We drove it in Andalusia, in the hinterland of Málaga, where it showed unexpected agility. Here is what emerged from our test of the Renault Megane electric.
While Renault has just announced a new hydrogen concept car to be unveiled in May, we return to the electric Megane, or E-Tech electric as Renault calls it. "The high-tech compact saloon that reinvents driving pleasure" — the claim the French manufacturer is banking on. And that is precisely what we will focus on, having driven it in the Andalusian hinterland of Málaga, Spain. Because we had already told you almost everything else last December, when Renault's latest electric car was presented to the Italian press at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. But before recounting our road test, here is a brief portrait of the car.
Renault Megane E-Tech electric: attractive design, short overhangs, long wheelbase. We are talking about an electric car of fairly compact dimensions — 4.20 metres in length — with a cabin that proved genuinely spacious (as we had anticipated, much of this is down to the slim battery mounted beneath the "floor"). Two versions are available, with 130 or 218 horsepower, that is 96 or 160 kW. There are also two battery options, 40 or 60 kWh, for claimed ranges of 300 or 470 kilometres. Prices start from €37,100, before any applicable incentives. And that, so far, is what we had already told you.
Now to the facts. After around 200 kilometres driven in the hinterland of Málaga, in Andalusia — the location chosen for the international press presentation — with many bends and almost no urban stretches, we can attempt to answer the question: does the electric Megane truly "reinvent driving pleasure"? It always depends on what one means by "reinvents". Let us say that compared to Renault's previous electric models, the Zoe and the Twingo, it is certainly a great leap forward.
A completely new car, with a dedicated platform — innovative, developed specifically for electric mobility. The Megane E-Tech undoubtedly places the emphasis on driving pleasure, particularly through the bends. Added to the brisk acceleration typical of all electric cars are the considerable power output (we tested the top-of-the-range 218-horsepower version, the kind of output that until a few years ago belonged to a sports car), excellent acoustic comfort, and the pleasurable feel of a car that inspires confidence — one that puts you at ease without boring you.
In short, if your mental image of the Megane is reassuring but a touch "static", this electric version might well surprise you. Not only for its exterior design, with flush door handles (as seen on the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which is in effect a direct rival, along with the Volkswagen ID.3), a roofline that slopes low towards the tail (never mind that headroom for rear passengers is noticeably reduced) and large-diameter wheels that push up maintenance costs but are pleasing to the eye. Some of the driver assistance system options are also interesting; we are thinking above all of the adaptive cruise control, which is not only capable of automatically adjusting speed but, thanks to its interaction with the navigation system, can also "see" roundabouts and junctions ahead and reduce speed where necessary. There are 26 driver assistance systems in total, available as standard or on request. On the subject of visibility, it is worth noting the small, tinted rear window, which makes manoeuvring more difficult — a problem partially resolved by the rear camera, also visible in the interior rear-view mirror.
In short, while all the latest generation of electric cars are by now very enjoyable to drive, Renault has shown with this Megane that it wants to give this model a particular character: family-oriented, yes, and somewhat crossover-cum-SUV as the market now demands, but clearly designed to attract those drivers who struggle to give up combustion engines for fear of losing that driving pleasure which — truth be told — is destined to keep taking new forms. We are talking about active safety, and the need for an electric range that allows us to tackle long journeys without worry (and here, as long as one does not push the performance too hard, one can realistically count on around 350 real-world kilometres — no small thing).
On the remaining aspect — the other crucial element of an electric car, namely charging — we reserve judgement, having had no need to charge during the test. We therefore limit ourselves to reporting what the manufacturer declares, pending a return to the subject on the occasion of a future test: "Up to 400 kilometres in mixed driving recovered in 8 hours with a 7.4 kW wallbox, up to 160 in 1 hour at a 22 kW charging point, up to 200 kilometres of motorway driving recovered in 30 minutes at a 130 kW fast-charging point, up to 300 in 30 minutes at a 130 kW fast-charging point." It is worth remembering that for those with a "simple" domestic socket, a full charge takes between 20 and 30 hours depending on the battery, and the "Flexicharger" charging cable with Schuko plug is sold separately (from 368 euros). Naturally, the declared figures must then be applied to real-world usage conditions which — as is well known — are less favourable.
So much for how it drives. But there are other aspects of this electric Megane worth noting. Chief among them is the attention to comfort — not only acoustic comfort, as already mentioned, but a more atmospheric kind of comfort, one might say. Credit goes to the interior furnishings — well crafted and pleasingly designed — and to a lighting system that can, if desired, vary throughout the day, drawing on the principles of chromotherapy. We did not have the opportunity to try it out (the test drive took place under glorious warm sunshine), but it is a safe bet that for those who appreciate the powers of chromotherapy it could be an interesting "gadget".
The navigation controls are also pleasant and intuitive to use: thanks to widely used systems such as Google Maps and the large 12-inch screen, managing the car's main functions is fairly straightforward (some can be handled via voice commands), including monitoring energy flows, the various driving modes (accessed via a convenient button on the steering wheel) and music, the latter supported by a system of notable quality.
The figures declared by Renault on the sustainability and circular economy front are reassuring. From the management of end-of-life batteries — one of the hot-button issues in electric mobility — "reused and then recycled, extracting the various materials they are made of for new industrial applications," Renault reassures (as indeed required by the Eu Battery Regulation), through to the use of entirely recycled fabrics for the seats and recycled plastic employed in the manufacture of numerous interior components.