Used Renault Megane 2022-present review

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No – it’s the Renault Megane. This is an electric car that fuses two different bodystyles – the family car and family SUV – to appeal to a broad range of buyers. In reality, its dimensions make it more like the former than the latter.

Along with its SUV-like styling, which makes the Megane look very different to its predecessors, it’s also the first to be fully electric (Renault officially calls it the ‘Megane E-Tech’). This shift means it no longer competes directly with traditional models like the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf, but instead takes on a new set of rivals, including the Cupra Born, MG4, and Volkswagen ID 3.

Motors and batteries: Every Megane is powered by an electric motor that, with 215bhp on tap, packs plenty of punch for everyday driving. In our tests, it managed 0-60mph in 6.9 seconds – fractionally quicker than the equivalent Born or MG4.

Powering the electric motor is a 60kWh (usable) battery, but range spans between 260 miles and 285 miles officially, depending on the trim and age of the car. That’s more than the Peugeot e-308 (257 miles), but similar to the MG4 Long Range (281 miles). If that’s not enough, there are versions of the Born, MG4 and ID 3 that can cover more than 300 miles.

On cars produced after the summer of 2024, an EV heat pump was fitted as standard across the range as part of a light update, which allows for more efficient warming of the interior. Meganes produced before this date weren't offered with a heat pump as standard, so range depleted quite quickly in colder weather. This is a factor we discovered in our real-world winter range test, where it covered just 189 miles.

Ride and handling: The Megane is one of the more comfortable electric cars you can buy. The ride is particularly supple with the 18in alloys wheels fitted to Techno-spec cars, but having said that, the Megane is still comfortable on the 20in wheels you get with higher trims. It has a smooth and supple set-up, which makes it more comfortable than the Born and Tesla Model 3.

While the Megane has tight body control, it doesn’t translate into a car with enjoyable handling. Having said that, it’s grippy and agile enough, and we suspect there will be few complaints about the way it handles on a twisty road. If it's a sporty driving experience you’re after with an electric car, we’d steer you towards the Born.

Interior and practicality: Despite the car’s SUV-like appearance, you don’t sit particularly high above the road in the Megane. Along with this, the Megane's front window pillars are fairly chunky and can get in the way when you're navigating sweeping bends or exiting a junction. Rear visibility isn’t great, either.

On post-2024 Meganes, all versions have a 12.3in digital driver’s display that offers a range of layouts and is more versatile than the 5.0in displays in a Born or ID 3. Next to this, there’s a 12in touchscreen infotainment system, which is one of the best in the business, with its simple layout, sharp graphics and quick response. On pre-2024 cars, entry-level Equilibre cars feature a smaller 9.0in touchscreen.

Below the screen, there’s a row of physical toggle switches for the climate controls, which are super easy to use while driving. Overall, the infotainment and climate controls are more intuitive than what you get in the Born, ID 3 or MG4.

The quality of the interior is pretty good, too. It’s smartly finished inside with plenty of soft materials and fabrics, but there are a few scratchy plastics dotted around the place. It’s similar to the Born, but far nicer than the ID 3 and MG4.

As for space, there’s plenty of it in the front of the Megane, with loads of head and leg room on offer. You also get plenty of storage spots, with big door bins, a tray below the touchscreen and large cubbies in and in front of the central armrest.

In the back, it’s a bit cramped. Two six-footers will find their heads grazing the roof lining and their knees brushing up against the front seats. The Born, ID 3 and MG4 are all better for carrying people in the rear.

In the boot, the 440-litre load area is short but really deep. We managed to fit in an impressive seven carry-on suitcases 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. The seats aren’t very flexible either, splitting in a 60/40 configuration, with no ski hatch in the middle seatback – something you can get in the Born and ID 3.

Trims and equipment: All Meganes are really well equipped. Early cars have Equilibre, Techno, Techno+, Iconic and Launch Edition trims, while later post-2024 cars have Techno, Esprit Alpine and Iconic Esprit Alpine trims.

Techno trim comes with a lot of kit, including 18in alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control, full LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, ambient interior lighting and keyless entry.

Techno Esprit Alpine trim adds 20in alloy wheels, sporty bumpers, adaptive LED headlights, rear privacy glass and an upgraded six-speaker sound system. Meanwhile, top-spec Iconic Esprit Alpine trim adds a Harman Kardon premium sound system and a rear-view mirror that can show a feed from a rear-facing camera.

“I’m a big fan of Renault’s Open R infotainment system. It’s really simple to use and you don’t need help from a teenager to operate it, like you do in a Tesla Model 3.” – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

If you're interested in finding a used Megane, or any of the other electric cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Prices for a used Renault Megane start from £16,000, which gets you a 2022 or 2023 car in all trims, spanning the entry-level Equilibre to range-topping Iconic. If you raise your budget to £18,000, you’ll bag yourself a 2024 car. Newer 2025 cars don’t cost much more, with figures starting from the £20,000 mark.

To keep up to date with used Megane prices, use our free valuation tool to make sure you are getting the best deal.

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Charging

All Meganes have a maximum charging speed of up to 130kW, which means a 10-80% battery top-up should take around 30 minutes if you plug into a public charger that’s powerful enough. That’s about the same as the ID 3 and Born and a little less time than the MG 4. A full charge from a 7kW home EV charger will take around 10 hours.

Road tax

In April 2025, electric cars lost their exemption to road tax. As such, the Megane is now subject to the standard flat rate fee of £195 per year, after the initial £10 fee for the first year after registration. Cars costing more than £40,000 when new face an additional £425 luxury car tax from years two to six of the car's life, but only for cars registered on and after 1 April 2025.

Insurance and servicing

The Megane sits in insurance groups 25 and 26 (out of a possible 50), which is similar to the Born, ID 3 and MG4, so costs should be about the same. A Tesla Model 3 will be more expensive to insure.

For servicing, we were quoted £155 for a minor service from Renault, which includes cabin filter changes and a full vehicle check. That’s less than the cost of an equivalent service for the Born and ID 3, but similar to the MG4.

Warranty

From new, every Megane comes with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty for the first two years, but a cap of 100,000 miles over the three years. While that’s similar to Cupra and VW’s warranties, it’s no match for Kia’s seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty. The Megane’s main battery is covered for eight years.

Safety

The Megane was given five stars out of five when it was safety tested by Euro NCAP in 2022. All cars come with plenty of safety kit, with lane-keep assistance and automatic emergency braking (AEB) offered as standard.

Reliability

The early reliability of the Megane is a concern, according to real-world owner reviews analysed as part of our annual What Car? Reliability Survey.

Owners frequently flagged significant, repetitive faults, including a persistent knocking noise from the rear suspension, which some dealers labelled as a known issue with "no fix". Recurring water ingress is another serious problem, leading to soaked carpets and costly, extensive repairs.

Inconsistent dealer service and lengthy parts waits compound the frustration. One owner even reported a complete drive motor failure shortly after purchase.

To find out more about used Renault Megane reliability, head to our dedicated reliability page.

Motor and battery

There’s only one version of the Megane to choose from, which keeps things simple. We’d recommend going for a car with a heat pump, though, which improves range and efficiency. These were fitted as standard on cars produced from the summer of 2024.

Specification

Techno trim is the best value in the range, especially on post-2024 cars with the heat pump. It includes luxuries such as heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, ambient interior lighting and keyless entry.

Our favourite Renault Megane: 60kWh Techno

The Cupra Born is a brilliant used electric car. It borrows the VW ID 3's best bits, including its spacious interior, motors and batteries, but adds a bit of dynamism in the form of sharper handling and better steering. You'll find it has a slightly more upmarket interior than its sibling too. Used prices are similar to the Megane.

Of course, there’s the ID 3. It’s a very comfortable and refined electric car, with a smoother ride than the Born. Used prices are very competitive, coming in cheaper than both the Born and Megane, but its reliability record has been poor over the years. The quality of its interior isn't great, either.

The MG4 is another tempting option, with competitive prices and a practical interior, but its reliability record has been consistently poor in our reliability survey.

The Tesla Model 3 is certainly worth a look. It has a smart, spacious interior, a competitive price and a good range between charges (depending on the version you choose). Just be wary that there are more comfortable alternatives out there, including the Megane.

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