It occasionally happens that I'm asked for advice by people who are interested in becoming motoring journalists. I like to do what I can, but one thing it had never occurred to me to say - or at least not in the case of a mainstream C-segment model such as the Renault Megane Sport Tourer - is that you should write and publish your opinions before the car goes out of production.In fact the Megane Sport Tourer itself still exists, but the 2.0 dCi 160 FAP Privilege TomTom doesn't. I drove the car, turned my head for a few moments (well, several weeks, to be strictly accurate) to attend to other important matters, turned back and discovered that it had been removed from the Renault price list. The turbo diesel engine - the most powerful in the Sport Tourer range - is now available only with the range-topping GT trim level, and if you want a high-performance Privilege TomTom the nearest thing you're going to be able to get to it is the one with the 130bhp 1.4 turbo petrol engine.Not that I ever thought that the dCi 160 version (may it rest in peace) was especially quick. The key performance figures of 0-62mph in 8.8 seconds and 133mph flat-out are of course very good, but I never approached either of them. That may partly be because there was nothing else about the car which suggested I should try.Estates are rarely as well-poised on the road as their saloon or hatchback equivalents, because the engineers have to take into account the possibility of heavy loads being carried, and adjust the rear suspension settings to suit. That seems to have had a significant effect on the Megane, which in Sport Tourer form is nothing like as much fun to drive as the hatchback we tried last year.It may be that the GT with this engine redresses the balance somewhat, since among other differences to the Privilege it has a more sporty suspension set-up. I'll let you know if I find out.Whichever Sport Tourer you buy, if you buy one at all, you'll find that it's splendidly practical. Luggage capacity ranges from 491 litres with the rear seats in position to 1567 litres with them folded down, and these are healthy figures. They beat those of the Megane's most obvious rivals, the estate versions of the Ford Focus (482/1525) and Vauxhall Astra (470/1550), and if you want significantly more room within the C segment you're going to have to consider something with SW in its title, such as a Peugeot 308 or Kia cee'd.The Megane hatchback can't hope to compete with its Sport Tourer relative in this respect, and it also has the disadvantage of a high sill over which you have to haul any luggage in order to get it into the cargo area. The tailgate of the Sport Tourer extends all the way down to floor level, which is a much more sensible arrangement.Another problem with the hatch, as far as I was concerned, is that I couldn't get into the back when the driver's seat was positioned the way I wanted it. Okay, I'm six foot three, but this still came as a surprise. I was concerned that the same thing would apply to the rear Sport Tourer, but although it looks cramped there is actually more space than there appears to be, and I didn't have a problem getting in or out. I have no idea why there should be such a difference between the two cars, but there it is. Engine 1995cc, 4 cylinders Power 160bhp Transmission 6 speed manual Fuel/CO2 47.9mpg / 155g/km Acceleration 0-62mph: 8.8 seconds Top speed 133mph Price From £22268.00 approx Release date 01/01/2010
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