Renault Megane E-Tech Electric Review 2024

The Renault Megane E-Tech is the electric car the Volkswagen ID.3 should have been. It's a superb all-rounder with a high-quality (yet sustainable) cabin, plenty of space and low running costs. We rank it almost as highly as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 in terms of the best electric vehicles on sale today.

Don't make the mistake of lumping the new Megane E-Tech in with the lacklustre old Renault Megane family hatch. The old car was a below-par alternative to a Vauxhall Astra or Ford Focus - but the new model is purely electric, sharing a platform with the Nissan Ariya SUV. It's smaller than the Ariya, though, rivalling cars like the Cupra Born, Nissan Leaf, MG 4 and Kia Niro EV.

That bespoke electric car architecture means there's little in the way of compromise. The wheels have been pushed to the corners of the car, while the batteries are positioned low down in the floor. That's good news for interior space - it feels like a much bigger car inside, with space for all the family and their possessions. The rear seats aren't the roomiest in the class, however. 

It feels properly posh inside, though. Our test car was a Renault Megane E-Tech Techno, which comes with part-faux-leather trim and a lovely fabric-covered dashboard. A highlight of the Megane E-Tech's cabin is the Google-based navigation system, which takes Android Auto a step further. Not only do you get Google Maps navigation built in (we usually find that it's better than manufacturers' own systems), but Google's voice-activated assistant will respond to commands like 'turn my heated seat on'.

Renault has concentrated on making the Megane E-Tech lighter than alternatives. It's still a heavy old thing, but it certainly feels softer over uneven road surfaces than some electric vehicles. That doesn't really come at the expense of handling, either - sure, it's not a sports car, but its steering is direct and it doesn't lean excessively in corners.

Refinement is another of the Renault Megane E-Tech's strong points. The way it hushes out external noise really does make it feel a premium car on the move. It feels pretty rapid, too, while it can travel 280 miles between charges according to official WLTP tests. That'll be more than adequate for most drivers, while its 60kWh battery can be charged at a rate of up to 130kW. That'll add 186 miles of range in around half an hour.

What's the catch? That's probably the price - from launch, The Renault Megane E-Tech starts from around £36,000, while the range tops out at nearly £40,000. Low running costs should balance out the finance payments, though, and it isn't really any more expensive than rivals (apart from the budget MG 4 EV, perhaps).

Unlike in a Volkswagen ID.3 or Cupra Born, the Renault Megane E-Tech's electric motor drives the front wheels rather than the rear. This doesn't really make a huge difference in day-to-driving, it certainly feels more than agile and Renault has form for making front-wheel-drive cars that are fun to drive. Indeed, the positioning of the batteries means the Megane E-Tech has a very low centre of gravity, so it remains composed during cornering and your passengers won't complain that it's like being on a rollercoaster.

Like all electric cars, there's a slightly firm edge to the ride quality, but we reckon it's more comfortable than most. If you're looking for an EV that can soak up lumpy road surfaces, we'd recommend sticking to the entry-level Renault Megane E-Tech Equilibre with its smaller 18-inch alloy wheels and squidgier tyres.

Around town, the Renault Megane E-Tech is easy and unintimidating to drive. The steering is nice and light at low speeds, while a reversing camera is standard across the range.

In the UK, the Renault Megane E-Tech's 60kWh battery pack is paired with a 220PS electric motor which provides pretty punchy performance. No, it's not as rapid as a Tesla Model 3, but it's certainly quick enough for a family hatchback. Officially it'll accelerate to 62mph in around 7.5 seconds but, as with a lot of electric cars, the instant performance combined with the lack of gearchanges means it feels quicker than this.

You'll find paddles behind the steering wheel which can adjust the regenerative braking system. With it cranked up the most, it'll slow down quite significantly as soon as you lift off the accelerator. The advantage of this is, with practice (and a bit of forward planning), you won't need to brake as often as you would ordinarily. At the same time, it'll pump energy back into the battery, rather than wasting it under braking.

Renault Megane E-Tech Techno and Launch Edition models come with a little drive mode button on the steering wheel, allowing you to sharpen up the accelerator response by selecting sport mode. As is often the case with selectable drive modes, it's a bit gimmicky and we like the Megane best left in its regular comfort mode.

Renault used to make some of the safest cars on sale but it lost its way a bit with the electric Renault Zoe - a car awarded zero stars in Euro NCAP crash tests in 2021. Fortunately, the Renault Megane E-Tech represents a return to form for the brand, with NCAP awarding a full five star rating for safety.

Standard driver-assist technology on the entry-level Megane E-Tech Equilibre includes an automatic emergency braking system that can, as its name suggests, apply the brakes if it detects an impending collision. This could be when a car in front of you suddenly applies the brakes, or if a cyclist or pedestrian suddenly crosses the road in front of you.

The Renault Megane E-Tech Equilibre also comes with a driver drowsiness alert system, which monitors your steering inputs and tells you when to take a break, and an emergency call system which'll automatically dial 999 if the Megane's involved in a crash.

The Megane E-Tech Techno takes things a step further. It's capable of level two autonomous driving, which means the adaptive cruise control can adjust its speed depending on speed limits, and even slow down for obstacles like roundabouts (and speed up again afterwards).

The Renault Megane E-Tech can be fitted with a tow bar which could be useful for carrying a bike rack or towing a small trailer. It's limited to towing a braked trailer weighing up to 900kg, so you're not going to use the Megane E-Tech to pull a caravan - the Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Kia EV6 would be a better option if you're searching for an electric tow car.

The Renault Megane E-Tech instantly feels more spacious than a lot of conventional family cars. There are a number of reasons for this - it's been designed from the start as an EV, so it doesn't have to package things like an engine and a gearbox, while Renault also claims to have the thinnest battery on the market. Look at the exterior, too - each of the wheels have been pushed out to the corner of the car, which helps with interior space.

You sit relatively high up, aiding access, while there's a large seven-litre storage compartment between the front seats (where you'd ordinarily find a gear lever or drive selector in a petrol or diesel car). Overall, Renault says the Megane has an impressive 30 litres of on-board storage, including the aforementioned central cubby, cup holders and inside the door bins.

Space feels a little more compromised in the back, where adults might find the seating position a little awkward. You sit with your knees up high, brushing the front seats, although kids should be relatively happy back there. The sloping roofline doesn't hinder headroom too much, but the middle seat will feel a bit tight for adults.

With a 440 litre boot, the Renault Megane E-Tech can accommodate more luggage than a Volkswagen ID.3 but slightly less than the new Kia Niro EV. While the boot is surprisingly deep, this does create a huge boot lip which can be a little awkward when loading heavy or bulky items.

We're used to mainstream manufacturers making bold claims about competing with premium brands but, when it comes to quality, it's hard to fault the Renault Megane E-Tech's cabin. It's in a different league to a Volkswagen ID.3's, with feel-good fabrics and soft-touch materials. Renault's interior designers haven't gone for the easy 'cover everything in leather' option, either - there's 20kg of recycled materials in every Megane, apparently, including seats made of recycled plastic bottles.

Renault has turned to Google to power the infotainment in the Megane E-Tech. The standard-fit nine-inch media display will seem familiar to anyone who's used Android Auto (or even an Android phone, for that matter). It comes with Google services integrated into the infotainment setup. That means you can say things like "Hey Google, turn on the heated seats" and it will do just that.

It's one of the best infotainment systems on the market, with fast responses and, surprisingly, better integration than Volvo's media system (which is also Android based). You can set up different user profiles for different drivers and download various apps from the Google Play Store (including Spotify, for example, or your favourite podcast player). There's still the option to mirror apps from your phone via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, too.

As well as the central display, the Renault Megane E-Tech comes with a 12.3-inch digital driver's display, which looks sufficiently modern without being needly complicated or distracting on the move. It can be switched to show a variety of different displays - we like it in map mode, but traditionalists might prefer to see a pair of more conventional dials.

Renault Megane E-Tech prices start from £35,995 for the entry-level Equilibre trim level, while the mid-spec Megane E-Tech Techno is £38,495. The Launch Edition model is £39,995.

That puts the Megane E-Tech broadly in line with the Kia Niro EV and Volkswagen ID.3, but pricier than the budget MG 4 EV. As far as electric cars go we think it represents pretty good value for money - its interior is posher than the ID.3's, while standard equipment on even the Equilibre model is pretty comprehensive (including 18-inch alloy wheels, a fabric-covered dash, nine-inch media system and a rear-view camera, to name a few highlights).

While you can buy the Renault Megane E-Tech in other markets with a smaller 40kWh battery, the UK's appetite for range means it'll initially only be available with a 60kWh battery here. That's smaller than you can get in the priciest Volkswagen ID.3, but Renault says its focus on saving weight means the Megane E-Tech's competitive 280-mile range figure should be achievable in the real world.

The Renault Megane E-Tech can be rapid charged at a rate of up to 130kW. That means if you can find a fast enough compatible charger, you can add 186 miles of range in just 30 minutes.

Ordinarily, though, we'd recommend charging the Megane E-Tech at home (not only is it the most convenient way of EV charging, it's usually the cheapest). A 7kW home wallbox charger will fully charge the Megane in a little over nine hours - ideal for an overnight charge. If you haven't got an EV charger already fitted at home, Renault currently has deals available with a provider of home chargers - you can even lump the cost into your monthly PCP finance payment.

Electric car charging aside, the Renault Megane E-Tech will be very cheap to run. Servicing costs ought to be minimal, while you won't pay anything in VED (road tax). The Renault Megane E-Tech is covered by the brand's five-year/100,000-mile warranty, while the battery pack is guaranteed for up to eight years.

Standard equipment on the Renault Megane E-Tech Equilibre includes 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, a fabric-covered dashboard, black fabric seat upholstery and a leather steering wheel. The Equilibre also comes with a nine-inch navigation system, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a four-speaker Arkamys sound system. Heated front seats are standard, as well as a heated steering wheel and automatic windscreen wipers. Standard safety and driver-assistance technology includes automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, a driver drowsiness alert system, rear-view camera, cruise control and traffic sign recognition.

The Renault Megane E-Tech Techno adds 20-inch alloy wheels, full LED headlights and tinted rear windows. Inside, the Techno trim gets recycled marble grey fabric and synthetic leather seat upholstery, two-zone climate control, Google assisted services, a wireless phone charger, a six-speaker sound system and a frameless rear-view mirror. The Techno also comes with Renault's multisense customisable drive modes, automatic high/low beam, adaptive cruise control, blind spot recognition, rear cross traffic alert with rear automatic braking system and front/rear park assist.

The Renault Megane E-Tech Launch Edition model comes with a distinctive gold exterior F1 blade, a different style of 20-inch alloy wheels, a premium Harman Kardon nine-speaker sound system, a 3D around-view camera and a digital rear-view mirror.