renault-megane-e-tech-long-term-test

The car Renault Megane E-Tech EV60 220HP Techno Run by Jim Holder, editorial directorWhy it’s here Its name may be well known, but little else about this car is familiar; for the first time the Megane is an all-electric car, sitting on all-new underpinnings that will form the basis of a family of new Renaults. Is it any good?Needs to offer The ease of use and practicality of family car rivals while proving efficient in its use of electricity and fast to charge<hr />Mileage 8523 Price £39,495 Target Price £37,849 Price as tested £40,445 Test range 245 miles Official range 280 miles<hr /><h3 dir="ltr">9 July 2023 – Checking in</h3>I’m many thousands of miles into life with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-e-tech/hatchback/review/n24175">Renault Megane E-Tech</a> now, which feels a good moment to reflect on what it does and doesn’t do well.Positively, the former far outweighs the latter. To my eyes it is a great-looking car, inside and out, the exterior styling setting it apart from other mainstream <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric cars</a>, and the interior beautifully blending modernity and functionality.Initially, I was worried that I’d be overwhelmed by the plethora of dials, buttons and switches hanging off the steering wheel. I felt there were simply too many of them, from gear paddles to volume controls, plus a gamut of stalks including the gearshifter it all seemed a bit too much. But, as is so often the case, time has taught me to use them all instinctively.

More irritating is the fact that some of them obscure your view of the dash. At 190cm, I'm pretty tall, which helps me peer over the wheel to see the information, but for some drivers of different statures it could be a real issue.I love how the Megane E-Tech drives – although, again, it takes some getting used to because the steering is deliberately fast and precise, giving the car a feeling of agility not normally associated with family hatches. It helps with manoeuvring in tight spaces, too.Families should watch out for the rear legroom, which is cramped by class standards. My long legs don’t help, but my teenage kids don’t welcome having to sit behind me. Boot space, in contrast, is generous.

Range is a mixed bag. I’ve noted in previous reports the Megane E-Tech's poor winter performance, undermined by extensive use of heaters on short journeys, but it is notable too that Renault now sells a version of the Megane with a heat pump, which should extract 10-20% more range from the car in the cold; I’d recommend it. At worst, I got 135 miles from a full charge, although it’s worth noting that never caused me an issue – just frequent charge stops.Conversely, in summer range has shot up; it’s now delivering up to 245 miles from a charge, which is impressive, and covering up to 3.3 miles per kWh of energy consumed – figures that are towards the top end of the mass market.Would I recommend a Megane E-Tech? I can answer that emphatically, having taken a neighbour for a drive and run through everything I outlined above. He tested quite a few rivals, and we discussed the pros and cons at length, but placed his order for the Renault last week. It really is that good.For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="http://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/renault-megane-e-tech-long-term-test-report-6/n25892">Read more on our long-term Renault Megane E-Tech &gt;&gt;</a></h2><h3><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/long-term-tests">Read about more long-term test cars &gt;&gt;</a></h3>

Hatchback

Hatchbacks, SUVs, hybrids, electric cars: Renault makes them all, in a variety of shapes and sizes, meaning&nbsp;it has a line-up designed to tempt pretty much everyone.

From the roadside, the standout feature of all its cars is design, with them instantly recognisable as members of the Renault family, without being so similar that they fall&nbsp;into the Russian doll trap. However, in terms of ability they're a mixed bag,&nbsp;ranging&nbsp;from very good to no better than average.

Models that fall into the former camp include the Clio small hatchback and Megane E-Tech electric car, while the smaller Zoe electric car is also impressive in most respects; it's just a pity Renault omits key safety kit.

On the other hand, the Captur, Arkana and Austral SUVs are all outclassed by several rivals.

Renault has some exciting new models planned, including a new Scenic (this time it will be an electric SUV instead of a conventionally powered MPV) and two cars that reimagine classic Renaults: the 4 and 5.

RENAULT

MEGANE E-TECH

Renault Megane E-Tech long-term test

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test </li> <li>Quick charging times and compatibility with the most ubiquitous types of public charging points </li> <li>Priced to be within the grasp of more than just the privileged few </li> <li>As with any car, ride comfort, practicality and ownership costs can’t be ignored</li></ul>

We define an electric car as one that runs purely on battery power and has no tailpipe to puff out nasty chemicals.

The best of the breed offer sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test cycle.

Electric

renault-megane-e-tech-long-term-test-report-6

The car Renault Megane E-Tech EV60 220HP Techno Run by Jim Holder, editorial directorWhy it’s here Its name may be well known, but little else about this car is familiar; for the first time the Megane is an all-electric car, sitting on all-new underpinnings that will form the basis of a family of new Renaults. Is it any good?Needs to offer The ease of use and practicality of family car rivals while proving efficient in its use of electricity and fast to charge<hr />Mileage 4560 Price £39,495 Target Price £37,849 Price as tested £40,445 Test range 225 miles Official range 280 miles<hr /><h3 dir="ltr">29 May 2023 – Speak easy</h3>Voice recognition has long been something I use once, then never again, when I get a new car, with the hapless efforts of various systems to decipher even my plummy southern tones enraging and amusing me in equal measure.But no more. Now I talk to my car each and every day – often more than once – because my opinion has been completely transformed by the capabilities of the Google-based system employed by the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-e-tech/hatchback/review/n24175">Renault Megane E-Tech</a>.

Most frequently of all, I ask it to set the sat-nav and to make calls. And in both instances I’m struck by how much simpler and safer it is doing it that way rather than by stabbing at icons on the touchscreen.It is transformative in a wider sense too; with the tech so accessible, I’ll happily speak any journey into Google Maps now, just to take advantage of the live traffic updates. After all, those can save me huge chunks of time on London’s clogged streets.For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="http://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/renault-megane-e-tech-long-term-test-report-5/n25814">Read more on our long-term Renault Megane E-Tech &gt;&gt;</a></h2><h3><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/long-term-tests">Read about more long-term test cars &gt;&gt;</a></h3>

Renault Megane E-Tech long-term test: report 6

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The car Renault Megane E-Tech EV60 220HP Techno Run by Jim Holder, editorial directorWhy it’s here Its name may be well known, but little else about this car is familiar; for the first time the Megane is an all-electric car, sitting on all-new underpinnings that will form the basis of a family of new Renaults. Is it any good?Needs to offer The ease of use and practicality of family car rivals while proving efficient in its use of electricity and fast to charge<hr />Mileage 4560 Price £39,495 Target Price £39,011 Price as tested £40,445 Test range 198 miles Official range 280 miles<hr /><h3 dir="ltr">3 May 2023 – An electric car that's fun to drive</h3>Some people say <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric cars</a> are boring to drive. I say the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-e-tech/hatchback/review/n24175">Renault Megane E-Tech</a> is the car that proves them wrong.Sure, it doesn't have the seat-of-the-pants characteristics of a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hot-hatches/n17005">hot hatch</a>, even though it has a 0-30mph time to match them (around 3.7sec), but it can make even the most mundane commute a pleasure.

A large part of that is down to the immediate and highly controllable acceleration it delivers; opt for sports mode and the accelerator response is wonderfully immediate. That might suggest I am advocating driving it quickly – far from it. In fact, the real benefit is that it allows you to not only stay ahead of the cut and thrust of city traffic but also to modulate your speed with incredible precision.It is worth noting that sense of control is dimmed if you go into Eco mode, which dulls acceleration and increases braking regeneration to give the impression of driving through treacle (you do get used to it). However, in my experience, careful driving in Sport mode reaps the same results in terms of range.It helps that the Megane E-Tech’s steering is wonderfully direct, giving it a directness and sense of agility that belies its weight. The ride is also impressive, the car remaining flat in corners and soaking up even the worst bumps and lumps in the road – a surprise, perhaps, given the large 20in wheels that it wears.

I like the driving position, too, although I’m aware that not all colleagues can get entirely comfortable. I’m long-limbed and like sitting low, though, and the Megane delivers a range of seat adjustments that suit me perfectly.In fact, my only criticism is the pedal position. I’m not sure if it’s down to the right-hand drive conversion, but for some reason the brake pedal is mounted a long way to the left, but then positioned where you’d expect to find it in the middle of the footwell. The net result is that very occasionally when I brake, I snag (only lightly – it’s inconvenient rather than dangerous) the pedal with my resting foot.For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="http://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/renault-megane-e-tech-long-term-test-report-4/n25744">Read more on our long-term Renault Megane E-Tech &gt;&gt;</a></h2><h3><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/long-term-tests">Read about more long-term test cars &gt;&gt;</a></h3>

Renault Megane E-Tech long-term test: report 5

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The car Renault Megane E-Tech EV60 220HP Techno Run by Jim Holder, editorial directorWhy it’s here Its name may be well known, but little else about this car is familiar; for the first time the Megane is an all-electric car, sitting on all-new underpinnings that will form the basis of a family of new Renaults. Is it any good?Needs to offer The ease of use and practicality of family car rivals while proving efficient in its use of electricity and fast to charge<hr />Mileage 3466 Price £39,495 Target Price £39,011 Price as tested £40,445 Test range 228 miles Official range 280 miles<hr /><h3 dir="ltr">16 April 2023 – Springing into action</h3>Once upon a time, I looked for snowdrops, bluebells or daffodils emerging from the ground to mark the changing of the seasons. These days, I look at my <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car’s</a> range prediction.Arguably, it’s a foolish way of working; ‘range-o-meters’ in electric cars are famously and unhelpfully variable in their outlook, typically taking an average of your recent use and applying it regardless of what you are doing at the time.But one thing that can be assured to make a significant and positive difference to your range – both predicted and actual – is a spell of brighter weather. In my experience, the springing of spring, and a consequent shift from ambient temperatures of around 5-10deg C to more, will typically unleash an extra 10-20% of mileage as the battery soaks up more electricity.

That may sound a surprisingly large amount, but it is a reality of electric car ownership that stokes one of the most frequent complaints we get from owners. In simple terms, the ‘stickiness’ of electricity in battery cells according to weather conditions is one of the reasons we run our Real Range tests in the winter and summer, in a bid to provide best and worst case scenarios as well as an average. Pertinently, it’s a particularly significant point of note with my <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-e-tech/hatchback/review/n24175">Renault Megane E-Tech</a>, which struggled through the winter, at times showing a shockingly poor 137 miles of range (its maximum is quoted at 280 miles, its average around 230 miles), but which, with the sun shining and a few more 55-65mph journeys under its belt (in theory, the most efficient), has now leapt up to a predicted 228 miles of range.I need to drive more to check the veracity of that figure but, even so, at a more than 50% uplift, it’s an extraordinary shift that completely transforms how I use and perceive the car.Over the Easter weekend, for instance, we went 70 miles away to the coast, and I planned to charge each day. I downloaded apps, did my research and planned routes that featured faster chargers or overnight chargers. I was fine with that being part of EV life but, well, the reality of unlocking all this extra range was that I only charged once.

Better still, the extra range meant I could choose to do so at a location that was convenient rather than critical. So it was I could swap popping out in the evening, putting the car on charge and spending 10 minutes walking back to our accommodation (and then the reverse in the morning) each day, for a single fast blast while we were in the supermarket.What had threatened to be a disruptive requirement turned into a hassle-free non-event, albeit at the eye-watering cost of 85p/kWh for the ultra-rapid charge. Petrol or diesel would have cost less per mile, but with the flipside of requiring a specific stop.The net result is that I head into summer feeling much more positive about life with the Megane E-Tech. As I’ve said before, it is a good car in many ways and brilliant in some; in particular, it’s stylish to my eyes, practical (bar the cramped back seat space) and quite fun to drive, thanks to the direct steering. Until now, the one (major) drawback was how few miles it would do between charges. Just as the changing season lifts the gloom of winter, so perhaps it can shift my perceptions of the Megane E-Tech favourably too.For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="http://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/renault-megane-e-tech-long-term-test-report-3/n25673">Read more on our long-term Renault Megane E-Tech &gt;&gt;</a></h2><h3><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/long-term-tests">Read about more long-term test cars &gt;&gt;</a></h3>

Renault Megane E-Tech long-term test: report 4

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The car Renault Megane E-Tech EV60 220HP Techno Run by Jim Holder, editorial directorWhy it’s here Its name may be well known, but little else about this car is familiar; for the first time the Megane is an all-electric car, sitting on all-new underpinnings that will form the basis of a family of new Renaults. Is it any good?Needs to offer The ease of use and practicality of family car rivals while proving efficient in its use of electricity and fast to charge<hr />Mileage 2566 Price £39,495 Target Price £39,011 Price as tested £40,445 Test range 179 miles Official range 280 miles<hr /><h3 dir="ltr">25 March 2023 – Getting comfortable</h3>Most of the time I travel alone, or one-up, with a front seat passenger, and I have to say that those circumstances are ideal for me to enjoy the best of what my <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-e-tech/hatchback/review/n24175">Renault Megane E-Tech</a>’s interior has to offer.I’m 190cm tall, so I love that the seat slides a long way back and sits low (although my ideal driving position makes it nigh-on impossible for anyone to get in the rear seat behind me).

I love too that the infotainment screen is angled towards me, with the wireless phone charging pad cleverly and conveniently located underneath it, and I think it's great that the central area below the dash is hollowed out aside for a storage bin; this gives the interior a wide-open sense of space.Unfortunately, the brake pedal is heavily offset to the right so I find that I have to twist my body a bit, which can get uncomfortable over time. Still, with most of my commutes being short, it’s no bother.Finally, the Megane E-Tech has unusually direct steering. It’s a surprise at first, but in town it’s a revelation for easy manoeuvring, and it gives the car an enjoyably sporty feel, even at low speeds.For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="http://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/renault-megane-e-tech-long-term-test-report-2/n25607">Read more on our long-term Renault Megane E-Tech &gt;&gt;</a></h2><h3><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/long-term-tests">Read about more long-term test cars &gt;&gt;</a></h3>

Renault Megane E-Tech long-term test: report 3

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The car Renault Megane E-Tech EV60 220HP Techno Run by Jim Holder, editorial directorWhy it’s here Its name may be well known, but little else about this car is familiar; for the first time the Megane is an all-electric car, sitting on all-new underpinnings that will form the basis of a family of new Renaults. Is it any good?Needs to offer The ease of use and practicality of family car rivals while proving efficient in its use of electricity and fast to charge<hr />Mileage 1766 Price £39,495 Target Price £39,011 Price as tested £40,445 Test range 179 miles Official range 280 miles<hr /><h3 dir="ltr">4 March 2023 – Range anxiety</h3>The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-e-tech/hatchback/review/n24175">Renault Megane E-Tech</a> has an official range of 280 miles. That’s calculated to a test regime mandated by the authorities, so it's the figure Renault is obliged to quote. The idea is that this ensures an equal level of comparison for car buyers shopping between brands. The trouble is, in real-world UK conditions it is never a fair target. Our weather and driving conditions mean it is very rarely achieved, and that as a rule of thumb you are better off deducting 10-20% from the quoted figure, depending largely on how cold it is.However, the Megane E-Tech has spent the recent cold snaps redefining expectations – and not in a good way.

From a full charge, it has been indicating 135-145 miles (less than half the official figure) and despite my early hopes that this was just the range-o-meter being pessimistic and easily misguided, regular use suggests the figure is accurate. It was so consistently bad that I asked my local Renault dealer to take a look at the car; it returned with a clean bill of health.Instead, it is my driving that is under scrutiny, not because I’m hiding boy racer tendencies (I’m now wedded to the car's eco driving mode) but because almost all of my journeys around outer London are short hops, usually of three miles, and rarely more than 10.That means I use a disproportionate amount of energy by having the heaters, demisters and the like on, and this seems to be the root cause of my range being munched. It adds up, because on the occasions when I do longer journeys on A-roads and motorways, the car's efficiency improves from around 2.5 to 3.0 miles/kWh, netting me around 180 miles of driving capability.

A heat pump would help to pre-condition the engine and use wasted heat generated to warm the interior; estimates suggest it can improve range by at least 9%. Sadly, Renault UK initially elected not to sell cars here with the option of one – a decision it has now reversed with the introduction of a new range-topping Iconic spec.Based on this evidence, I wouldn’t buy a Megane E-Tech without one. You might argue that’s being overly cautious, given that I’m driving no more than 20 miles a day, but without it, the potential for using the car outside of the city is severely handicapped.For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="http://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/renault-megane-e-tech-long-term-test-report-1/n25554">Read more on our long-term Renault Megane E-Tech &gt;&gt;</a></h2><h3><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/long-term-tests">Read about more long-term test cars &gt;&gt;</a></h3>

Renault Megane E-Tech long-term test: report 2

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Volkswagen

ID.3

Golf

The car Renault Megane E-Tech EV60 220HP Techno Run by Jim Holder, Editorial directorWhy it’s here Its name may be well known, but little else about this car is familiar; for the first time the Megane is an all-electric car, sitting on an-all new platform that will underpin a family of new Renaults. Is it any good?Needs to offer The ease of use and practicality of family car rivals while proving efficient in its use of electricity and fast to charge<hr />Mileage 972 Price £39,495 Target Price £39,011 Price as tested £40,445 Official range 280 miles Test range 179 miles Options fitted Shadow grey paint with black diamond roof (£950)<hr /><h3 dir="ltr">11 February 2023 – New Megane: loving it?</h3>Regular or large? It’s rare that pictures fail to convey the true size of a car as much as they do with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-e-tech/hatchback/review/n24175">Renault Megane E-Tech</a>, with its squat but tall dimensions. Think of it as a rival to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832">Volkswagen ID 3</a> (itself the electric equivalent of a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">VW Golf</a>) and you’re on track.Think of it, too, as a hatchback. Again, the styling – which I think is fantastic, and broader consensus seems to heartily approve of too – gives it a bit of an air of a high-rider. That image is boosted by the cost option of having a separate roof colour, but you sit far lower down in the Megane than in an SUV.

Regular, then? Well, maybe, but it’s worth noting that the rear passenger space often leaves you wanting more.Anyone sat in the front enjoys a lavish sense of airiness, thanks to the cut-away dash and open central storage area, but in the back, the feeling of freedom swiftly evaporates. Rear leg and head room are quite cramped, so the back seats are best reserved for short trips for adults or carrying little ones confined to car seats (or not long out of them).There is some compensation, because the boot is generously sized. It includes a recess below the floor that can swallow the charging cable even if you hurl it in, or take an enormous amounts of odds and ends if you take the time to furl it carefully.So, in truth, it looks supersized, is large in parts, but is mostly a regular portion. And if you’re an older child or young adult upwards and end up in the back, it leaves you feeling like someone stole a few of your fries before handing over the packet.I took the Megane to a drive-through restaurant to illustrate this report, and you probably think you've guessed why already – but there's more to the location than a tortuous analogy. The burger emporium I picked is also home to some high-speed chargers, which brings me on to some more crucial observations about how life with this car is going to run.

Like many <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a> owners, I intend to do most of my charging at home. I’m fortunate to have a driveway just big enough for a car, and a charging point installed (still going strong after I PCP-ed a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/review/n152">Renault Zoe</a> way back in 2015).On longer journeys, though, I'll use the public charging network, which often uses locations occupied by fast-food outlets – presumably because bored drivers waiting for their cars to charge are open to temptation. It goes against the wider media narrative, and sets me up for a fall no doubt, but I have to say that in seven years of driving electric cars, I’ve yet to encounter a significant issue using public chargers.Will the Megane help me maintain my streak of charging success? On paper it should do, because using the (usually very optimistic) WLTP official test cycle, it promises 280 miles of range, presumably helped by its sleeker-than-SUV shape.However, alarm bells are ringing: in the recent cold snap, around 140-180 miles has appeared to be its limit, although it's hard to be sure because my three miles each way commute seems to throw its trip calculator into despair.

After one full overnight charge on a freezing night, I woke to find it predicting a mere 138 miles of range from a full charge. Thankfully that proved to be misguided (it was more like 180), but bad information does nothing for your confidence, especially if you're driving long distances with the family on board.Sure, the kids would be happy enough to stop for the occasional extra burger, but neither my waist nor my bank manager would thank me – and that’s to say nothing of the shredded nerves that would come with having to stop for half an hour every two hours.For all its evident qualities, this is one area the Megane needs to nail. When it comes to range in an electric car, regular keeps you in contention and extra large brings you huge acclaim, but anything less is likely to cause a serious bout of indigestion.For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="http://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-e-tech/hatchback/review/n24175">Read our full Renault Megane E-Tech review &gt;&gt;</a></h2><h3><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/long-term-tests">Read about more long-term test cars &gt;&gt;</a></h3><hr />Buy a new car with What Car?Before you buy, visit <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car?’s new car deals section</a>.We have discounted deals on most new cars on sale, so you're never far away from finding a new car deal in your area.It's all based on <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-target-price/n1433">Target Price</a>, which is the price we think you should pay based on research by our team of mystery shoppers, and the best discounts they can achieve.

Megane E-Tech Electric

Renault Megane E-Tech long-term test: report 1

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The car Ford Mustang Mach-E Standard Range RWD Run by Jim Holder, editorial directorWhy it's here Ford’s first mainstream electric car needs to prove it can compete with the very <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-suvs-2022/n23038">best electric SUVs</a>Needs to Offer something more than its rivals – Ford is late to the electric party, so it's overdue a landmark EV<hr />Miles covered 18,301 Price when new £42,530 Price when new with all options £42,530 Value on arrival £33,537 Dealer value now £33,501 Private value now £31,098 Test range 198 miles Official range 273 miles Running costs £946 (charging)<hr /><h3>21 January 2023 – Farewell to a flawed electric car</h3>Suspension, suspension, suspension. Pitched and bucked by the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/mustang-mach-e/estate/review/n22387">Ford Mustang Mach-E</a>’s misguided rear settings for the best part of a year, I developed something of a one-dimensional response to anyone who dared ask me what I thought of the car.The problem was a hangover from the car’s name – or more specifically the engineering team’s determination to ensure that it had a sprinkling of the muscle car magic that had made the original Ford Mustang so much of an icon.

Sadly, giving an electric <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-family-suvs-2023/n17116">family SUV</a> the ability to slide its back end if you drive it really hard seemingly came at the cost of scant control of what the rear got up to in more mundane circumstances, especially on the UK’s motorway network. The constant head wagging it prompted was really quite wearing and undermined any enjoyment I got from the car.Some say drivers these days don’t worry about the intricacies of suspension set-up, and to large degrees there may be a truth to that; our roads are too busy and too well patrolled to be charging around everywhere. But if ever you wanted an example of what a bad rather than mediocre effort could do to your overall enjoyment of a car, this was it.

That was a pity, because the Mach-E is an otherwise decent car. Nowhere was this more apparent than when it conveyed us, four up, on a busy family holiday to Norfolk and back. You-know-what aside, we did almost 1000 content miles in two weeks – and, yes, before you ask, we were able to charge it without once queuing or making major detours.In fact, if you could ignore its tendency to bounce – and I can only imagine some people can, given its strong sales – and you never drove another rival, you could reasonably make a case for it being good enough, if not exactly good. It was spacious enough for the four of us to go away for two weeks, had a decent if not startling 220-mile range in summer (200 in winter), was reasonably efficient on the move and charged decently quickly.

The stinger, though, is that in each of these areas the rival <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n23462">Kia EV6</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/hatchback/review/n22944">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a> beat it. Likewise the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-3/saloon/review/n19010">Tesla Model 3</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-y/hatchback/review/n23624">Tesla Model Y</a>. All of those cars are also currently cheaper on a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-leasing/">lease deal</a> too – which is why it was rated as below average by our testers.Nevertheless, after almost a year of ownership, and despite the significant grumbles, it’s notable that I do still have a lot of affection for the Mach-E. It is a bold first attempt at a mainstream <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-cars-2023/n17000">electric car</a>, from its throwback name and the decision to use Mustang rather than Ford badging through to its distinctive styling, massive infotainment screen and quirky, if slightly pointless, push buttons on the doors (rather than handles). I reckon these gimmicks add a lustre to the car – if little in the way of rational reasons for buying one.

Finally, there is a twist in this tale, illustrated by the two cars pictured below, one arriving as mine was departing. Back in spring 2022 Ford announced a raft of updates for the Mach-E, headlined by some tech and range updates, but quietly including some significantly tweaked suspension settings.Given all the criticism I’d heaped its way, it seemed only right to test this updated car as soon as Ford had one that wasn’t earmarked for a paying customer (not easy in these semiconductor-restricted times).

The result? A near transformation. I cannot report on the finer details of its track handling, and nor do I really care if it’s now less fun at high-speed as a result, but I can say that the back end feels tied down like never before. While that has hardened the ride generally, it’s a fact that heavy EVs with rigid batteries running their length generally struggle to manage potholes and imperfections without the wallop unsettling things.My major gripe is cured – and future owners will get a much better car as a result. There are still too many shortcomings compared with rivals for the Mach-E to be rated among the class leaders, but at least it demonstrates that Ford knows how to do better if it is to shine again as a leader into the electric era.For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/used-ford-mustang-mach-e-long-term-test-report-12/n25429">Read more on our long-term Ford Mustang Mach-E &gt;&gt;</a></h2><h3><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/long-term-tests">Read about more long-term test cars &gt;&gt;</a></h3>

Estate

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

MUSTANG MACH-E

Used Ford Mustang Mach-E long-term test

This class is all about SUVs that run purely on electricity. No petrol, no diesel and not even any hybrid technology.

Relatively low-cost options include the MG ZS EV, but you can easily spend three times as much on more luxurious alternatives, such as the BMW iX.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Jim Holder

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