2024 Renault Megane E-Tech new car review

The electric car market is getting very crowded with more and more new arrivals every month, but this one manages to stand out from the crowd.

No one does things quite like the French.

Electric cars can be fairly generic looking but Renault has managed to add some daring style to its new Megane E-Tech.

It sits somewhere between an SUV and a hatchback but is dressed to the nines with bold 20-inch wheels, smooth lines, dynamic lighting front and back and subtle body creases in just the right places.

The new Renault Megane E-Tech has arrived in Australia.

Sustainability was at the forefront in its development, too. The battery is almost fully recyclable, the cabin has 28kg of recycled plastics throughout and the electric motor contains no rare-earth metals.

It’s expensive to look and feel this good, though, and prices start at about $70,000 drive-away. A similar-sized Cupra Born is about $62,500 drive-away.

Renault’s warranty covers the Megane E-Tech for five years and 100,000km, which is below the industry’s standard unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

The Megane E-Tech isn’t covered by a capped price servicing program either.

Its lightweight 60kWh battery delivers a driving range of 454km and the single electric motor sends 160kW and 300Nm to the front wheels.

It can accept a charge of up to 130kW via a DC outlet, which can add about 300km of range in 30 minutes. This is well below market leaders Hyundai and Kia that can accept a charge rate of more than 230kW.

It has a single electric motor driving the front wheels.

A 7.4kW home charger will replenish the battery overnight and a regular wall socket will take more than 30 hours to fill it to 100 per cent.

Step inside the Megane and you are greeted by a spacious cabin that presents well.

There is a nine-inch infotainment screen, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is matched to a big 12.3-inch digital driver display.

There are plenty of USB-C charging ports for both rows and a wireless device charger up front.

Faux leather and recycled cloth seats are manually adjustable and the front pair are heated, as is the steering wheel. Ambient lighting with 48 colour options that change every 30 minutes is a nice touch.

The cabin is stylish and has plenty of tech.

Cabin materials are a mixed bag. Some of the recycled elements are top notch and bring texture and colour to the cabin. Look closer, though, and there are plenty of hard plastic materials used throughout that cheapen its appeal.

There is plenty of room up front and lots of adjustment in the seats and steering wheel to accommodate drivers of all shapes and sizes.

The back seat is tight compared to other electric cars. Small children will feel more comfortable thanks to a low window line that allows them to see out easily.

The boot is a decent size at 440 litres, but in reality it’s not as practical as it sounds. It has a high lip and low boot floor that will make it harder to load bulky items. The rear seats fold down but don’t lie flat.

The Megane E-Tech isn’t the most memorable drive.

Safety is comprehensive and includes nine airbags, a range of safety tech and a strong crash test result.

The Megane E-Tech will automatically apply the brakes if it detects a potential collision with another vehicle, pedestrian or cyclist.

A range of sensors will keep you centred in your lane and warn you if a car is in your blind spot or approaching from the side as you reverse.

On the road the Megane E-Tech doesn’t do a lot wrong.

It’s zippy and agile in town and quiet and refined on the highway.

The Megane E-Tech isn’t particularly fast by EV standards, completing the benchmark 0-100km/h in 7.4 seconds, but it’s adequate for scooting around town.

Quick and well weighted steering makes for a pleasant drive experience and the multi-stage regenerative braking allows you to adjust the braking force when lifting off the accelerator.

The suspension is firm over smaller imperfections and the E-Tech jiggles over poor quality road surfaces around town. It would benefit from smaller wheels, as the 20-inch rims and low-profile tyres exacerbate the situation.

The front wheels struggled for purchase in the wet on a twisting country road.

It’s efficient for an electric car and we managed to beat the vehicle’s claimed power usage despite spending long stretches on highways where EVs are the least efficient.

VERDICT 3/5

The Megane E-Tech is stylish and efficient but it’s relatively expensive and doesn’t move the goalposts.

RENAULT MEGANE E-TECH

PRICE About $70,000 drive-away

MOTOR Single electric motor, 160kW and 300Nm

WARRANTY/SERVICING Five year/100,000km, no capped price servicing

SAFETY Nine airbags, auto emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control

RANGE 454km

SPARE Repair kit

LUGGAGE 440 litres