A recent experience made it apparent how difficult a sales executive’s task must be when the customer is uncertain about the colour choice of their new car.

We’ve been running the Megane Coupé long-termer for several months and while it looks fine in its capsicum red paintwork, it doesn’t exactly stand out.

But at the weekend I discovered a relative has just taken delivery of the same car (at some 20% off list price) in glacier white and the colour really helps to bring out the car’s dynamic lines.

The right colour is crucial for Megane Coupé, because it is a model that sells on its styling, so sales executives should ensure the customer is 100% certain on their choice.

Coupé customers generally want to stand out from the crowd a bit.

Sports car purists will be disappointed with the test drive too, as this model doesn’t deliver an involving drive.

However, it isn’t really aimed at those customers.

One in two Megane Coupe’s will be run by companies, so the emphasis is on being stylish and speedy enough to fulfil the wants of young managers while remaining economical, safe and solid enough to keep the fleet manager happy.

Which is exactly how it has been on AM’s long-term test. It now has more than 10,000 miles on the clock and has performed without fault.

Despite frequent changes of drivers, the interior is showing no signs of wear. Both these facts are an indication of the emphasis Renault has put on improving quality with the models it has brought to market in the last couple of years.

Consumer view

Top Gear

Megane Coupé is a good-looking, good-driving hatch-coupé with a bit less practicality and a bit more excitingness than a five-door. Problem is, everything the Megane does well, the Scirocco does better.

What Car

This model brings an attractive combination of decent kit, strong performance and good economy, but at too high a price. One of the lesser models makes more sense.