Renault's previous Mégane CC was massively popular in South Africa, a popularity that interestingly stretched across all genders and races.

I say 'interestingly' because such an all-encompassing popularity can't be attributed to all convertibles, a type of car that is usually considered either butch and sporty and, subsequently, fitting for men (think BMW M3 Convertible) or a tad too feminine (Mercedes-Benz SLK), making it a poseur's car. Yet all and sundry seemed to be happy getting behind the wheel of the Mégane CC, a testimony to the car's versatile styling.

While I am quite fond of the current Mégane, I wouldn't describe its styling as versatile and, since there's no formal sedan variant, I was curious about what a new Mégane CC would look like. The first images Renault released last year disappointed me a bit, but not nearly as much as the real deal would when it was parked in my driveway. Its styling is a disaster, to put it nicely, and each time I looked at it I recalled Brent's opinion of it (looks only a mother could love) when comparing it to the Peugeot 308CC.

With the roof up, the Mégane CC is completely out of proportion. The mature, slightly bland front styling flows nicely into the A-pillars (which are finished in satin-silver – mistake number one), starting a good coupe-convertible silhouette, but when you get to the C-pillars, everything goes wrong. While I certainly understand the space requirements for storing the hardtop, the overly long "boot" throws the design out the back door. The rear overhangs are also large which, in combination with the large and oddly shaped taillights and the black plastic that adorns the bottom half of the rear bumper, makes the car look tacky, almost as if it was designed as an afterthought. This is slightly alleviated when the roof is lowered, but the new Mégane CC is still no swan.

Renault could've done quite a few things to rescue the Mégane CC from its unfortunate styling, in my opinion. If this specific design were the be-all and end-all, simply making the entire rear bumper body colour would've done much to rectify the imbalance in proportions. A different set of taillights would also have done wonders, as would a set of alloy wheels unique to the CC range – unless you're driving a Shake It or a RenaultSport model, all models in the current range have the same alloy wheels, albeit in different sizes. I would also have made the A-pillars body-colour, but the satin silver frames are the least obtrusive... Renault could also just have taken the Fluence's elegant lines and perky derriere as a base for the Mégane CC, but the French remain adamant that the Fluence is not a Mégane sedan. I beg to differ.

Most of my criticism of the car is admittedly leaned towards its styling, but ask any marketing expert and they will confirm that hideously styled cars, regardless of build quality or extensive standard specification, will not sell like hot cakes. Speaking of build quality and standard specification, Renault has thankfully not skimped on either. The interior design is straight out of the Dynamique hatch and subsequently sports everything you need and could possibly want on top of it. Keyless entry, leather seats, a reach and rake adjustable steering wheel, automatic dual-zone, three-mode climate control, directional bi-Xenon headlamps, a combined digital/analogue instrument display, as well as an intuitive colour-coded cruise control/speed limiter interface are all standard, as is the Carminat TomTom integrated navigation system and the 3D Sound by Arkamys audio system.

The new Mégane CC is available only with Renault's 1.4 TCe (Turbo Control efficiency) engine, which is claimed to deliver similar power as an 1800. It delivers 96 kW of power at 5 500 r/min, allied to 190 Nm of torque at a low 2 250 r/min. Acceleration to 100km/h takes __ seconds, with a top speed of __km/h. Personally I would've liked the 1.9dCi engine in this car, but it was still surprisingly nimble despite looking and feeling like a contestant of Biggest Loser. Linked to a 6-speed manual transmission, fuel consumption is a claimed 7.3-litres/100 km, with carbon emissions at 169 g/km.

The front suspension is based on a MacPherson-type arrangement with a new 'horned' subframe that is engineered to deliver impeccable steering precision by restricting lateral movement of the engine subframe in relation to the body structure – a configuration three times more rigid than the previous-generation car. A programmed-deflection flexible beam is employed at the rear, with a closed-section beam that is both lighter and more compact than a multi-arm solution for equivalent torsional stiffness. Renault claims that this model's torsional stiffness is 30% better than the predecessor, but it's till pretty shaky (especially) when the roof is down.

Priced at R359 900, the Mégane CC is also not very affordable anymore, despite the price tag including a five-year/100 000 km Service Plan and Renault's comprehensive five-year/150 000 km warranty. For R245 more, you could also get a Volkswagen Beetle Cabrio 2.0i, while a BMW 120i Convertible will set you back an additional R16k odd. For about R2 500 less, you can however get Volkswagen's Eos 1.4 TSI while the Mazda MX-5 Roadster is another R5 000 less than that. Peugeot's significantly better-looking 308 CC, with the more enjoyable 1.6 THP engine, is a whopping R19 000 less than the Mégane CC at R340 519.

Fun to drive and with excellent standard specification, the Mégane CC makes a good deal on paper. However, the terrible styling and high price (in comparison with its competitors) takes much away from the theoretical appeal, leaving you with an (at-best) average-looking convertible that does everything well but nothing outstanding. When you consider how big a role emotion play when buying a convertible, it's shocking that Renault thought this Mégane CC would make the cut. It quite simply does not.