TECHNO IS A HIT
NEW MEGANE E-TECH IS QUICK, HANDLES WELL AND LOOKS GOOD INSIDE AND OUT
EARLIER in the year we drove the new Renault Megane E-tech in Spain and reckoned it was one of the best electric cars to drive at any price.
More than that, its styling appealed and so did its bright and spacious interior.
Back then, this new Renault was on a shortlist of six cars for the prestigious Car of the Year award. In the end, it was narrowly pipped to the top spot of the podium by the Kia EV6.
Still, runner-up ain’t so bad. The EV6 is an excellent car too; just not as good to drive as the Renault. But how does the Megane E-tech perform in right-hand drive on Britain’s poverty-spec roads?
We’re behind the wheel of a Megane E-tech Techno EV60 to find out.
The range is quite simple and starts with the entry-level Equilibre at £35,995, moves to the mid-range Techno at £38,995 and finishes with the £39,995 Launch Edition.
When we were in Spain we were told the car was available with a 40kwh battery or a larger 60kwh pack. It turns out that UK buyers are only being offered the larger battery.
Yes, the 280-mile range is very welcome, but although a smaller battery equals less range it also means less money.
With the current economic situation I wouldn’t be surprised if Renault doesn’t have a rethink and introduces a lower range but cheaper model in the future.
Also with the bigger battery comes the most powerful electric motor available.
This 220bhp motor propels the Megane to 62mph in 7.4sec, which is almost in hot hatch territory.
Most EVS are quick off the mark but not all of them handle the power as well as this Renault.
One of the main reasons the car drives so well is it features a very compact and thin battery pack. At only 110mm thick, it means you don’t sit any higher off the ground than you do in the current Megane – plus the centre of gravity is 90mm lower.
Part of our test route includes a quick and undulating (and bumpy in parts) B-road. The Megane E-tech’s suspension soaks up bumps and yet controls the body very well too.
Renault’s engineers are proud of the car’s quick steering but it’s almost too quick. It’s something that you get used to, along with brakes that are quite sharp at low speeds.
Talking of braking, there are paddles behind the steering wheel that allow you to adjust levels of regenerative braking from virtually none to almost single pedal operation.
Flush door handles extend as you approach the car and as you slip inside you’ll see a very nice interior.
The standout feature is an inverted
L-shape screen under which is an reassuring selection of push buttons that control regularly used functions. Excellent news is Renault has teamed up with Google with the result that the voice recognition and interface with the infotainment system actually works.
Even though the system had no time to get used to my voice, it selected the correct radio station, entered the right destination and called the person I wanted to speak to. I hope Renault never ditches its audio controls. They’re in a block just under the wiper stalk on the steering column – a feature it’s had since the 1980s.
There’s plenty of legroom in the front and lots of storage in the centre console and door bins.
Rear legroom isn’t quite as good but there’s a generous-sized boot which features an underfloor compartment for charging cables. The only drawback of the luggage area is a high loading sill.
Renault says it has received huge interest in the new Megane E-tech and not just from serial Renault owners.
If it does the sensible thing and makes the version with the smaller 40kwh battery and less powerful electric motor available, it’ll attract an even wider net of buyers.