Without a doubt, the new Renault Megane is the most user-friendly hatchback on the market.

The beefy, dare-to-be-different shape with pinched-in rear door might not be everyone's cup of tea (some may argue it's really ugl) but there's nothing in the Focus-sized field to touch the interior when it comes to ease of use. Seat adjustment, for example, is five-star. Two plastic flaps sit immediately below the front seat cushions, flush-fitted like drawer handles.

Without even having to bend forward, simply reach down and lift one to adjust rake, the other to swing the seat rear up or down. Then there's a generous-sized side lever for the driver to raise or lower the whole chair.

Don't forget the handbrake. Gone is the traditional lever, in its place a far more convenient cross-member grip that requires far less effort to lock, or release, the brake.

Thirdly, we move into hi-tech mode with the automatic unlocking, locking and ignition.

You simply need the Renault Card on your person to get in and start up.

No fiddling with keys on dark, damp mornings and you're off the drive far quicker after pressing the brake pedal and pushing the start button.

On those same dark and damp days, the light-sensing headlamps and rain-sensitive wipers kick in without touching the controls.

If you do feel like hitting some buttons the heater switch, for instance there are Desperate Dan-sized switches: nothing is frail or fiddly.

Filling up? Marvellous. No locking petrol cap to wrestle with, in fact, no petrol cap at all to touch, making fill-ups the cleanest ever.

All you do is pull back the body flap, and insert the fuel hose into the swivel-cap covered pipe.

When you've finished, the cap springs back and a rubber cup, mounted behind the body flap, completes the safety seal.

With ease of use you've peace of mind, too. The new Megane is the first lower-medium sector vehicle to achieve a five-star rating in the EuroNcap crash tests, and that, in turn, has helped cut insurance groupings right down.

The entry-level petrol and diesel models, for example, get an ultra-low 3E cover rating.

The Megane appeared in UK showrooms last September, following on from the bigger, equally-radical Vel Satis and Avantime models.

You can buy the new Megane as a three or five-door hatchback, and there's a three-door sport hatch version.

Depending on which version you go for, trim levels are Authentique, Expression, Dynamique and Privilege, and there's a fair choice of three petrol engines and two diesels. In total, there's 24 of the new Meganes, so most options are well covered.

The 1.4 Expression, at £11,500, is nicely placed price-wise above the £1,000-cheaper entry-level Authentique, and there are generous levels of equipment and a strong enough performance to keep most buyers happy.

The 98bhp power pack can sound a trifle tinny between the gears, but it's willing and resourceful with few faults.

The Expression will do 114mph tops, with 0-62mph reached in a market-average 12.5 seconds.

Country driving returns 52.3mpg, but the overall mpg average is in the late 30s.

The bump-soaking ride is as easy to live with as the interior, and the Megane's wide stance translates into really good traction when tested through road twists.

Standard in the Expression are those automatic headlamps, and rain-sensitive wipers, plus front foglamps, one-touch front and rear electric windows, air condititoning that includes a cooled glove box, and single CD/radio with six speakers.

Motoring life doesn't get much easier than in a Megane.