When is an estate not an estate? I can tell you that the correct answer is never, but that hasn’t stopped manufacturers attempting to make them more attractive to buyers by giving them more enticing names like Renault’s Sport Tourer, reviewed here in GT Line trim.

The front end is identical to the hatchback with the same prominent diamond-shaped logo flanked by the firm’s bold headlamp assemblies with their distinctive C-shaped LED running lights. The rear lights also mimic the five-door’s, with horizontal elements that stretch out across the boot towards another large badge.

It’s lines are sleek, taught – accentuated by wheel arches that wrap precisely around the wheels – and about as close to sporty as its possible to get within the limitations that its two-box body will allow. That impression is reinforced by the fact that not only is it the lowest vehicle in its class but it also boasts the widest track. So, visually at least, the Sport half of its designation doesn’t appear entirely inappropriate.

The Sport Tourer is certainly among the better-looking estate cars and shares the same premium feel as its hatchback sibling.

Inside soft-touch materials coupled with excellent ergonomics and excellent build quality reinforce that premium feel. The Megane is not found wanting when it comes to standard equipment either.

The GT Line model that I’m reviewing here boasts 18in alloy wheels, part-leather upholstery, an 8.7in portrait touchscreen running Renault’s R-Link 2 infotainment system with sat nay, Bluetooth and DAB radio, Bose seven-speaker sound system with a digital amp and subwoofer, handsfree entry, automatic dual zone climate control and automatic headlights and windscreen wipers.

Mid-range versions come with a landscape touchscreen while the base version makes do with a dot-matrix display in the centre console.

The R-Link 2 system brings together the sat-nav, driving modes and audio controls, reducing the number of physical controls on the dashboard. The graphics are crisp and clear and the touchscreen is responsive. The instrument binnacle houses a configurable seven-inch TFT display flanked by two small gauges.

The Megane’s Multisense ambient lighting – with strips of LEDS set in the doors and centre console – can display one of five colours depending on the selected driving mode and gives the cabin a very real sense of class.

The front seats offer plenty of adjustment and there’s ample head and leg room. There’s an extra 11mm between the axle to free up more leg room for passengers in the back while the seat backs have been reclined slightly to give a more comfortable position and, I suspect, to accommodate the sloping roofline. However, headroom in the back is still at a premium for taller passengers.

You’ll find lots of convenient storage space in the cabin, such as the flock-lined door bins and trinket tray. However, the glovebox is compromised by having to share space with the fuse panel.

The boot, with the rear seats in place, measures in at 580 litres or, in layman’s terms means it will comfortably accommodate several suitcases or a large supermarket shop. Stow the rear seats and that volume grows to 1,504 litres, plus you get a flat floor so loading heavy or bulky items is easy. Strangely, the boot is actually smaller than the previous generation so, if outright capacity is high on your list of priorities, you might want to consider some of the Megane’s rivals.

The GT Line is available with a choice of either a 1.5-litre diesel producing 115hp or the 1.3-litre petrol unit with 140hp that was under the bonnet of my review car.

It delivers plenty of punch and is at home either whizzing around town or on longer journeys. It’s worth noting that, despite the sporting impression that the GT Line moniker delivers, this is not the quickest car in the line-up.

Renault’s focus has clearly been on comfort and refinement. Road, wind and engine noise is impressively absent in the cabin while the supple ride isolates occupants from the harsh realities of driving on British roads. The seven-speed automatic gearbox is slick and responsive and lends itself well to the character of the car.

The flip side of the softer ride is that handling is a little compromised. The Megane will lean a little more in corners than the best handling cars in its class but it remains poised with good body control. There’s grip to be exploited, but changes in direction need to measured, rather than spontaneous, ultimately slowing the progress of keener drivers who will also find themselves hampered by the slightly vague steering, which is a little on the light side.

I’m going to stick my neck out and say that style accounts for a great deal when people are considering their next car and, in that area alone, the Megane Sport Tourer scores highly both inside and out. Refinement is also excellent. Even when stressed noise from the engine barely permeates the cabin space while at cruising speed the passenger space is quiet and relaxed.

The ride is composed too and, while that does impact on the handling to a degree, it’s a worthwhile trade-off in a car that is rarely, if ever, going to be pushed to its limits on a tight and twisty country road, especially as the steering is a tad numb.

Style, however, comes at a cost and the Sport Tourer suffers from a cramped rear headroom and poor boot space compared to its rivals.

The question you need to ask yourself is, which is more important, practicality or style. I suspect I already know the answer.

Renault Megane Sport Tourer GT Line TCe 140

Price from: £23,310

Engine: 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol

Transmission: 7-speed automatic

Max power: 140hp

Max torque: 240Nm

Max speed: 122mph

0-62mph: 11.7sec

Urban (NEDC): 40.4mpg

Extra-urban (NEDC): 61.4mpg

Combined (NEDC): 51.4mpg

Emissions (CO2): 125g/km

For more information visit www.renault.co.uk