. Once this gearbox gets the hang of your driving habits, it feels like a regular automatic transmission despite the telltale drone when driven hard.
The car’s preference for a slower pace is even evident in the resistance presented by the accelerator – you’ve got to really put your foot down when overtaking.
Manoeuvres like these, however, only disrupt the car’s purpose as a pliant cruiser. Aside from the weight, the suspension’s comfort bias translates into considerable lean even in moderate corners. This does have its benefits though, as the car easily glosses over bumps to keep its occupants settled.
Driving around with the top down is always going to be a sweaty affair in a climate like ours, but once you get yourself into a French frame of mind, you won’t care about keeping up with faster traffic. Nor will it matter that you could’ve had other convertibles with flashier badges and keener handling.
After all, you’ll be calmly watching the world go by behind a dark pair of sunglasses. Just make sure that at your next cafe stop, your French pressed coffee is a cold one.
The Renault Megane CC is all about French glamour.
Renault Megane CC 2.0 (A)
ENGINE 1997cc, 16-valves, inline-4
MAX POWER 140bhp at 6000rpm
MAX TORQUE 195Nm at 3750rpm
GEARBOX CVT with 6-speed override
0-100KM/H 11.7 seconds
TOP SPEED 195km/h
CONSUMPTION 12.3km/L (combined)
PRICE INCL. COE $147,888 (as of April 2011)
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