By Renault’s own admission, the last Mégane divided public opinion: you either loved it or hated it, and in Britain we mostly hated it.

This was acknowledged at the unveiling of the new Mégane in Madrid, the company’s design boss admitting the previous Mégane’s styling had cost Renault plenty of sales, particularly in the UK. You may recall the old car and its protruding boot celebrated by the “Shakin’ that ass” television adverts.

The new Mégane is notable for its absence of “alternative” styling. This third-generation model is much more conservative overall, and more like the first generation car - a sales success. Like Citroën, Renault has learnt to its cost that the masses don’t go for daring design. Far better to mimic that efficient German, the VW Golf.

The five-door hatch, which goes on sale later this month, has an instantly forgettable look. The three-door hatch that follows late in January, however, tries to score some style points, without ever being truly radical.

In line with the current trend, Renault calls its three-door hatch a “Coupé”, for its two doors and sloping roofline. It looks more dramatic than the five-door - in fact, uncannily, when viewed from behind it looks like an Alfa Romeo, and that’s a good thing.

The interior is perfectly pleasant, and with the optional panoramic sunroof, it is positively airy and spacious. Both five-door and Coupé share the same dash layout, which curves away from occupants at either end, enhancing the impression of space. All surfaces, whether hard or soft, feel as if they are made from high-quality materials, and fit and finish are first rate (you couldn’t say that about previous Méganes). A height-adjustable seat and steering that adjusts for reach and rake allow for a comfortable driving position, regardless of the driver’s size.

The five-door hatchback’s rear seating is a bit tight on legroom if the front-seat occupants are six-footers, but headroom and elbowroom for two are just fine. As you’d expect, the Coupé’s sloping roof robs rear passengers of headroom, and with such a small rear window, the back of the cabin is a gloomy place to be.

Ergonomically, the Renault cabin is familiar – all controls are situated where you expect them to be. There’s only one complaint, which is that the digital speedo is less readable than conventional analogue dials.

Both hatch and Coupé will be available with 1.6 or 2 litre turbo petrol engines, plus 1.5 and 1.9 litre diesels. I tried the 130bhp 1.9 in the five-door hatch, and it felt terrifically responsive while providing a marvellously refined motorway cruise. With a combined fuel consumption of 55.4mpg, this is the engine to go for if the five-door happens to be your choice.

However, if you want something spicier to go with the Coupé’s more extrovert character, you may be tempted by the turbocharged 2 litre TCe 180 petrol model with a slick-shifting six-speed gearbox. The 180 refers to power ouptut, despite which performance is none too pulse-quickening: it hits 62mph in 7.8sec yet feels slower. There’s none of the satisfying accelerative surge you usually get with a turbo, and power falls away towards the top of the rev range in an almost diesel-like manner.

Similarly disappointing is the Coupé’s handling, which is staid and uninvolving, so think of this car as a grand tourer rather than a sporting hatch.

All of which sounds fairly middling . . . and is, for having been burnt by the big-bottomed predecessor, Renault is understand-ably now taking the safe route. But with generous levels of equipment and prices spanning £13,995-£19,195, it certainly can’t be said that the French manufacturer is being unreasonable.

Renault Mégane Coupé 2.0 TCe Dynamique
ENGINE 1998cc, four cylinders
POWER 180bhp @ 5500rpm
TORQUE 221 lb ft @ 2250rpm
TRANSMISSION Six-speed manual
FUEL/CO2
ACCELERATION 0-62mph: 7.8sec
TOP SPEED 142mph
PRICE £18,145
TAX BAND E (£170 for 12 months)
VERDICT A solid but unexciting contender
RELEASE DATE January 2009

The opposition

VW Scirocco 2.0 TSI GT £20,940
For:Handsome and quite good to drive
Against:Looks costly next to its rivals

Volvo C30 R-Design Sport £19,770
For:A great-handling Volvo
Against:Not the most economical of engines