Renault’s fourth-generation Megane is now available to order and will arrive in UK showrooms from July. Unveiled at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, the new Megane will be priced from £16,600, with diesels starting at £17,900.

The new model is being offered in a 25-version line-up based on six trim levels familiar to owners of other Renault vehicles – Expression+, Dynamique Nav, Dynamique S Nav, Signature Nav, GT-Line Nav and GT Nav. Renault’s active and passive safety systems, such as adaptive cruise control, active emergency braking and lane departure warning have been applied throughout the range, while connectivity via the R-Link 2 system is fitted to all models above Expression+.

Standard safety features include ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution, ESC (Electronic Stability Control) with traction and understeer control, cruise control, speed limiter, Hill Start Assist, six airbags, seat belts with load limiters and pretensioners at the front, side impact protection bars and ISOFIX child-seat mounting points on the two outer rear seats.

All versions provide Bluetooth connectivity, an accessory power point and a 12-volt front socket. These all feature on the Expression+ trim level, which also includes an automatic electronic parking brake, LED daytime running lamps, tinted windows, 7-inch TFT instrument panel with digital speedometer, all-round electric windows, leather steering wheel, Bluetooth, 4 x 20W DAB radio with fingertip controls and an AUX input.

Dynamique Nav adds to this with automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, Visio active safety system providing lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, automatic high/low beam headlamps; electrically adjustable, heated and folding door mirrors, hands free keycard, automatic dual zone climate control, Multisense system providing selective driving modes and ambient lighting, Arkamys 3D Sound 4x35W DAB Radio, and seven-inch touchscreen R-Link multimedia system including satellite navigation with live traffic updates and Western European mapping.

This is further enhanced on Dynamique S Nav with 17-inch diamond-cut alloys, rear parking camera with front and rear parking sensors, extra tinted windows to the rear and tailgate, and the unique-in-class 8.7-inch portrait touchscreen R-Link multimedia system.

At the top of the range, there is Signature Nav featuring 18-inch diamond-cut alloys, full LED headlights, black leather upholstery with Nappa leather steering wheel and electrochrome rearview mirror.

The GT-Line Nav provides a more sporty and dynamic appearance with exterior and interior enhancements. To the front, a wider lower air intake with a honeycomb-pattern mesh is flanked by lateral scoops. Dark metal 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels and door mirror housings match the finish on the front air scoops and rear diffuser.

To the interior, the sports front seats feature additional lateral support and integral headrests, blue top-stitching and a chequered logo. The upholstery options, in fabric or Alcantara, provide hints of blue throughout to reflect the exclusive-to-GT-range Iron Blue body colour. The GT-Line Nav also has a bespoke steering wheel offering a firmer grip and model badging on the dashboard.

The use of the Alliance CMF platform to manufacture the new Renault Megane means a whole range of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) to improve safety are available. They include Adaptive Cruise Control; Active Emergency Braking; Lane Departure, Blind Spot and Safe Distance warnings; Overspeed Prevention with Traffic Sign Recognition; Automatic High Low Beam; Hands Free Parking and 360 degree parking sensors.

There are also twelve high-value equipment packages available, to personalise the Megane, depending on model.

Built at the Palencia plant in Spain alongside Kadjar, the Megane uses the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s new Common Module Family (CMF) architecture, which is used, to date, on the Espace, Talisman and Kadjar. The platform allows a wide range of cars of different sizes to be created using a variety of modules consisting of out-of-view parts, and is based around five available modules: cockpit, engine bay, front underbody, rear underbody and electronic architecture.

At launch there is a choice of four engines on offer, including two diesels – a 1.5-litre dCi 110 unit, with manual or EDC transmission, or a 1.6-litre dCi 130 engine.

An Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) six-speed automatic gearbox is available with the dCi 110 engine. The dCi 110 Automatic EDC provides emissions as low as 98 g/km of CO2, compared to 96 g/km of CO2 for the manual version.

In 2017, two further engine options will be available. The Hybrid Assist is a 1.5-litre dCi unit with electric assistance. The initially petrol-only GT Nav offering will be enhanced with the arrival of a dCi 165 1.6-litre twin-turbo unit.

Cars will be arriving in UK showrooms from July.