NEW Renault GT - Line .. La Linia full stop!

The only other car I’ve ever wanted this badly before I drove it was the Audi A7. And that’s even in addition to having tested the RS Megane version that came out earlier this year.

Those with longer memories will recall the ‘hatch’. In response to rising insurance and petrol costs in the early ’90s, a raft of sub-hot hatches came along offering sporty styling and superior performance.

In an economic climate not dissimilar to the early ’90s, it’s of little surprise that the warm hatch is back – say hello to the Renault GT Line. The fact that Renault sport has had a hand in its development – we’re huge fans of the RS Mégane – means there’s reason to be optimistic about this car, too. It even looks good, individual and stylish, riding on its 17in, alloy wrapped wheels.

Inside, Renault sport-spec seats are fitted with specific GT cloth and there are aluminium pedals, a Renault sport wheel and polished carbon trim. Climate, cruise, TomTom satnav, and a hands-free keycard are standard.

It seems odd that a funky-looking three-door hatch with 96kw should be considered just another hatch, but thanks to the phenomenon of upsizing that’s what we’ve got here. With 0-100km/h taking 7.8sec and a top speed nudging 220km/h it’s on the hotter side of warm, and as such the GT makes a fine cruising and overtaking companion.


It steers with precision and it grips and contains body roll in a perfectly acceptable manner. No unruliness comes from torque-steer, which is usually present under hard acceleration in the first three gears. The GT doesn’t try too hard to impress, which makes you wonder if this is one of those cars that reveals its talents slowly during the ownership experience rather than on a short test drive at a dealer.


A quick mention, the dashboard. It’s completely mad and at a glance you can’t work out what anything does or what the dials are saying — you could very easily run out of fuel, for instance. But compared with the dreary, plasticky, home-brand, low-rent rubbish you find in most hatchbacks these days, it comes as a welcome and joyous change.

To understand what I’m on about, you should visit Renaults website and spend some time playing looking around at the different options.

Ah, yes, cost. It’s tricky, of course, because of those options. Prices start at R 236 000 and that’s fair enough because this is the best of the small cars by a very, very long way.