You’ve got to love these guys – they would dearly love to build plain, sensible cars like Volkswagen does, but they cannot suppress their Gallic creative streak. The result is a history of oddly attractive but badly flawed cars, but the new models are in a different class. Style, reliability and value all in one? Yes, you can.
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Koleos
$29,990 - $41,990
Renault might be late to the SUV party, but this is a car that can happily leave the tarmac. Even so, it’s a confused package.
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Laguna
$39,990 - $50,690
Sees itself as a superhero with a mandate to bring style where there is dullness. But its nemesis, Dr Vectra, is vanquished, leaving the spangly suit looking a bit silly.
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Megane
$24,990 - $47,490
With the kind of build quality you'd expect from Volkswagen, there's much to like about the Megane. Nearly, nearly there.
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Megane 225
The donor car may be ageing, but its hooligan offspring is alive and kicking very hard. Scintillating handling and a ride so hard it makes Vinnie Jones cry.
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Megane CC
The second-generation Megane was hardly the smallest in the posterior department, so with the even-more-generously-arsed CC it’s a wonder the thing can keep its nose on the ground. There are better coupe-cabriolets around nowadays...
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Scenic/Grand Scenic
$33,990 - $40,490
In its old guise as the Megane Scenic it invented the MPV, and still features near the top of the chart against the many impressive Johnny-come-latelys. A parental rite
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Sport Clio
The Clio has grown up, so it's wild, untamable twin has discovered there's more to life than blowing your socks off. Hence the nicely tailored suit. Still no socks though.
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TG Car Chooser
Who says Top Gear doesn't do sensible car buying advice? Use this new interweb tool to find your next car. It's better than talking to a geek...
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