THERE are few better feelings than looking at a dashboard display that says you have covered 82 miles and seeing a separate read-out that shows the car’s remaining range is 625 miles.

The ability to cover more than 700 miles on one 60-litre tankful of fuel is pretty impressive.

Just as impressive is the fact that covering that sort of marathon mileage at the wheel of a Renault Mégane is a real pleasure.

Competing against formidable opposition like the Volkswagen Golf and new Ford Focus, the fit and finish has reached new levels, while Renault has also raised the game with the technology packed on board.

The long-distance abilities of the test car came courtesy of a 1.5-litre, 110 horsepower engine, which delivers just 114g/km CO2 emissions – the lowest of any diesel in the Mégane range.

Relaxed cruising is enhanced by Renault’s new dual-clutch automatic transmission, a system that dispenses with a clutch pedal and offers both a familiar automatic shift system, and an up/down selectable shift mode.

The gearshift takes place by switching from one clutch to the other.

The first clutch disengages at the same time as the second engages, which means there is no interruption in power delivery during gearchanges. The system also incorporates a hill-start assist function: when starting on an incline, pressure continues to be applied to the brakes when the driver lifts off the pedal, keeping the vehicle stationary for a few seconds.

Strongly styled, the front end has a racy appearance with two-piece light clusters at the rear and a sensual curves at the side.

Inside, a classy dashboard places an analogue rev counter alongside a large, crystal clear digital speedometer, which incorporates the cruise control/speed limiter display and “door open” and tyre pressure warning lights.

The integrated Carminat TomTom navigation system also offers a live feed of traffic information, warning of speed camera locations, Google search for information and even five-day weather forecasts. The services are free of charge for a three-month trial period, although you need to pay an annual subscription for the extra services after that.

With prices starting at under £16,000, it’s an economical, stylish and innovative package for buyers who prefer a dash of Gallic flair.

Auto facts Renault Mégane 1.5D Dynamique TomTom dCi 110 auto

  • Price: £19,995
  • Insurance group: 18 (1-50)
  • Fuel consumption (Combined): 64.2mpg
  • Top speed: 118mph
  • Length: 429.5cm/169in
  • Width: 180.8cm/169in
  • Luggage capacity: 13.1 cu ft
  • Fuel tank capacity: 13.2 gallons/60 litres
  • CO2 emissions: 114g/km
  • Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles