Renault Megane review

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 Renault Megane is like no other Megane, its familiar name might attract potential buyers new to electric cars.

From photos it can be tricky to judge the size of the Megane because it looks like a hatchback fused with some subtle SUV-like styling. However, in reality it's actually closer in size to the MG4 than, say, the Kia EV6.

Renault Megane E-Tech video review

That, plus the change in power source, means that while the previous-generation Megane was a rival to big-name family cars such as the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf, the latest model is up against the likes of the Cupra Born, Peugeot e-308, Vauxhall Astra Electric and VW ID 3.

So how does the Renault Megane E-Tech compare with rivals in all the important areas? Read on to find out how we rate it against the best electric cars...

Every Renault Megane has a 215bhp electric motor driving its front wheels, and that makes it fairly nippy. In our tests, it managed 0-60mph in 6.9 seconds – fractionally quicker than the equivalent Cupra Born or MG4 EV.

All versions have front-wheel drive 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 power temporarily.

Entry-level Techno trim comes with 18in wheels and 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 it’s well controlled, dealing with potholes and expansion joints 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 grippy and agile enough, but the steering is very light and the speed of it changes after you wind on the first few degrees of lock.

While Sport mode makes the steering heavier, it doesn’t really transform the driving experience. That means placing the car accurately can be trickier along faster winding roads than in a Cupra Born or VW ID 3. 

The regenerative braking system (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. 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 quicker roads.

Renault 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 many rivals, including the Born and MG4 (and even the larger VW ID 5) 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 around 285 miles. That’s more than a Peugeot e-308 (257 miles), an MG4 EV Long Range (281 miles) and Vauxhall Astra Electric (259 miles). If that’s not enough, there are versions of the Born, MG4 and ID 3 that can cover more than 300 miles.

Usefully, all versions now come with a EV heat pump 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 winter range test (it managed 189 miles). Rivals, including the Born have this as an option.

“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.” – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

With plenty of seat and steering wheel adjustment, the Renault Megane has a great driving position. It's much better than the MG4 EV because that car has its steering wheel offset to your left.

Better still, all the adjustability makes it easy to get comfortable on long journeys, and all versions get electric adjustable lumbar support as standard. Mid level Techno Esprit Alpine gets full electric adjustment for added convenience.

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. Rearward visibility isn’t great either, due to the large rear pillars and tiny rear windows. That's less of a problem in the Cupra Born and MG4.

Thankfully, front and rear parking sensors come as standard on all models, as well as a rear-view camera. The range-topping trim (called Iconic Esprit Alpine) gets a 360-degree view camera and a digital rear-view mirror, which can show a feed from a camera at the back of the car.

Inside, the Megane is smartly finished with plenty of soft 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. 

All Meganes have a 12.3in digital driver’s display that offers a range of lay-outs and is more versatile than the 5in displays in a Born or ID 3. However, like in the MG 4, the steering wheel rim can block some of the display. 

Like in the Renault Scenic, there are three stalks behind the steering wheel on the right hand side – one that acts as the gear selector, another to operate the windscreen wipers and a third for controlling the stereo. Indeed, they’re all within close reach, but it can feel a bit busy around there.

All versions come with a 12in touchscreen running on Renault’s OpenR infotainment system. It's easy to get along with thanks to its simple lay-out, 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 Cupra Born, MG4 or VW ID 3.

The sound system changes depending on the trim level. Techno and mid-range Techno Esprit Alpine trim gets six speakers, while range-topping Iconic Esprit Alpine models get a punchy nine-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.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

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 large bottle of water, a glovebox, a tray with wireless phone-charging below the infotainment screen, 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 electric car standards. Plus, there’s not much room for feet under the front seats.

In short, the Megane’s main rivals – the Cupra Born, the MG4 EV and the VW ID 3 – are more accommodating 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. You do at least get a handy cubby under the boot floor that's large enough to store the charging cables. 

The rear seats can be folded down in a 60/40 configuration, which is the same as most rivals. With the seat backs down, there’s a large step in the floor of the extended load bay so sliding in long items won’t be the easiest.

The Megane isn't available with a ski hatch in the centre of the backrest – something you can get in the Born and ID 3. Unlike with the Peugeot e-308 and Vauxhall Astra Electric, there isn’t an estate car version available.

“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 tight. Also, the small rear windows, grey headlining and dark upholstery on our test car made it feel a bit claustrophobic.” – George Hill, Used Car Writer

If you're paying cash, the Renault Megane costs more than an MG4 EV but is a similar price to a Peugeot e-308, Vauxhall Astra Electric or VW ID 3 and slightly less than an equivalent Cupra Born.

Disappointingly, the Megane is predicted to suffer heavier depreciation so it could mean higher monthly payments on PCP finance. That said, it's always worth checking for offers on our New Car Deals pages. 

As with all electric cars, the Megane will be very cheap to run as a company car because of its very low BIK tax rate.

Our pick of the trim range is entry-level Techno, which comes with plenty of standard kit. That includes a EV heat pump, 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, adaptive LED headlights, rear privacy glass, and an upgraded six-speaker sound system. The cruise control gains an additional function of reducing speed for roundabouts and bends, based on map data.

Top-spec Iconic Esprit Alpine 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 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 powerful enough rapid charger. That’s about the same as the ID 3 and Born, and a little less time than the MG 4, e-308 and Astra Electric.

A full charge from a 7kW home EV charger will take around 10 hours.

The Megane finished in a strong third place out of 18 electric cars in the 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey. As a manufacturer, Renault came in ninth place out of 31 manufacturers. That's also very good, and better than Cupra (17th), Nissan (28th) and MG in last place.

Renault gives you a three-year warranty with unlimited mileage for the first 24 months but a 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.

Euro NCAP awarded the Megane five stars out of five for safety in 2022, and it has plenty of safety tech as standard. That includes traffic sign recognition, a driver attention monitor system, a speed-limit warning system, lane-keep assistance and automatic emergency braking (AEB). All versions also have blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping assist.

“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 through the touchscreen. Once you’ve set your preferences, you can enable them by pressing a button beside the steering wheel.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

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