Car review: Renualt Mégane | Martin Love

After a few years in the doldrums, Renault is back on form. Its new Mi(C)gane is handsome and good value" What more do you want in a car?

Price: 16,950
Top speed: 116mph
0-62mph: 11.3 seconds
MPG: 76.4
CO2: 96g/km

"You write about cars? What? For a job? That is hilarious!" I'm not sure how to respond to this. I'm at a dinner party with some old friends and their neighbour has arrived. The woman, married to an accountant ("Giles, he writes about cars, for heaven's sake!") can't get her head around the fact that I'm not a CEO or something. Finally, she stops guffawing she asks me her most penetrating question: "Go on then, what's the best car?" I'm not sure how to respond. Does she mean best for comfort? Or speed? Endurance? Towing pigs to market? After a long pause during which I fantasise about accidentally pouring my red wine over her white jeans, I say: "The new Renault Mi(C)gane." Her eyes widen and she roars with disbelief.