Hot hatches taking on the new Renault Megane RS 300 Trophy

A new hot hatch has arrived on the scene in South Africa in the form of the Renault Megane R.S. 300 Trophy, boasting a stylish design and performance figures to rival the best in the segment.

Under the hood of the Megane is a 1.8-litre, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine packing 221kW and 420Nm, and this power is transmitted to the front wheels via a 4Control four-wheel-steering system which sharpens the turning circle while also providing better stability in the corners.

The system works by allowing the rear wheels to turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels at speeds under 60km/h, or 100km/h depending on the selected drive mode, and once this speed is exceeded, all four wheels will turn in the same direction to ensure better road holding, according to Renault.

For the transmission, the automaker has opted for a six-speed dual-clutch EDC configuration, and the combination of all these factors is a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 5.7 seconds.

Its top speed, meanwhile, caps out at 260km/h – 10km/h faster than the electronic cap found on many performance cars in this price range.

Other sporty enhancements include a stiffened suspension, a mechanical limited-slip differential, Bridgestone tyres designed for maximizing grip, bi-material brakes for better heat dissipation, and endurance Brembo brake calipers.

Small but fast

Below you can find the various performance rankings for the new Renault Megane R.S. 300 Trophy, as well as its competitors in a similar price bracket.

Click on the underlined names for more information.

Power

Top speed

Acceleration

Price