A digital rear-view mirror is also available to overcome the poor visibility from the shallow rear window. Renault claims it’s the sharpest screen in its class, that’s as responsive as a smartphone, and we did find loading times excellent. The mapping app includes nearby public chargers, while the voice control system is the best we’ve come across, letting you change the temperature and find out the weather forecast just by asking. The infotainment touchscreen uses a new Google-powered system, so you’ll navigate through Google Maps and can say commands with ‘Hey Google’. Renault is also claiming that the materials used in lower-spec versions are recycled, while our top-spec test car had wooden trim across the door panels and synthetic leather upholstery. With it being slightly angled towards the driver, it feels like you’re in the cockpit of a sports car. As is common these days, there are two screens for the driver’s display and media/navigation functions. Open the door with the pop-out handle and you’re greeted by a state-of-the-art interior that feels comfortably ahead of the Volkswagen ID.3 for quality and ergonomics. Flicking between Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual driving modes changes how the car feels, and you can choose what level of brake regeneration you want, but you can’t drive it just with one pedal as you can in a Nissan Leaf. Its steering is pleasingly quick, if short of feel, and the rear suspension keeps the ride comfortable. We found we preferred its Normal driving mode, with Sport making the accelerator rather sensitive for smooth driving.īecause the Megane E-Tech is quite light for an electric car and because most of the weight is low within the car, there’s almost no body roll whatsoever. The electric motor produces 217bhp and offers a 0-62mph time of under 7.5 seconds - and it feels quicker than that. The late-stage pre-production model we drove was very quick off the line and offered rapid acceleration at any speed. While we wouldn’t go quite that far, the new Megane is thoroughly decent to drive. Renault’s boss said the Megane felt like an electric hot hatch when he drove it. While it looks striking, the angle of the contrasting roof means the rear window is very narrow. Slim LED headlights and a sculpted bonnet give the front end a distinctive look, while there’s a near-full-width light bar at the rear, flush door handles, gold detailing and a sloping roof. The Renault Megane E-Tech Electric has the same focus on style as previous generations of Megane. It's also a sister car and direct rival to the larger Nissan Ariya. Peel away all of the 4x4-esque wheelarch cladding and you’ll find the Megane is still the family-friendly hatchback it once was, making it a rival for other small electric family cars such as the Cupra Born, Volkswagen ID.3, Nissan Leaf and Citroen e-C4. This latest model seeks to change all that as the Megane has been reborn as a fully-electric car with trendy SUV-inspired styling. Renault Megane E-Tech models, specs and alternativesįamily hatchbacks are slowly becoming a thing of the past, and the Renault Megane has long struggled for sales against the likes of the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf. Partner this with a strong five-year warranty and the plug-in Megane may become a thorn in the side for rivals from Kia and VW. The newly-named Megane E-Tech boasts a stylish design, a big boot and one of the slickest infotainment systems in its class. The Renault Megane has benefited greatly from its transition to running on electric power, being more compelling than its petrol predecessor had even been. Verdict – Is the Renault Megane E-Tech a good car?
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