RENAULT

RENAULT MEGANE E-TECH HATCHBACK EV60 160kW Techno 60kWh Optimum Charge 5dr Auto

Fuel

FuelElectric

Transmission

TransmissionAutomatic

Acceleration

0 - 60 mphFalses

WLTP - Pure Electric Range

Electric Range280 miles

It's took a long time for Renault to deliver a proper follow-up to its ZOE EV, but the Megane E-Tech Electric was worth the wait. Family hatch-segment EVs often tend to be either rather boring or ever-so-slightly weird, but this one's stylish and engaging. A new kind of Renault for a very different era.

RENAULT'S RETURN

Renault's Megane E-Tech Electric might well redefine what you imagine an affordable family Hatch EV to be. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

It's took a long time for Renault to deliver a proper follow-up to its ZOE EV, but the Megane E-Tech Electric was worth the wait. Family hatch-segment EVs often tend to be either rather boring or ever-so-slightly weird, but this one's stylish and engaging. A new kind of Renault for a very different era.

Background

Who would have forecast back in 2012 when Renault launched its little ZOE full EV that it would be a full decade before we saw another mainstream Renault passenger car EV product in our showrooms. Yet that's what's happened, as the brand over-stretched itself and has been overtaken by nearly all its volume rivals in the electric vehicle segment. But the fightback starts here with this car, the Megane E-Tech. It sits on the same CMF-EV platform used by the Nissan Ariya and should reach a large audience. Thanks to the success of the ZOE, one in five Renaults sold in Europe has been electric. But this is what Renault calls a '2nd generation' EV, it's development rushed through by the brand's ambitious CEO Luca de Meo, who likes to describe this as 'the GTI of EVs'.

Driving Experience

Renault promises that this car's sporty looks will translate into a sporty drive and there's lots about the design and engineering of this model to suggest that might translate into reality on the tarmac. The new power steering system has a super-sharp 12:1 ratio. And there's an uber-thin 60kWh battery that, along with a particularly light electric motor, allows this Renault to save about 100kgs in weight over its rivals and can be mounted even lower in the chassis than it would normally be in an EV. That platform is the Nissan Renault Alliance group's stiff new CMF-EV set-up, notable here because it mounts the drive motor at the front. Rival VW Group EVs from Volkswagen, CUPRA and Skoda sit it at the back. This Megane's single front motor produces 216bhp of total output, the highest in the segment, though if you use too much of that, you won't get near the quoted 280 mile range figure. In fact we didn't even manage to get within 80% of that on this test, even with maximum brake regen selected from the steering wheel paddles. And the most frugal 'MySense' drive mode selected (the others are 'Comfort', 'Perso' and 'Sport'). It's tempting to use a bit of that power because unlike most of its rivals, this Renault's quite an engaging little thing to punt about. Surprisingly (given the huge 20-inch wheels most variants have), the ride's OK too - and refinement's exemplary by segment standards.

Design and Build

Looks good doesn't it? Apparently what we have here was originally going to be the performance version of this car, but designer Laurens van den Acker found that everyone liked it so much that he decided to standardise the 'Evoque'-style look across the whole Megane E-Tech range. It's based visually on the Megane eVision concept car unveiled in 2020 and incorporates the brand's familiar C-shaped headlamps, though with the lower section of the 'C' extended to run a reverse line of light across the top of the bumper. The nose gets Renault's latest art deco corporate badge and if you avoid base trim, both the front and rear lights will be of the LED variety, plus there are flush-fitting electric front door handles and you get big wheels of 18 or 20-inches depending on spec. Inside, it's certainly all very 'digi-tech' and on-trend, Renault claiming inspiration here from the world of home furniture. Cosy upholstering and lots of different recycled surfaces surround the glossy 'OpenR' fascia screen panel, what the brand calls this cabin's 'crowning jewel', made up of a 12.3-inch instrument display and a 9-inch central monitor. That centre screen claims to deliver a new level of media connectivity for this class of car, using an Android Automotive system developed with Google. It'll be periodically updated over-the-air and you'll get direct access to helpful apps and services like Google Maps and Google Play, plus you can link into your Google account and there's Google Assistant voice control. Other cabin design features include a curiously-shaped steering wheel, superbly comfortable seats and an enormous centre storage console beneath the dash which flows back between the two front two chairs. All-round visibility might be something you'll have to adapt to a bit, thanks to the narrow glass area, the letterbox-shaped rear screen and the considerable rear C-pillars. But there are some lovely trimming touches and most models get smart double yellow-stitched synthetic leather upholstery. A wheelbase length increase of 20mm over a conventional Megane means there's little more space in the back than you might expect. And there's a reasonably sized 440-litre boot, though with quite a high lip.

Market and Model

Pricing here starts from around £37,000, the fee these days for an ambitious full-EV hatch, though this means a slight saving on an identically-engineered Nissan Ariya. Megane E-Tech Electric customers can choose from three well-equipped models - 'Equilibre', 'Techno', and a range-topping 'Iconic' - with each benefitting from a class-leading digital experience with a 12.3-inch driver information display, a 9-inch multimedia display and Android Automotive OS with integrated Google services. The 'Equilbre' version starts the range with its 18-inch 'Oston' alloy wheels, full-LED headlights, heated steering wheel and front seats, rear view camera, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and a range of connected services including over-the-air software updates. The Megane E-Tech features up to 26 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), including distance warning alert, traffic sign recognition, automatic emergency braking with junction assist, cruise control with a speed limiter, and emergency lane keeping assist with oncoming traffic and road-edge detection. The mid-range 'Techno' model, priced from around £40,000, goes further with the addition of adaptive cruise control with a speed limiter and lane centring, plus blind spot recognition and intervention, along with rear cross traffic alert with rear automatic braking. The 'Techno's exterior is marked out by 20-inch 'Soren' alloy wheels, full-adaptive LED headlights, front and rear signature lighting and dynamic turn signals. The interior, meanwhile, gains upholstery made from recycled materials, multi-sense customised driving modes with 48-colour interior ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control, automatic windscreen wipers, wireless smartphone charging and the full range of Google services including Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Play store. At the top of the range, the 'Iconic' version, priced at around £42,000, aims to stand out, with 20-inch 'Enos' alloy wheels and a gold F1 blade, while the interior gains a 9-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, a smart rear-view mirror and an Around View 3D camera system.

Cost of Ownership

We mentioned driving range in our 'Driving Experience' section - 280 miles for this 60kWh EV60 variant. You'll need very proactive use of the various provided regenerative braking modes to match that figure. Bear in mind that as usual with electric vehicles, the range figure just quoted will vary a great deal depending on the type of road you're on and the prevailing weather. If you were to drive this car exclusively on the highway in really cold weather, you might find yourself not getting much more than around 155 miles of range from it. But you'd encounter similar issues with every other EV in this segment. And this one does at least include a standard heat pump to maximise range in cold conditions, an expensive extra on many rivals. There's the option of different kinds of in-car charger systems, starting with the base 7kW AC 'standard charge' set-up and ranging up to fast DC public charging at 130kW. The car can draw about 186 miles of range in around half an hour from a 130kW DC charger. Around eight hours of charging from a 7.4kW home charger will give you around 248 miles of range.

Summary

It's indisputable that Renault set off too early with full-electric vehicle development, trying to sell the market cars it wasn't ready for and haemorrhaging money in the process. Which is why it's taken so long for a second mainstream EV car model to appear from the brand. But we reckon this Megane E-Tech was worth the wait. It looks and feels more sophisticated and stylish than its VW Group and Korean class rivals; if you want a LEAF, Kia Niro EV or Volkswagen ID.3-class EV hatch, this one really has to be on your shopping list. At a stroke, for the first time in a long time, the Megane E-Tech makes Renault seem more credible force in the mainstream European market. And we're really quite intrigued by the thought of just how good a future high-performance Renaultsport version might be. For the time being though, what we've got is a car that signals Renault back on track.

  • Rear wiper
  • Heated rear window
  • Tinted rear windows
  • Rear window defroster
  • Electric one-touch power front and rear windows
  • Automatic windscreen wipers with rain sensor and sensitivity setting

  • Automatic emergency braking junction assist with pedestrian, cyclist and junction alerts
  • Electric parking brake
  • Hill start assist
  • Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
  • Traction control
  • Electronic Stability Programme
  • Brake energy recuperation

  • Textile floor mats

  • Wireless smartphone replication and integration via iOS carplay and google, wifi and usb
  • Google assisted services

  • Rear parking camera
  • Engine start button
  • Steering wheel mounted cruise control
  • Power assisted steering
  • Autonomous driving level 2: adaptive cruise control with speed limiter & lane centering
  • Blind spot recognition and intervention
  • Rear cross traffic alert with rear automatic braking system
  • Multisense: customisable driving modes (personalised, sport, eco, comfort)
  • Traffic sign recognition with overspeed prevention
  • Emergency lane keep assist including solid line, oncoming traffic and road edge detection

  • Wireless phone charger
  • Ecomode function
  • Configurable dashboard display

  • Digital owner's manual
  • 9" Multimedia OpenR link screen with navigation
  • 12" Driver information display cluster
  • Connected services including over the air updates
  • Exterior temperature display
  • e-Call (emergency call)
  • Trip computer
  • On board diagnostics
  • Speed limit display

  • Heated door mirrors
  • Auto-tilting and folding wing mirrors with puddle lamp
  • Wing Mirror design - non-body coloured (black)
  • Frameless auto dimming rear view mirror with brightness adapt and rain sensor

  • Fabric upper dashboard

  • AC22 5m mode 3 charging cable

  • Digital radio
  • Arkamys audio system with 6 speakers

  • Shark fin antenna
  • Rear side wing doors

  • LED third brake light
  • Automatic headlights
  • Full led headlights with adaptive led front and rear fog lights (afs)
  • Moirage front and rear signature lighting with dynamic turn
  • Ev shape daytime running lights
  • Automatic high/low beam

  • Two zone automatic climate control with humidity senor and air recycling

  • Fabric made from recycled plastic materials and synthetic leather upholstery
  • 2 Front USB C-type ports
  • 2 Rear USB C-type ports
  • 12v socket in front
  • Paddle shift levers for regenerative braking
  • Coat hooks
  • Heated steering wheel
  • Tool kit
  • Door sill protectors
  • Multifunction steering wheel
  • Luggage compartment cover
  • Steering wheel audio controls
  • Top grain leather steering wheel
  • High centre console with sliding armrest and storage
  • Central multimedia display
  • Underfloor storage in boot
  • Manual height and depth adjustable steering wheel

  • Luggage compartment light
  • Interior ambient lighting

  • Techno pack - Megane

  • Emergency door unlock
  • Front and rear seatbelt pretensoners
  • Driver and passenger, front and side airbag deactivation
  • Adjustable driver and passenger safety seat belts
  • Rear window and door child locking function
  • Driver and front passenger airbags
  • Distance warning alert
  • Driver drowsiness alert system
  • Tyre pressure warning light
  • 3x3 point rear seat belts
  • Curtain airbags
  • Front and rear seatbelt reminder
  • Seatbelt load limiter
  • Height adjustable rear seatbelts
  • Side airbags

  • Front head restraints
  • Front seat back map pockets
  • 3 rear head restraints
  • 3 seat bench in 2nd row
  • ISOFIX child seat fixing points on rear outermost seats
  • Single front passenger seat
  • Driver and passenger seats with backrest inclination, height and longitudinal adjustment (6 combinations)
  • Driver and passenger heated seats
  • Central rear headrest
  • Driver electric lumbar adjustment

  • Hands free key card with keyless entry
  • Central locking system with thatcham approved immobiliser
  • Remote vehicle locator

  • 20" Soren alloy wheels

  • Tyre inflation kit

  • Battery Charge Slow Time (Minutes): 1830
  • Battery Charge Slow kW: 2.3
  • Battery Charge Slow Percentage: 0-100
  • Battery Charge Fast Time (Minutes): 555
  • Battery Charge Fast kW: 7.4
  • Battery Charge Fast Percentage: 0-100
  • Battery Charge Rapid Time (Minutes): 195
  • Battery Charge Rapid kW: 22
  • Battery Charge Rapid Percentage: 0-100
  • Battery Charge Super Charge Time (Minutes): 75
  • Battery Charge Super Charge kW: 130
  • Battery Charge Super Charge Percentage: 0-80
  • Coupler/Connector Type: Type 2
  • Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Years: 8
  • Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Mileage: 100000
  • Battery Capacity in kWh: 60
  • Battery Leased: False
  • Battery Type: Lithium-ion
  • WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb: 451
  • WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb: 16.1
  • WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb: 3.9
  • WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb: 280
  • Battery Capacity % guaranteed under warranty: 70
  • Charging Port Location: Right Side Front
  • Usable Battery Capacity: 60

  • Noise Level dB(A): N
  • CO: N
  • HC: N
  • NOx: N
  • HC+NOx: N
  • Particles: N
  • CO2 (g/km): 0
  • Standard Euro Emissions: N

  • Engine Code: N
  • Cylinders: N
  • Cylinder Layout: N
  • Number of Valves: N
  • Camshaft: N
  • Fuel Delivery: N
  • Catalytic Convertor: N
  • Engine Layout: N
  • Compression Ratio: [not available]
  • Transmission: AUTO
  • Gears: 1 SPEED
  • CC: 1
  • Cylinders - Bore (mm): N
  • Cylinders - Stroke (mm): N

  • EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: N
  • EC Urban (mpg): N
  • EC Extra Urban (mpg): N
  • EC Combined (mpg): N

  • Coin Series: Techno
  • Coin Description: EV60 160kW 60kWh OC
  • Timing Belt Interval Mileage: N
  • Timing Belt Interval Frequency - Months: N
  • NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: 85
  • NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: 88
  • NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: 65
  • NCAP Safety Assist %: 79
  • NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: 5
  • Badge Power: 220
  • Badge Engine CC: 0.0
  • Vehicle Homologation Class: M1
  • Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: False
  • Special Edition: False
  • Special Order: False
  • Based On ID: N
  • Generation Mark: 1
  • Alternative Fuel Qualifying: True

  • Engine Torque - MKG: 30.6
  • Engine Power - KW: 160
  • Engine Power - RPM: 5473
  • Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 221
  • Engine Torque - NM: 300
  • Engine Torque - RPM: 100
  • 0 to 62 mph (secs): 7.5
  • Top Speed: 99
  • Engine Power - BHP: 217
  • Engine Power - PS: True
  • 0 to 60 mph (secs): False

  • Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP
  • RDE Certification Level: N/A

  • Tyre Size Front: 215/45 R20
  • Tyre Size Rear: 215/45 R20
  • Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT
  • Wheel Type: 20" ALLOY
  • Wheel Style: SOREN
  • Alloys?: True
  • Space Saver?: False

  • Width (including mirrors): 2055
  • Height: 1505
  • Length: 4200
  • Width: 1860
  • Wheelbase: 2685

  • Minimum Kerbweight: 1708
  • Gross Vehicle Weight: 2158
  • Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 900
  • Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: 750
  • Max. Loading Weight: 450
  • Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 440
  • No. of Seats: 5
  • Max. Roof Load: 80
  • Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1332
  • Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 10.4

  • Metallic paint: Included
  • Solid paint: £0
  • Two-tone solid paint: £0
  • Two-tone metallic paint: £0

  • Metallic - Diamond black: £0
  • Metallic - Shadow grey: £0
  • Metallic - Midnight blue: £0
  • Metallic - Flame red: £0

  • Solid - Glacier white: £0
  • Solid - Ceramic grey: £0

  • Two-tone solid - glacier white with diamond black roof: £0
  • Two-tone solid - Glacier white with shadow grey roof: £0
  • Two-tone metallic - Diamond black with shadow grey roof: £0
  • Two-tone metallic - Diamond black with glacier white roof: £0
  • Two-tone metallic - Shadow grey with diamond black roof: £0
  • Two-tone metallic - Shadow grey with glacier white roof: £0
  • Two-tone solid - Ceramic grey with diamond black roof: £0
  • Two-tone solid - Ceramic grey with glacier white roof: £0
  • Two-tone metallic - Flame red with diamond black roof: £0
  • Two-tone metallic - Flame red with shadow grey roof: £0
  • Two-tone metallic - Midnight blue with diamond black roof: £0
  • Two-tone metallic - Midnight blue with shadow grey roof: £0
  • Two-tone metallic - Midnight blue with glacier white roof: £0

  • Fabric made from recycled plastic materials and synthetic leather - Grey: £0

Whilst every effort is made to verify and ensure the accuracy of the data, the information should only be used as a guide and no purchasing decision should be made without verification of the data from either the manufacturer or franchised dealer. Our offers may be on a different model year to that represented by this data and so specification may differ accordingly.

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