Meet the reborn Renault Megane.
It’s now not a standard hatchback rival to the Volkswagen Golf, having morphed into an electrical rival to the Tesla Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y, and it’s now not the most cost effective member of the Renault vary.
Renault goes by means of a worldwide revolution (Renaultlution) because it gears as much as drastically increase its electrical lineup with a variety of latest vehicles starting from the retro-tastic 4 and 5, to the extra modern-looking Megane.
All can be constructed utilizing new manufacturing strategies designed to chop down on emissions and waste, consistent with the eco-friendly promise of electrical motoring.
As has at all times been the case with the Megane, the 2024 Renault Megane E-Tech received’t be for everybody… but it surely reveals the long run is shiny at Renault regardless.
How a lot does the Renault Megane E-Tech price?
Renault Megane E-Tech Electrical pricing:
2024 Renault Megane E-Tech Techno EV60: $64,990
Pricing is earlier than on-road prices.
What’s the Renault Megane E-Tech like on the within?
This can be a fashionable, snug automotive from behind the wheel.
The driving force and passenger sit in generously padded seats trimmed in neat-looking fabric, and there’s loads of adjustment for awkwardly formed our bodies. The handbook seat adjustment feels misplaced in a $65k automotive, however it’s consistent with Renault’s give attention to lightness.
Going through the driving force is a pair of screens with clear, crisp graphics. The pair of shows is neatly built-in, and the way in which the central display is angled in direction of the driving force may be very old-school BMW.
Renault’s infotainment know-how was in want of a refresh, and fortunately the E-Tech represents a step ahead in comparison with the Captur and Arkana. The graphics are extra fashionable, and it responds sooner to inputs than earlier than – whereas Apple CarPlay labored reliably.
It’s not class main, given how fast and fashionable the setup in a Tesla Mannequin Y or Polestar 2 is, but it surely’s not holding the Megane again both.
Factors to Renault for sustaining bodily buttons under the display, too. It makes it simpler to alter the temperature or fan on the fly, and means you don’t must dive by means of menus to finish fundamental duties.
Past the know-how, the cabin has a really electrical feeling. There’s no pronounced central tunnel, as an alternative you get an open cupboard space beneath the floating dashboard with movable cupholder inserts.
It’s sensible, however there are a couple of components that imply it’s not fairly as particular as one thing like an Ioniq 5, Polestar 2, or Tesla Mannequin 3.
Rear seat area is a weak spot. The rear door opening in all fairness giant, however legroom is restricted again there behind shorter adults, and headroom is impacted by the automotive’s swoopy roofline. The pinched window line additionally limits the quantity of sunshine on supply again there.
On the plus facet, air vents are a welcome inclusion for kids on scorching Australian summer time days. There’s a trio of top-tether factors, and a pair of ISOFIX factors again there. The flat ground makes the center seat extra usable, and does depart extra space for ft within the outboard seats.
Claimed boot area is a formidable 440 litres, increasing to 1332 litres with the rear seats folded. In actuality although, the boot has a large loading lip and fairly a slender opening with the parcel shelf fitted, making it more durable to load cumbersome objects.
Folding the rear seats additionally leaves a pronounced lip between the boot ground and the seat backs, which isn’t excellent for carrying large issues.
Though it’s an even bigger, extra crossover-ish automotive than the final Megane, the brand new E-Tech isn’t as giant and sensible as a Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Tesla Mannequin Y if you happen to’re planning to make use of this as a household automotive.
What’s underneath the bonnet?
How does the Renault Megane E-Tech drive?
Renault made numerous the very fact the E-Tech nonetheless seems like a Megane, with fast steering and a sporty feeling on the town.
It’s delivered on that promise; the E-Tech feels proper at residence throughout the confines of city Sydney.
As you’d anticipate, there’s immediate torque on faucet from a standstill because of the single-speed electrical motor, and the steering is sweet and direct off centre. Which means you’ll be able to dart round tight streets with out taking your fingers off the wheel, and makes this really feel extra like an overgrown hatchback than a lumbering SUV.
Journey consolation is fairly good within the metropolis, absorbing pimply streets regardless of what’s a reasonably sporty suspension tune, and as much as round 60km/h you get little or no noise from the skin world within the cabin.
Renault has additionally accomplished an excellent job tuning its regenerative braking, which slows the automotive once you elevate off the accelerator. It’s not grabby or awkward at low speeds in its most aggressive mode, though it’s disappointing one-pedal driving isn’t an choice.
In a Tesla Mannequin 3, you’ll be able to drive most locations with out touching the brake pedal. That’s not an choice right here, with the E-Tech as an alternative demanding you employ the brakes because the regen fades out under round 10km/h.
It’s extra typical than some rivals, which suggests consumers hopping throughout from an internal-combustion automotive will really feel at residence, but it surely additionally takes away one of many perks of electrical driving.
At greater speeds, the Megane E-Tech settles down properly. On clean tarmac it’s good and quiet at 100km/h, however there’s various highway noise on the coarser surfaces widespread exterior of Australian metropolis centres.
Renault’s driver assists are easily calibrated. The adaptive cruise maintains a constant hole to the automotive in entrance, and the lane-keeping system doesn’t really feel prefer it’s attempting to wrest management from you.
Additionally conspicuously absent are any annoying chimes or warnings once you drift over the velocity restrict, not like some rival vehicles.
With no R.S. mannequin, and no signal of an Alpine-fettled model of the E-Tech simply but, this isn’t meant to be a sports activities automotive. It nonetheless feels gentle sufficient on its ft when the highway will get attention-grabbing although, and the steering is at all times good and direct.
The weak hyperlink is the tyres, which prioritise vary over dealing with with low rolling resistance. It’s a criticism we additionally had in regards to the Tesla Mannequin 3, and isn’t a difficulty for the typical proprietor, but it surely’s price holding in thoughts if you happen to’re hoping to evoke the spirit of the Megane R.S.
What do you get?
Megane E-Tech Techno EV60 highlights:
20-inch two-tone alloy wheelsTyre restore kitAdaptive LED headlightsRain-sensing wipersShark fin antennaRear privateness glassElectric facet mirrors12.3-inch digital instrument cluster9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment systemWireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto6-speaker Arkamys Auditorium sound systemWireless cellphone charger2 x entrance USB-C ports2 x rear USB-C ports12V socketRenault sensible key incl. hands-free, walk-away lockingElectric park brakeDual-zone local weather control48-colour ambient inside lightingHeated steering wheelBlack headliningRecycled material dashboard coverAlcantara-style entrance door trimsRecycled material and leatherette upholsteryHeated entrance seatsDriver electrical lumbar support5.0m Mode 3 charging cable
Is the Renault Megane E-Tech protected?
The Renault Megane E-Tech has a five-star ANCAP security ranking based mostly on Euro NCAP assessments carried out in 2022.
It acquired a 85 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 88 per cent for youngster occupant safety, 65 per cent for susceptible highway person safety, and 79 per cent for security help.
Customary security tools contains:
Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)Pedestrian detectionCyclist detectionJunction assistRear AEBLane departure warningLane-keep assistBlind-spot monitoringRear cross-traffic alertDriver consideration alertAdaptive cruise management with cease/goTraffic signal recognitionFront, rear and facet parking sensorsReversing cameraTyre strain monitoring
How a lot does the Renault Megane E-Tech price to run?
The 2024 Renault Megane E-Tech is roofed by a five-year, 100,000km guarantee. The high-voltage battery is roofed by an eight-year, 160,000km guarantee.
Upkeep is required each 30,000km or 12 months, whichever comes first.
Renault Megane E-Tech service pricing:
12 months/30,000km: $230.0424 months/60,000km: $292.9136 months/90,000km: $31648 months/120,000km: $519.6260 months/150,000km: $230.04
CarExpert’s Tackle the Renault Megane E-Tech
The Megane E-Tech is a assured first step as Renault gears as much as ramp up its electrical plans, however its value and measurement imply it’s unlikely to set the gross sales charts alight in Australia.
As a like-for-like rival to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Tesla Mannequin Y, its tight rear seat and boot packaging aren’t fairly ok, and omissions resembling electrical seats – for weight financial savings causes or in any other case – are noticeable.
As has usually been the case with the Megane in its Australian historical past, it received’t be for everybody. That doesn’t imply it has nothing to supply, although.
It’s a pointy looker on the skin, the cabin remains to be a pleasant place to spend time, and the driving expertise is nice sufficient to warrant heading alongside for a check drive.
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