Renaultsport Mégane 275 Trophy-R v VW Golf GTI Clubsport S | evo Track Review

The RenaultSport Megane 275 Trophy-R has long been the benchmark for hot hatchbacks, thanks to its pared-to-the-bone weight saving, punchy engine and super-sticky tyres. But the greatest threat to its crown comes from an unlikely source - Volkswagen. Instead of VW's usual route to performance - big engines and complex powertrains - it's used the RenaultSport formula and stripped back the weight to make the most focused Golf ever to hit the road. Which will be faster around the super-quick Rockingham circuit?

Steve Sutcliffe decides in this, the third in a video series has made to celebrate the launch of Top Drives, a racing game from Hutch produced using data and pictures from evo.

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[rejoicerone]

damn EVO is back on the game now.... so happy that steve is still present

[TheCokecinelles]

I bought a Mégane 265 cup mainly because it had a 5 star review on evo, I love their focus on "the thrill of driving", not the badge

[thefredsociety]

Thank you Sutcliffe for joining the best car magazine of them all and thanks Evo for making it all possible!

[jakepocock]

Bearing in mind, the Megane is based off a 2009 car, to only be within .7 of a second of the latest and greatest is incredible. Renault do know have to make a fwd car go bloody fast.

[abdelhameedbarqawi]

Amazing video .. i drove the clubsport S and it definitely feel like a 4 second car 0-60 and the exhaust note is marvelous 👌🏻👌🏻🔥

[future]

Now I am totally looped. Trying to keep track of British video motor journalists is like playing wack a mole. Doesn't matter.... happy the big homie Steve is back!

[mariodiniz]

Amazing video, so good to have Steve in here, glad Dan Prosser left, what a difference.

[jameswingrove]

I have to say, the Renault is the one I'd take. Even almost 4 years on, which is about a million years in automotive terms, it can hold it's own against the Clubsport S, that's seriously impressive. And I think it looks better (although looks are very subjective).

[handsomeenglish]

Nice vid... (I'm guessing it was filmed a few months back? based on my copy of Evo mag :) ) Would be nice to see a comparison between both Trophy R and Clubsport S against the new Civic Type R (with rear seats). My hunch would be a tie between all three (Renault more engaging, VW more dynamic, the Type R more competent (and what a gearchange))...
Personally I prefer the Civic (even though I own a Clubsport S)

[medaminemajid]

So megane rs less hp 35 exactly and still manage to keep up this is like porsches less and still keep up with ferrari and mclaren in laptimes, now im waiting for the New rs with 4 control that gona be so fucking fast it Will change the game in the hot hatch segment

[TheWretchedWorld]

Close to 30hp more and based on a way newer platform rather than the meganes 7 year old one. I have to say the megane held on pretty well.

[lok]

Awesome review. I was itching for this comparison! Big question is, a GTI CS is close to £40k, a standard 275 trophy is approx £20k and won't be much slower 🤔 both lovely cars!

[MrSmithyboy]

Great to see Steve join Evo, hoping of great things to come!

[ImadHadjersi]

Nice video, we need more and why not some classic head to head, not only new cars.

[jabiqq]

Quality driving from Steve.. pleasure to watch

[Audidude]

So after several years of development and a power weight advantage, VW beats Megane time by 0.86%! Shows what a colossal achievement the Megane was.

[heamees]

Can't wait for the new Megane RS next year

[LivingLifeSlower]

Bought the non-S after my M4. Genuinely fun car to drive. Numbers are not as big as the M4, but my smile is!

[ThaDutchDK]

renault sport was and will always be the best hot hatch chassis builder. as you see here 9 year old chassis still going strong.. and renault doesnt cheat with there lap time on the nur how the record is done you can buy the car not like the shitvic type rice who removed passenger seat aircon radio and added a cage... and needs a huge wing and 300+ hp further renault and ford already had the dubble strut front suspension in 2004 like honda now has (2017)... hopefully renault sport doesnt forgot how to build the best chassis cause the clio 4 rs was not really the best..

[Aliens_Gonna_Get_Ya]

Had both GTI's & such brilliant