IT'S almost two years since the Renault Megane hatch went on sale, and it has quickly become something of a modern classic.

It might have looked as oddball in October 2002 as the infamous square, or "Quartic", steering wheel did on the Austin Allegro when it first launched back in 1972, but unlike the ill-fated and long-forgotten Allegro, the Megane hatch has quickly built a strong following.

Arguably the most user-friendly car on sale in Britain today, the Megane is just made for comfortable, stress-free motoring. It possesses just one obvious fault though - rear leg room, or rather the lack of it.

But that was addressed at the end of 2003 with the UK appearance of the Sport Saloon (pictured above), which puts right any rear seat space shortage, thanks to a 61mm longer wheelbase, and retains all the hatch's plus points.

Why, then, is the superb Sport Saloon suffering sales shyness? Why aren't drivers ditching Ford Focus, VW Bora, Rover 45 and Seat Toledo saloons and heading for the Renault showroom?

To be totally honest, for someone who gets out and about quite a bit, I've seen just two Megane saloons since last November - and one of them was the 1.9dCi Privilege test car featured here.

The answer lies in another question - how many Ford Focus saloons have you seen? It's not the specific car, it's the general class of car that does little more than lurk in the showrooms.

While the saloon is still a popular choice in France, Spain and Italy, it's a different matter in the UK.

Smaller, "C-segment" saloons are a dying breed, losing out heavily to the more practical, and usually less pricey, hatchbacks.

If they hanker after a saloon, buyers prefer to dig just a little deeper - only a grand or two at most - to step up to a larger, more luxurious, "D-segment" rival such as the Toyota Avensis, or even Skoda Superb.

The dCi Privilege tops the three trim levels. The other two are Expression and Dynamique, and the 1,870cc, 120bhp, six-speed flyer is the most expensive of the manual Megane Saloons at £16,350, and just £200 less than the priciest model, the 2.0-litre petrol Privilege automatic.

The Privilege is packed solid with slick and sophisticated spec, such as the hands-free card ignition, with automatic unlocking, a dash-mounted six-CD changer with fingertip on-wheel controls, climate control, heat-reflecting windscreen, and illuminated vanity mirrors - all on top of what is a cracking level of standard kit for all Meganes.

Safety is spot-on, too, and this is reflected in the low - for the size and specification - insurance grouping of just seven.

With the punchy diesel doing 64.2mpg on the combined country cycle, and ride and handling simply excellent, the Sport Saloon deserves to succeed, even if small saloons are doomed, like the dodo, to eventual extinction.