Opt for the 2.0-litre 140bhp petrol and you'll get Renault's new EDC auto as standard - a dual-clutch box in the vein of Volkswagen's DSG, engineered to shift quickly. But this is a long way from ...

And things aren’t much different at Renault. This updated Megane has a 1.2-litre where a 1.6 once lived. If carmakers want to survive the environmental revolution, such downsizing is essential.