- Willing 1.6-litre petrol engine
- Supportive front seats
- Comfortable ride
- Well-weighted steering
- Minimal scuttle shake over uneven surfaces
- Cramped rear seats
- Poor rear visbility with roof up
- Awkward rear styling
Overview
Released in May 2001, the Renault X64 Megane Cabriolet was a two-door convertible with a power-operated soft-top roof. The Megane Cabriolet was powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that was mated to either a five-speed manual or four-speed ‘Proactive’ automatic transmission. The Proactive transmission offered nine configurations which would be adopted based on driving style and operating conditions, and another manual setting.
As per the table below, the Megane Cabriolet range initially consisted of Expression variants. In June 2003, however, the range was expanded with the introduction of the Privilege variants.
The X64 Megane was first released in Europe in 1995 and was largely based on the Renault 19 – which dated back to 1988 – albeit with an updated interior and styling. Although the X64 Megane Cabriolet was released in Europe in 1997, it did not arrive in Australia until 2001.
The Megane Cabriolet was 4082 mm long, 1710 mm wide, 1368 mm tall and had a 2461 mm long wheelbase. Furthermore, the Megane Cabriolet had MacPherson strut front suspension with a lower wishbone, telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers an anti-sway bar; the rear suspension consisted of four transverse torsion bars with trailing arms and telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers.
| Variant | Years | Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expression | 2001-03 | 1.6-litre petrol I4 | 5sp man., 4sp auto |
79 kW at 5750 rpm | 148 Nm at 3750 rpm |
| Privilege | 2003 |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the Megane Cabriolet included dual front airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags with head/chest protection, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, front seatbelts with pretensioners and front and outer rear seats with load limiters.
Brakes
The Megane Cabriolet had 280 mm ventilated front brake discs and 200 mm solid rear discs.
Features
Standard features for the Megane Cabriolet Expression included 15-inch alloy wheels with 185/65 R15 tyres, a four speaker sound system with a CD player, air conditioning, front and rear fog lights, steering wheel audio controls, remote central locking, power windows and mirrors, a height adjustable driver’s seat, a tilt adjustable steering wheel and an immobiliser.
The Megane Cabriolet Privilege was further equipped with leather seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and trip computer.
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