WITHIN the lexicon of the terms related to the faithful estate car, the manufacturers have waxed ever lyrical in their search for alternatives to christen this carrier of people and their stuff.
From one of the earlier offerings of the station wagon, virtually every carmaker had a slant on making the humble load-lugger sound buyer attractive.
Over the years, SEAT has offered the Vario in Ibiza and Cordoba form, Audi continues to attract buyers to the complete range with its Avant estate, and while BMW has always opted for Touring to describe its elegant carry-alls, the Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon combines a touch of this sporting life with some load-lugging ability.
Renault has moved on from being a strictly estate car provider to adopting the term Sport Tourer for both its station wagons, the Laguna and the Megane.
In the frame here is the Megane version which arrived last autumn to build on the success of Renault's previous Megane range with a revised look, greater refinement and an even wider choice of engines and toybox options.
The Megane Sport Tourer offers a generously wide engine range with petrol power represented by 1.4-litre 100bhp , 1.6-litre 110bhp and 2.0T 165bhp 135bhp 16-valvers, plus the 225bhp 2.0-litre Turbo which powers the Megane Renaultsport.
Diesel urge comes courtesy of a 1.5 dCi housing 86bhp, 106bhp or 130bhp, while the latest flagship oil-burner houses a hugely impressive 150bhp of maximum power. Kit levels are Expression, Dynamique and range-topping Privilege.
Under the microscope here is the Megane Sport Tourer Dynamique powered by Renault's flagship diesel engine, the 1.9 dCi 150bhp.
Paired with a smooth-slotting six-speed manual gearchange, the car proved an efficient performer, delivering some beefy torque and excellent driving dynamics which should suit most drivers who like that extra bit of involvement and entertainment even in family transport.
The 0-62mph dash comes in well under nine seconds, the top speed, where legally allowable is 130mph and, depending upon individual driving style, there is the promise of a generous 50+mpg.
Although perhaps not quite as composed as say the Focus Estate class-leader, the Megane Sport Tourer still displays some extremely capable handling and, with wind and road noise also well contained, refinement and overall ride quality is well on the pace.
More your lifestyle estate than strictly load-lugger, Megane Sport Tourer enjoys some innovative and attractive lines to enhance an even more eye-catching frontal view and a more modern design for the rear.
The front end boasts a racy yet muscular look with the more pronounced "V" of the front grille flanked by the new design of the headlights accentuating its intent while the lighting set-up is most certainly eyecatching within the more elegant tailgate design of the Tourer.
The revised interior updates feature an improved trim with soft-touch dashboard materials and new-look dials with white background lighting emphasising that touch of this sporting life on board.
There are chrome surrounds to the air vents, controls and door handles which add that further touch of class to the trim fit and finish while there's also improved sound-proofing.
Well-placed controls and an easy to navigate dashboard ensure that the driving environment is also an agreeable place to be and, with plenty of adjustment to the steering wheel and driver's seat, overall vision is fine.
And while the Dynamique trim level provides the likes of electric windows all round, electrically operated and heated door mirrors, air con, six-speaker sound system with MP3 and trip computer as standard, driver safety aids include ABS braking with Electronic Brake Distribution and Brake Assist.
However, the likes of Electronic Stability Programme and Traction Control are optional extras.
Renault say that the Sport Tourer has "inner space" to complement its "outer beauty" and they are not wide of the mark, this estate car being just right for a family holiday.
Its 520-litres floor space proves user-friendly with its opening window in the tailgate for those last-minute items.
Overall, this is another fine effort from the Gallic carmaker, Renault showing that while it enjoys a goodly array of sporty performers such as the Megane Renaultsport, family matters are never far from the creators' minds, the Tourer doing exactly what its name suggests, providing the necessary levels of load space, driving dynamics, performance and good looks to specialise in moving people and their stuff.
FAST FACTS
Renault Megane Dynamique S 2.0 dCi 150 Sport Tourer
Price: £19,420
Mechanical: 150bhp, 1,995cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 130mph
0-62mph: 8.8 secs
Combined mpg: 51.4
Insurance group: 10
CO2 emissions: 146g/km
BiK rating: 19%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 mile, 3yrs paint, 12yrs anti-rust