Renault's Megane E-Tech Electric might well redefine what you imagine an affordable family Hatch EV to be. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Review

It's took a long time for Renault to deliver a proper follow-up to its ZOE EV, but the Megane E-Tech Electric was worth the wait. Family hatch-segment EVs often tend to be either rather boring or ever-so-slightly weird, but this one's stylish and engaging. A new kind of Renault for a very different era.

Background

Who would have forecast back in 2012 when Renault launched its little ZOE full EV that it would be a full decade before we saw another mainstream Renault passenger car EV product in our showrooms. Yet that's what's happened, as the brand over-stretched itself and has been overtaken by nearly all its volume rivals in the electric vehicle segment. But the fightback starts here with this car, the Megane E-Tech. It sits on the same CMF-EV platform used by the Nissan Ariya and should reach a large audience. Thanks to the success of the ZOE, one in five Renaults sold in Europe has been electric. But this is what Renault calls a '2nd generation' EV, it's development rushed through by the brand's ambitious CEO Luca de Meo, who likes to describe this as 'the GTI of EVs'.

Driving Experience

Renault promises that this car's sporty looks will translate into a sporty drive and there's lots about the design and engineering of this model to suggest that might translate into reality on the tarmac. The new power steering system has a super-sharp 12:1 ratio. And there's an uber-thin 60kWh battery that, along with a particularly light electric motor, allows this Renault to save about 100kgs in weight over its rivals and can be mounted even lower in the chassis than it would normally be in an EV. That platform is the Nissan Renault Alliance group's stiff CMF-EV set-up, notable here because it mounts the drive motor at the front. Rival VW Group EVs from Volkswagen, CUPRA and Skoda sit it at the back. This Megane's single front motor produces 216bhp of total output, the highest in the segment, though if you use too much of that, you won't get near the quoted range figure (between 279 and 285 miles, depending on trim). In fact we didn't even manage to get within 80% of that on this test, even with maximum brake regen selected from the steering wheel paddles. And the most frugal 'MySense' drive mode selected (the others are 'Comfort', 'Perso' and 'Sport'). It's tempting to use a bit of that power because unlike most of its rivals, this Renault's quite an engaging little thing to punt about. Surprisingly (given the huge 20-inch wheels most variants have), the ride's OK too - and refinement's exemplary by segment standards. Renault now includes One Pedal driving as standard across the range. By optimising regenerative braking, the vehicle decelerates smoothly when the driver releases the accelerator pedal, coming to a stop without the driver having to apply the brake.

Design and Build

Looks good doesn't it? Apparently what we have here was originally going to be the performance version of this car, but designer Laurens van den Acker found that everyone liked it so much that he decided to standardise the 'Evoque'-style look across the whole Megane E-Tech range. It's based visually on the Megane eVision concept car unveiled in 2020 and incorporates the brand's familiar C-shaped headlamps, though with the lower section of the 'C' extended to run a reverse line of light across the top of the bumper. The nose gets Renault's latest art deco corporate badge and if you avoid base trim, both the front and rear lights will be of the LED variety, plus there are flush-fitting electric front door handles and you get big wheels of 18 or 20-inches depending on spec. Inside, it's certainly all very 'digi-tech' and on-trend, Renault claiming inspiration here from the world of home furniture. Cosy upholstering and lots of different recycled surfaces surround the glossy 'OpenR' fascia screen panel, what the brand calls this cabin's 'crowning jewel', made up of a 12.3-inch instrument display and a 9-inch central monitor. That centre screen claims to deliver a new level of media connectivity for this class of car, using an Android Automotive system developed with Google. It'll be periodically updated over-the-air and you'll get direct access to helpful apps and services like Google Maps and Google Play, plus you can link into your Google account and there's Google Assistant voice control. Other cabin design features include a curiously-shaped steering wheel, superbly comfortable seats and an enormous centre storage console beneath the dash which flows back between the two front two chairs. All-round visibility might be something you'll have to adapt to a bit, thanks to the narrow glass area, the letterbox-shaped rear screen and the considerable rear C-pillars. But there are some lovely trimming touches and most models get smart double yellow-stitched synthetic leather upholstery. A wheelbase length increase of 20mm over a conventional Megane means there's little more space in the back than you might expect. And there's a reasonably sized 440-litre boot, though with quite a high lip.

Market and Model

Pricing here now starts from around £32,500, the fee these days for an ambitious full-EV hatch and a big saving on an identically-engineered (but slightly larger) Nissan Ariya. Megane E-Tech Electric customers can choose from three well-equipped models - 'techno', 'techno esprit Alpine' and range-topping 'iconic esprit Alpine' - with each benefitting from a class-leading digital experience with a 12.3-inch driver information display, a 9-inch multimedia display and Android Automotive OS with integrated Google services. The 'techno' version starts the range with its 18-inch 'Oston' alloy wheels, full-LED headlights, heated steering wheel and front seats, rear view camera, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and a range of connected services including over-the-air software updates. The Megane E-Tech features up to 26 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), including distance warning alert, traffic sign recognition, automatic emergency braking with junction assist, cruise control with a speed limiter, and emergency lane keeping assist with oncoming traffic and road-edge detection. A Vehicle-to-load (V2L) adaptor is now included as standard across the range to power mains devices wherever you are. And there's no extra cost for your choice of paint colour. The mid-range 'techno esprit Alpine' model, priced from around £35,500, goes further with the addition of adaptive cruise control with a speed limiter and lane centring, plus blind spot recognition and intervention, along with rear cross traffic alert with rear automatic braking. The 'techno's exterior is marked out by full-adaptive LED headlights, front and rear signature lighting and dynamic turn signals. The interior, meanwhile, gains upholstery made from recycled materials, multi-sense customised driving modes with 48-colour interior ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control, automatic windscreen wipers, wireless smartphone charging and the full range of Google services including Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Play store. At the top of the range, the 'iconic esprit Alpine' version, priced at around £37,000, aims to stand out, with 20-inch 'Enos' alloy wheels and a gold F1 blade, while the interior gains a 9-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, a smart rear-view mirror and an Around View 3D camera system.

Cost of Ownership

We mentioned driving range in our 'Driving Experience' section - between 279 and 285 miles for this car's 60kWh EV60 drivetrain (with the top figure recorded by the base 'techno' version). You'll need very proactive use of the various provided regenerative braking modes to match those figures. Bear in mind that as usual with electric vehicles, the range figure just quoted will vary a great deal depending on the type of road you're on and the prevailing weather. If you were to drive this car exclusively on the highway in really cold weather, you might find yourself not getting much more than around 155 miles of range from it. But you'd encounter similar issues with every other EV in this segment. And this one does at least include a standard heat pump to maximise range in cold conditions, an expensive extra on many rivals. The car comes with an 11kW on-board charger and can fast DC public charge at up to 130kW. The car can draw about 186 miles of range in around half an hour from a 130kW DC charger. Around eight hours of charging from a 7.4kW home charger will give you around 248 miles of range. The brand's 'Plug & Charge' compatibility is now included, which makes charging as simple as plugging-in. Compatible chargers will recognise the car as soon as you plug-in, authorising the payment automatically and starting the charging process instantly. The Plug & Charge system is included in a provided Mobilize Charge Pass, with compatible chargers identified in the My Renault app and the vehicle's OpenR Link display.

Summary

It's indisputable that Renault set off too early with full-electric vehicle development, trying to sell the market cars it wasn't ready for and haemorrhaging money in the process. Which is why it's taken so long for a second mainstream EV car model to appear from the brand. But we reckon this Megane E-Tech was worth the wait. It looks and feels more sophisticated and stylish than its VW Group and Korean class rivals; if you want a LEAF, Kia Niro EV or Volkswagen ID.3-class EV hatch, this one really has to be on your shopping list. At a stroke, for the first time in a long time, the Megane E-Tech makes Renault seem more credible force in the mainstream European market. And we're really quite intrigued by the thought of just how good a future high-performance Renaultsport version might be. For the time being though, what we've got is a car that signals Renault back on track.

Body Glass

Rear wiper

Heated rear window

Front intermittent wipers

Rear window defroster

Non-tinted rear windows

Electric one-touch power front and rear windows

Automatic windscreen wipers with rain sensor and sensitivity setting

Brakes

Traction control

Electronic Stability Programme

Hill start assist

Anti-lock braking system (ABS)

Electric parking brake

Brake energy recuperation

Active emergency braking system - Urban and pedestrian/cyclist

Carpets/Rugs

Textile floor mats

Communication

Wireless smartphone replication and integration via iOS carplay and google, wifi and usb

Google assisted services

Driver Aids

Power assisted steering

Rear park assist

Rear parking camera

Engine start button

Steering wheel mounted cruise control

Driver attention alert system

Driver drowsiness alert system

Emergency lane keep assist including solid line, oncoming traffic and road edge detection

Autonomous driving level 1: adaptive cruise control with speed limiter

Intelligent speed assistance

Driver Convenience

Tailgate

Ecomode function

Configurable dashboard display

Saftey shield [button for personalisation configuration of key ADAS features]

Driver Information

Trip computer

On board diagnostics

Speed limit display

Exterior temperature display

e-Call (emergency call)

Connected services including over the air updates

Digital owner's manual

12.3" driver information display cluster

9" multimedia OpenR link screen

Driving Mirrors

Heated door mirrors

Auto-tilting and folding wing mirrors with puddle lamp

Body coloured wing mirrors

Day and night rear view mirro

Embellishment Trims

Fabric upper dashboard

Engine

AC22 5m mode 3 charging cable

Entertainment

Steering wheel audio controls

Digital radio

Arkamys audio system with 6 speakers

Exterior Body Features

Rear side wing doors

Exterior Lights

Automatic headlights

Full LED headlights

LED third brake light

Automatic daytime running lights

Ev shape daytime running lights

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Heat pump

Two zone automatic climate control with humidity senor and air recycling

Interior Features

Coat hooks

Heated steering wheel

Luggage compartment cover

Grey headlining

Fabric upholstery

Multifunction steering wheel

Door sill protectors

12v socket in front

2 Front USB C-type ports

2 Rear USB C-type ports

Top grain leather steering wheel

High centre console with sliding armrest and storage

Manual height and depth adjustable steering wheel

Central multimedia display

Underfloor storage in boot

Grained armrest in rear doors

Interior Lights

Luggage compartment light

Interior ambient lighting

Safety

Side airbags

Height adjustable rear seatbelts

Seatbelt load limiter

Curtain airbags

Front and rear seatbelt reminder

Tyre pressure warning light

3x3 point rear seat belts

Distance warning alert

Driver and front passenger airbags

Driver and passenger, front and side airbag deactivation

Adjustable driver and passenger safety seat belts

Rear window and door child locking function

Emergency door unlock

Front and rear seatbelt pretensoners

Seats

Front seat back map pockets

Front head restraints

3 rear head restraints

3 seat bench in 2nd row

ISOFIX child seat fixing points on rear outermost seats

Single front passenger seat

Driver seat with backrest inclination, height and longitudinal adjustment (6 combinations)

Passenger seat with backrest inclination and longitudinal adjustment (4 combinations)

Driver and passenger heated seats

Central rear headrest

Security

Hands free key card with keyless entry

Central locking system with thatcham approved immobiliser

Remote vehicle locator

Wheels - Alloy

18" Oston alloy wheels in silicon grey paint

Wheels - Spare

Tool kit

Tyre inflation kit

Electric Vehicle Data

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Charge Time (Mins): 1828

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Power Supply - kW: 2.3

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Percentage Change: 0-100

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Charge Time (Mins): 551

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Power Supply - kW: 7.4

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Percentage Change: 0-100

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Charge Time (Mins): 190

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Power Supply - kW: 22

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Percentage Change: 0-100

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Charge Time (Mins): 74

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Power Supply - kW: 130

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Percentage Change: 0-80

Coupler/Connector Type: CCS Type 2

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Years: 8

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Mileage: 100000

Battery Capacity in kWh: 60

Battery Leased: 0

Battery Type: Lithium-ion

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb: 451

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb: 16.1

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb: 3.9

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb: 280

Battery Capacity % guaranteed under warranty: 70

Charging Port Location: Right Side Front

Usable Battery Capacity: 60

Maximum Charging Rate - kW: 130

Emissions - ICE

CO2 (g/km): 0

Standard Euro Emissions: N

Noise Level dB(A): 64

CO: N

HC: N

NOx: N

HC+NOx: N

Particles: N

Engine and Drive Train

Cylinders - Bore (mm): N

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): N

CC: 1

Cylinders: N

Cylinder Layout: N

Number of Valves: N

Camshaft: N

Fuel Delivery: N

Catalytic Convertor: N

Engine Layout: N

Compression Ratio: [not available]

Transmission: AUTO

Gears: 1 SPEED

Engine Code: N

Fuel Consumption - ICE

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: N

EC Urban (mpg): N

EC Extra Urban (mpg): N

EC Combined (mpg): N

General

Coin Series: Evolution com range

Coin Description: EV60 160kW 60kWh

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 100000

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 3

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 12

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Based On ID: N

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 24E

Service Interval Mileage: 18000

Service Interval Frequency - Months: 12

Timing Belt Interval Mileage: N

Timing Belt Interval Frequency - Months: N

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: 85

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: 88

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: 65

NCAP Safety Assist %: 79

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: 5

Badge Power: 220

Badge Engine CC: 0

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Generation Mark: 1

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No

Performance

0 to 62 mph (secs): 7.5

Top Speed: 99

Engine Power - BHP: 217

Engine Power - PS: No

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Engine Power - KW: 160

Engine Power - RPM: 5473

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 221

Engine Torque - NM: 300

Engine Torque - RPM: 100

Engine Torque - MKG: 30.6

Test Cycles

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

RDE Certification Level: N/A

Tyres

Tyre Size Front: 195/60 R18

Tyre Size Rear: 195/60 R18

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Wheel Type: 18" ALLOY

Wheel Style: OSTON

Alloys?: No

Space Saver?: 0

Vehicle Dimensions

Length: 4200

Width: 1860

Wheelbase: 2685

Width (including mirrors): 2055

Height: 1505

Weight and Capacities

Minimum Kerbweight: 1708

Gross Vehicle Weight: 2158

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): N

Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 900

Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: 750

Max. Loading Weight: 450

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 440

No. of Seats: 5

Max. Roof Load: 80

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1332

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 10.4

Exterior Body Features

Metallic paint

Special metallic paint

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Diamond black

Metallic - Shadow grey

Metallic - Ceramic grey

Paint - Solid

Solid - Glacier white

Paint - Special

Special metallic - Midnight blue

Special metallic - Flame red

Trim - Cloth

Fabric - Grey/Black