Name: New Renault Megane models and Specifications
Brand: Renault

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All versions of the Megane E-Tech are powered by a 215bhp electric motor and 60kWh battery. Performance is quite punchy, with 0-60mph taking 6.9 seconds during our tests. The official range is competitive too, at 285 miles.

EV60 160kW

Iconic Esprit Alpine

Techno trim is the mid-range trim and adds 20in alloy wheels, adaptive LED headlights, rear privacy glass, adaptive cruise control and an upgraded six-speaker sound system on top of the kit you get with Evolution.

Techno

Techno Esprit Alpine

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

EV60 160kW Techno Comfort Range 60kWh 5dr Auto

EV60 160kW Techno 60kWh 5dr Auto [18" Alloy]

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EV60 160kW Techno Esprit Alpine 60kWh 5dr Auto

ev60-160kw-techno-esprit-alpine-60kwh-5dr-auto

EV60 160kW Iconic Esprit Alpine 60kWh 5dr Auto

ev60-160kw-iconic-esprit-alpine-60kwh-5dr-auto

Renault Megane

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

If you're paying cash, the Renault Megane&nbsp;costs more than an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG4 EV</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/leaf/hatchback/review/n17338">Nissan Leaf</a> but is slightly cheaper than an equivalent <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/born/hatchback/review/n23703">Cupra Born</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/308/estate/review/n26197">Peugeot e-308</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832">VW ID 3</a>.

Disappointingly, the Megane is predicted to suffer heavier <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-10-slowest-depreciating-cars-in-2022/n17098">depreciation</a> than all those rivals except the Leaf. That could mean higher payments on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/pcp-or-hp-which-car-finance-option-makes-most-sense/n1163">PCP finance</a> although it's&nbsp;always worth checking for offers on our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals pages</a>.&nbsp;

As with all <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric cars</a>, the Megane will be very cheap to run as a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-company-cars/n22605">company car</a>&nbsp;because of its very low <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/company-car-tax-guide/n9352">BIK tax rate</a>.

Our pick of the trim range is entry-level Evolution, which comes with plenty of standard kit. That includes a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/electric-car-heat-pump/n27141">heat pump</a>, 18in alloy wheels, full LED headlights, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-cruise-control-and-should-you-have-it-on-your-next-car/n26822">adaptive cruise control</a>, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, ambient interior lighting and keyless entry.

Techno trim adds 20in alloy wheels, adaptive LED headlights, rear privacy glass, and an upgraded six-speaker sound system. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-cruise-control-and-should-you-have-it-on-your-next-car/n26822">cruise control</a>&nbsp;gains an additional function of reducing speed for roundabouts and bends, based on map data.

Top-spec Iconic trim adds a Harman Kardon premium sound system and replaces the rear-view mirror with a smart mirror that shows a feed from a camera. Unless you really want those items, we don't think it's worth the extra cost.

The Megane has a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/fastest-charging-electric-cars/n26105">maximum charging speed</a> of up to 130kW, which means a 10-80% battery top-up should take around 30 minutes if you plug into a powerful enough rapid charger.

That’s slightly quicker than an e-308 and MG4 and about the same as a Born and ID 3. A full charge from a 7kW <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-home-ev-chargers/n25830">home wall box</a> will take around 10 hours. That’s roughly comparable with a 58kWh <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/born/hatchback/review/n23703">Cupra Born</a> or an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG4 EV</a>.

We don't have reliability data for the latest Megane but we can tell you that <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/renault">Renault</a> came in ninth place out of 31 manufacturers in our 2024 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2022-what-car-reliability-survey/n23397">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>. That's very good, and better than Cupra (17th), Nissan (28th) and MG in bottom place.

Renault gives you&nbsp;a three-year warranty&nbsp;with unlimited mileage for the first 24 months but a&nbsp;cap of 100,000 miles over the three years. Three years is fairly typical – matching Cupra and VW warranties – but doesn’t match Kia’s seven-year warranty. The Megane’s main battery is covered for eight years.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a> awarded the Megane five stars out of five for safety in 2022, and it&nbsp;has plenty of safety tech as standard. That includes&nbsp;traffic sign recognition, a driver attention monitor system, a speed-limit warning system, lane-keep assistance and automatic emergency braking (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">AEB</a>). Techno and Iconic trims add blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning and rear cross-traffic alert.

“I like that all new Renaults have a feature called the MySafety switch, which lets you save and personalise driver aids such as the lane-keep assistance&nbsp;through the touchscreen. Once you’ve set your preferences, you can enable them by pressing a button beside the steering wheel.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/lawrence-cheung/n23691">Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor</a>

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Every Renault Megane&nbsp;has a 215bhp electric motor driving its front wheels, and that makes it&nbsp;fairly nippy. In our tests, it managed 0-60mph in 6.9 seconds – fractionally quicker than the equivalent <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/born/hatchback/review/n23703">Cupra Born</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG4 EV</a>.

All versions have front-wheel drive&nbsp;so you have to be a bit delicate with the accelerator pedal when the road is wet. If you put your foot down hard, the front wheels can spin before the traction control kicks in to cut the power temporarily.

The entry-level Evolution trim, which comes with 18in wheels, has the most agreeable ride, but the Megane is still comfortable on the 20in wheels you get with higher trims. The suspension has a firmer edge than the MG4's, but potholes and expansion joints are dealt with quickly, with no pronounced aftershocks.

Disappointingly, while the Megane has tight body control, it doesn’t quite translate into being a car with enjoyable handling. It’s agile enough compared with a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/leaf/hatchback/review/n17338">Nissan Leaf</a> but the steering is very light and the speed of it changes after you wind on the first few degrees of lock. That means placing the car accurately can be trickier along faster winding roads than in a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/born/hatchback/review/n23703">Cupra Born</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832">VW ID 3</a>.

Meganes in Techno trim and above come with a Sport mode that allows you to make the steering heavier. It doesn’t really transform the driving experience, so we wouldn’t pay extra for it.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-regenerative-braking-and-how-does-it-work/n25212">regenerative braking system</a> (which tops up the battery by recovering energy after lifting off the accelerator pedal) has four strength settings, and you can switch between them using small paddles behind the steering wheel on Techno trim and above. In the most extreme setting, it greatly reduces your need to use the actual brake pedal, especially around town.

Unfortunately, when you use the brake pedal at low speeds, you'll find it hard to judge: it sinks towards the floor with very little pressure applied, then the brakes grab suddenly. At higher speeds the pedal is more progressive, which allows for smoother braking when travelling on a motorway or a twisty A or B-road.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/renault">Renault</a> is very proud of the extra sound insulation packaged into the floor to reduce road noise – a method it calls "cocoon effect". It works well and the Megane is quieter at a cruise than a Born or MG4 (and even the larger <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id5/coupe/review/n24518">VW ID 5</a>) with only a bit of wind fluttering around the large door mirrors. The suspension is hushed too, with only the sharpest of ruts causing a pronounced thunk.

What about range? Well, all Meganes are powered by a 60kWh (usable) battery that delivers an official range of 285 miles. That’s more than a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/308/estate/review/n26197">Peugeot e-308</a> (257 miles) or an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG4 EV Long Range</a> (281 miles).

Thankfully, all versions are now offered with a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/electric-car-heat-pump/n27141">heat pump</a> as standard, which allows for more efficient warming of the interior. Previously, the Megane wasn’t offered with a heat pump so its range depleted quite quickly in colder weather, as we found out during our real-world <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/range-test-how-far-can-electric-cars-go-in-winter/n24274">winter range test</a> (it managed 189 miles).

“Most new cars with large alloy wheels sacrifice comfort in the name of style, but I was very impressed at how well the Megane's suspension soaked up the worst of the lumps and bumps, even with 20in wheels.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/neil-winn/n1101">Neil Winn, Deputy Reviews Editor</a>

OUR PICK

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

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ev60-160kw

If you go to a party and most guests are unfamiliar, it's tempting to make a beeline for the people you do know. Likewise, while the all-electric&nbsp;Renault Megane E-Tech&nbsp;is like no other Megane before it, its familiar&nbsp;name might attract potential buyers new to electric cars.

From photos it can be tricky to judge the size of the Megane&nbsp;because it looks like a hatchback, but one that’s also wearing chunky, SUV-like styling. However, in reality it's actually closer in size to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG4</a>&nbsp;than, say, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n23462">Kia EV6</a>.

That&nbsp;plus the change in power source means that while the previous-generation Megane was a rival to big-name <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-cars/n27171">family cars</a> such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/review/n37">Ford Focus</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">VW Golf</a>, the latest model is up against the likes of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/born/hatchback/review/n23703">Cupra Born</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832">VW ID 3</a>.

Renault Megane E-Tech video review

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/znkXPnMYrp4" width="560"></iframe>

So&nbsp;how does the Renault Megane E-Tech compare with rivals for range, performance, practicality and so on? Read on to find out how we rate it against the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">best electric cars</a>...

With plenty of seat and steering wheel adjustment, the Renault Megane has a great driving position. It's&nbsp;much better than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG4 EV</a>&nbsp;because that car has&nbsp;its steering wheel offset to your left.

Better still, all the adjustability makes it easy to get comfortable on long journeys, while the adjustable lumbar support you get on higher trim versions is welcome.

The Megane's front window pillars are fairly chunky&nbsp;and can get in the way when you're navigating sweeping bends or exiting a junction. Rearward visibility isn’t great&nbsp;either, due to the large rear pillars and tiny rear windows. That's less of a problem in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/born/hatchback/review/n23703">Cupra Born</a> and MG4.

Thankfully, rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera come as standard on all models, with front sensors fitted on all but the entry-level version. The range-topping trim (called Iconic)&nbsp;gets a 360-degree reversing camera and a "smart rear-view mirror", which shows a feed from a camera at the back of the car.

Inside, the Megane is smartly finished with plenty of soft-touch materials and fabrics, many of which are recycled. There are some hard plastics but they’re hidden low down and don’t detract from the overall impression.&nbsp;

All Meganes have a 12.3in digital driver’s display. The entry-level trim, called Evolution, comes with a 9in touchscreen while other trims get a 12in one.

No matter which trim level you choose, all Meganes run Renault’s OpenR <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">infotainment system</a>. It's easy to get along with thanks to its simple layout, sharp graphics and quick responses.

We also like the fact you get physical toggle switches for the climate controls, which makes it easy to adjust functions such as the temperature while driving. Overall, the infotainment and climate control set-up is more intuitive than what you get in a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/born/hatchback/review/n23703">Cupra Born</a> or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG4 EV</a>.

As with the touchscreen, the sound system changes depending on the trim level. Evolution cars get four speakers, mid-range Techno trim gets six speakers and range-topping Iconic models get a punchy 12-speaker Harman Kardon system.

“Renault’s OpenR infotainment system is one of my favourites. It runs Google-based software, which means it’s quick and responsive to use. Plus, it gets regular over-the-air updates to keep it fresh with the latest features.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/oliver-young/n22317">Oliver Young, Used Cars Reporter</a>&nbsp;

The Megane is comfy, quiet and has a competitive range but rivals offer better value

There's plenty of head and leg room in the front of the Renault Megane. You also get plenty of storage, including door bins big enough for a&nbsp;large bottle of water, a glovebox, a tray with wireless phone-charging below the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">infotainment screen</a>,&nbsp;and large cubbies in the central armrest and in front of it.

There's only one cupholder, mind, and the two movable dividers in the long lower cubby are a bit fiddly.

Space could be better in the Megane's back seats. Two six-footers will find their heads grazing the roof lining and knee room is disappointing by <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a> standards. Plus, there’s not much room for feet under the front seats.

In short, the Megane’s main rivals – the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/born/hatchback/review/n23703">Cupra Born</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG4 EV</a>&nbsp;and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832">VW ID 3</a> – are more accommodating in the rear.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/the-cars-with-the-biggest-boots/n18791">boot space</a> is short but really deep. We managed to fit in an impressive seven <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/the-cars-with-the-biggest-boots/n18791">carry-on suitcases</a> below the tonneau cover compared with six in the Born and five in the MG4. The downside is that there's a very high load lip, so heaving in larger items isn’t all that easy. You do at least get a handy cubby under the boot floor that's large enough to store the charging cables.&nbsp;

The rear seats can be folded down in a 60/40 configuration, which is the same as most rivals.&nbsp;With the seat backs down, there’s a large step in the floor of the extended load bay&nbsp;so sliding in long items won’t be the easiest. The Megane isn't available with a ski hatch – something you can get in the Born and ID 3.

“I was surprised by the space in the back of the Megane – and not in a good way. I’m 6ft 2in and found knee room particularly tight. Also, the small rear windows, grey headlining and dark upholstery on our test car made it feel a bit claustrophobic.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/george-hill/n23609">George Hill, Staff Writer</a>

techno

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iconic-esprit-alpine

The Renault Megane E-Tech is well worth considering if you're looking for an electric car that’s comfortable and quiet to drive on motorways. Its range is competitive and there’s plenty of standard kit, but its disappointing predicted depreciation and tight back seats hold it back from being a class leader.

<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

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of practical space </li> <li>Low running costs </li> <li>A comfortable ride </li> <li>A healthy equipment list </li> <li>Quality materials and thoughtful touches inside </li> <li>Rock-solid reliability</li></ul>

Family cars arguably have the toughest brief of all: they have to be good at pretty much everything. They’re used as the daily drive, on the school run or work commute (often both), and have to be able to cope with a family’s clutter on weekends and holidays.

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