Mégane EV takes the fight to VW’s ID.3
● Mégane family hatch enters the electric age in E-Tech Electric form ● 60kWh battery gives 292-mile range; on sale February 2022 OFFICIAL Electric family hatch has up to 292 miles of range, all-new infotainment, space and weight-saving tech, and arrives
RENAULT has revealed the all-new fifth-generation Mégane family car. Called the Mégane E-Tech Electric, the new model is an all-electric five-door crossover that’s set to rival the Volkswagen ID.3.
It’s the first production car to make its debut following the announcement of the French firm’s Renaulution electrification strategy, and will go on sale next February.
It’s also the first of Renault’s ‘Generation 2.0’ electric vehicles and is based on the brand’s CMF-EV platform, designed specifically for battery-powered models. The E-Tech Electric will be available with either a 40kWh or a 60kWh battery, offering a maximum range of 186 and 292 miles respectively.
Rapid charging at 130kW allows a 15 to 80 per cent charge in 30 minutes, recouping up to 186 miles of range in this time. The Mégane E-Tech Electric is also compatible with 7.4, 11 and 22kW AC charging – although the latter two will be optional.
Four brake regeneration levels also help to recover charge and are adjusted using the car’s steering wheel paddles, with Level 0 providing no braking effect and Level 3 allowing one-pedal driving.
The Mégane will come in front-wheeldrive form only. Two electric motor options will be available, the first offering 128bhp and 250Nm of torque, while the second will serve up 215bhp and 300Nm of torque.
The latter will sprint from 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds, hit a top speed of 99mph and offer a 900kg towing capacity.
Renault claims the Mégane E-Tech Electric is also fun to drive, helped in part by its relatively low kerbweight for an EV. The big-battery car weighs from 1,624kg, helped by extensive use of aluminium in the bodywork, while Renault claims that the new Mégane is between 80 and 100kg lighter than its competitors, spec-for-spec, and is the lightest family-sized EV crossover on the market. The E-Tech Electric’s relatively low kerbweight is helped by a compact electric motor that is 10 per cent lighter than that used in the Zoe EV supermini.
The Mégane E-Tech
Electric’s innovative battery design also benefits packaging. At just 110mm deep, the liquid-cooled battery is the slimmest on the market and delivers 20 per more energy density than the cells used in the Zoe. This allows for a lower and fully flat floor inside the car, helping to keep the Mégane’s height to just 1.5 metres.
With a 2,700mm wheelbase (just 70mm shy of a VW ID.3’s) there’s a good amount of space inside, as we found out at the car’s unveiling. Renault also targeted the combustion-engined Mégane’s boot space, so there’s 440 litres on offer here – the lack of a rear motor helps to improve luggage room. There is a significant boot lip, but a moveable boot floor is available, while there is a dedicated space for storing the car’s charging cables.
The French firm has developed an all-new infotainment system for the Mégane E-Tech Electric, called OpenR Link. It consists of a 12.3-inch digital dash panel and a portrait-style 12-inch touchscreen.
The new tech is powered by Android Automotive and uses Google Maps-based navigation, featuring an ‘Electric Route Planner’ that factors in charging stations on your route. It also offers easy integration for Android smartphone users and ‘Hey Google’ voice assistant control. OpenR Link is also compatible with Apple CarPlay and offers plenty of connected services in conjunction with the My Renault smartphone app.
OpenR is well integrated into the cabin, which uses plenty of recycled materials, while the exterior styling is also slick; the sharp LED light signature – including 3D tail-lights – is animated on locking and unlocking, while the alloy wheels range from 18 to 20 inches. The sleek profile is completed by flush-fitting door handles.
UK prices and trims have yet to be confirmed, but it’s likely that the Mégane E-Tech Electric will be available in three specifications. It’s not yet known whether both battery and motor options will be on all trims when the car goes on sale in February.
“Alloy wheels range from 18 to 20 inches and flush-fitting door handles enhance the sleek profile”