test and videoThe Renault Mégane, one of the best-selling family cars for years, is starting a new life: fully electric and with an innovative design. For the first time, this Renault will compete with electric cars such as the Skoda Enyaq and VW ID.3.
Werner Budding
Strange, in fact, that Renault is only now coming up with a fully electric mid-range car. Renault and Nissan have been working closely together for years, share a lot of technology, and Nissan sees itself as the pioneer in electric driving. In addition, Renault has already launched several electric models, such as the Zoe city car. So it would have made sense if Renault had introduced a car with the technology of the Nissan Leaf.
But now there’s the new Mégane E-Tech. It shares its technical basis with the equally new Nissan Ariya, which can be seen as the electric variant of the Nissan Qashqai. In fact, the CMF-EV platform used will serve as the basis for many new electric models in the coming years, including sports cars under the Alpine name. The Renault Sport label, as we know it from the Clio RS and the Mégane RS, is slowly disappearing from the program and is replaced by this glorious name. Just like the former Renault F1 Team has been going through life for one season under the name Alpine.
Also based on the new Mégane E-Tech, such a sporty, electric Alpine will follow later. But the developers of Renault state that a good dose of sportiness has already been put into this E-Tech. As a driver, you can switch the character of the car from eco to comfort or sport. But that is possible with more cars and the ‘normal’ E-Tech is not really sporty with this.
For an electric car, the Mégane appears to be particularly lightweight
You don’t have to, because this is of course mainly a family and business car. It feels surprisingly solid and solid and is sufficiently comfortable to drive. The relatively low weight is striking. Where a Volkswagen ID.3 goes towards 1800 kilos curb weight, the basic version of the Mégane E-Tech remains at just over 1500 kilos. That is the version with 40 kWh battery pack. That battery alone weighs 400 kilos. If you go for the 60 kWh package, the total weight of the car increases to more than 1600 kilos.
With the adequate, comfortable tuning of the chassis, the E-Tech does not feel overweight at all. Furthermore, every electric Mégane is equipped with variable transmission of the steering: if you drive at low speed, it is sufficient to turn the steering wheel relatively lightly to get a significant wheel angle. At high speed it is the other way around. This system masks the obesity that you often experience with electric cars.
The steering feels less pleasant on roundabouts. You then feel the transmission change the moment the driving speed increases or decreases. Nice is again the possibility to vary the regeneration mode of the powertrain. Fortunately, its setting is not hidden in a complicated digital menu. You can choose the modes with flippers behind the steering wheel.
The Mégane E-Tech is equipped with ventilated disc brakes all round. This is noticeable because the brakes of an electric car are used much less than those of a conventional car. Some EVs, such as the Volkswagen ID.3, are therefore equipped with cheaper drum brakes in the rear wheels.
After an hour of charging you can continue for 160 kilometers
Renault also has a stubborn philosophy with regard to the charging system in its electric cars. Like the Zoe, this Mégane E-Tech is also equipped with a 22 kWh charging system for AC charging points as standard. This means that you can charge 160 kilometers of range in an hour at this relatively affordable charging point, which is often located at home, at work or in public parking spaces.
The basic version of the Mégane charges on a fast charger (DC charger) at a maximum of 85 kW. The variant with the 60 kWh battery achieves 130 kW. These are reasonably market values. The electric Mégane does not have a heat pump as standard. Nevertheless, it is wise to check this option that costs 1000 euros. With this you can always get the battery at the correct operating temperature. This not only benefits the battery life, but also the range. A battery pack performs better at the right temperature than a battery that is too cold or too warm.
The navigation system can steer the Renault and its occupants from fast charger to fast charger via the fastest route. The car then ‘knows’ when the fast charger is nearby and will preheat or cool the battery in time, in order to make the charging time as efficient as possible.
The Google infotainment, including Google Maps, is pleasant to use
Fortunately, Renault has opted for a number of physical buttons on the dashboard, and not just digital control of the vital matters. The Google infotainment, including Google Maps, is pleasant to use. You can control many functions with your voice and that goes much further than setting up the navigation system. The heating in the car also listens to commands from the driver.
If you have a Google account and control things at home such as lighting or, for example, the alarm via Google, you can also control this from your Renault if you wish. Switch on the lighting just before you get home: you can do that in the Mégane E-Tech. A funny find is also the digital interior mirror. This receives its information via a camera in the tailgate and is especially useful if the view through the rear window is blocked.
The Renault turns out to be more user-friendly in its operation than a VW ID.3. Plus, it seems quieter at high speed. It doesn’t excel in rear-seat wiggle room, though. With a length of 1.86 meters you sit in the back with bent knees and the headroom is not impressive either. In the front, under the hood, you will not find extra storage space, as some EVs do offer. But there is no shortage of luggage space; the E-Tech offers 440 liters of capacity.
The Mégane E-Tech will arrive at the Dutch dealers next spring, for relatively reasonable prices. The Mégane E-Tech EV40 with 40 kWh battery and 130 hp electric motor costs 35,390 euros. More interesting, because the 60 kWh variant in combination with the 218 hp powertrain is not even that much more expensive. It costs 39,990 euros. The range of the new Mégane E-Tech ranges from 300 kilometers in the basic version to 470 kilometers in the version with the heavy battery pack.
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