2022 Renault Megane E-Tech Electric: price, specs and release date
The new Renault Megane E-Tech Electric offers a range of up to 292 miles and a high-tech interior, but is it as usable as the best electric cars? Our verdict is in...
On sale: Autumn 2022 | Price from: £30,000 (est)
The Renault Megane E-Tech Electric is big news, both for Renault and for anyone considering a pure electric family hatchback. It’s big for Renault because this is the first of its cars to sit on a new, bespoke electric vehicle (EV) structure that will form the basis of many models in the years to come, including the upcoming Nissan Ariya SUV (Nissan and Renault being part of the same group).
And it’s big news for anyone shopping for a family car because this all-new version is available only in fully electric car form (albeit sold alongside the existing petrol and diesel Mégane until 2024). Plug-in just became the default, then.
The new Mégane EV comes with a choice of 40kWh and 60kWh batteries. The former is paired with a 129bhp electric motor and offers an official range of 186 miles, while the latter has 215bhp and a 292-mile range. Charging tops out at 130kW, which equates to a 10-80% battery top-up in around 30 minutes on the 60kWh Mégane when plugged into a powerful enough rapid charger. A full charge from a 7kW home wallbox will take around nine hours (or seven hours for the smaller battery).
What’s it like to drive?
On the move, the 60kWh Mégane feels quite potent, sprinting from a standstill to 62mph in 7.4sec and surging up to motorway speeds with ease. Our pre-production test car wanted to spin its front wheels all too easily on damp roads, even under moderate acceleration, but Renault assured us that this trait would be ironed out by the time the car goes on sale.
The Mégane is grippy and nimble enough in corners that you can have some fun on a winding road, too. It’s more enjoyable than a Nissan Leaf or VW ID.3, for example, and it doesn’t suffer heavy body lean like some electric cars.
The steering is fairly light, even in Sport mode, but it weights up consistently and makes the Mégane feel wieldy around town yet confidence-inspiring at higher speeds. Meanwhile, ride comfort is mostly very good, even on high-spec models’ standard 20in wheels, with the suspension taking the sting out of most bumps and the car generally feeling settled.
Small steering wheel paddles allow you to adjust the level of regenerative braking (there are four settings to choose from). This not only sends energy back into the battery under deceleration (to improve range) but can also greatly reduce the need to use the regular brakes, especially around town. All in all, the Mégane is a very easy car to drive smoothly.
What’s it like inside?
Inside, the Mégane is smartly finished, and while its dashboard looks relatively conventional next to the ID.3’s, that’s no bad thing, because, unlike in the latter car, the controls for the likes of the air-con (simple physical buttons) are easy to find and operate.
Everything else is accessed via a huge infotainment touchscreen, which isn’t the easiest to use on the move (there’s nowhere to rest your hand while you prod at it), but its swift responses and logical menus still make it one of the best in the class.
The Renault Megane has loads of space in the rear seats, beating the Kia e-Niro in this regard. The boot is deep but relatively short – the ID.3 and e-Niro have more usable space – and your dog won’t enjoy the big drop down from the high load lip.
Next: Renault Megane E-Tech Electric verdict and specs >>
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