Common sense dictates that any proposition that sounds too good to be true is most likely to be just that.

So we felt compelled to check out the claim of a remarkable fresh blend of efficiency and performance being made for the latest power unit from the Renault-Nissan alliance.

According to Renault, the 1.5-litre turbodiesel motor in the revised Megane range features such substantial revisions that it now burns 15 per cent less fuel. to achieve top-of-the-class economy.

But company engineers insist the parsimony that delivers a class-leading mix of 90g/km tailpipe emissions with more than 80mpg on the official test cycle comes with no loss of power.

Raising the bar to that level of efficiency stands to work wonders for the French brand, which has been less popular in the company car sector in recent years and took drastic action to trim its model range.

Given the continued economic uncertainty, fleet managers are duty bound to show interest in vehicles that improve bottom-line results, so on paper, the revitalised Megane has rather more appeal than you’d expect for a facelift model. But will it live up to the promise?

So far, things are looking good for our car, a Dynamique TomTom Stop & Start version. Despite reaching us straight from the production line, the dCi motor is quiet, smooth and has the ‘run in’ feel of a unit with plenty of mileage behind it. And the first tank-to-tank check has resulted in 60+mpg – a long way from the claimed economy potential but not bad for 300 miles of short-hop driving.

Chrome strips and a gloss black finish to the grille have freshened the car’s appearance and equipment is well matched to fleet requirements, with automatic lights and wipers as well as air conditioning, cruise control, Bluetooth, anti-pinch power windows and heated door mirrors all adding to comfortable and convenient business motoring.