Renault expands Megane lineup with stylish Estate wagon

Renault has released more details on its new Megane Estate wagon, which made its world debut back in March at the Geneva Motor Show and is set to go on sale in Europe later this month. The new Estate distinguishes itself from the standard Megane hatch with its greater carrying capacity, extended wheelbase and longer rear overhang.

The Megane Estate features identical frontal styling to that of the hatchback version, however the side and rear have been modified to make the car's longer appearance look more in proportion. Trunk space measures in at 524L but fold down the rear seats and this expands by an additional 119L.

In terms of engines, the Estate comes with a full range of engine choices, including both petrol and diesel powerplants. The petrol engine line-up comprises five powertrains, including the new TCe 130 engine which is available from launch. Economy is the focus of this 1.4L unit, and Renault claims that it "boasts the torque of a 2L engine and the power of a 1.8, yet its CO2 emissions are less than those of a 1.6."

The Megane Estate can also be ordered with 100hp (75kW) and 110hp (82kW) 1.6L petrol engines that drive through manual gearboxes, while a 2.0L petrol engine mated to an automatic transmission is also available.

The diesels are available in a number of different guises - the 1.5 litre dCi engine comes in a choice of three power outputs, with or without a particulate filter (dCi 86, dCi 106 and dCi 110 FAP). All the diesel engines feature relatively low levels of carbon emissions (just 118g/km for the dCi 86 and 120g/km for the dCi 106) and should prove popular with those watching their carbon footprints.

The diesel engine range is topped by the 2.0 dCi which is available in a choice of power outputs, ranging from 140hp (104kW) to 160hp (120kW).