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

The car Renault Megane E-Tech EV60 220HP Techno Run by Jim Holder, editorial director

Why 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

Mileage 4560 Price £39,495 Target Price £37,849 Price as tested £40,445 Test range 225 miles Official range 280 miles

29 May 2023 – Speak easy

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 Renault Megane E-Tech.

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.

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