2022 Renault Megane E-Tech gets 292-mile range
It’s the Renault Megane, but not as we know it. For its fifth-generation, the French manufacturer’s family hatchback has morphed into a family crossover with an electric powertrain. When it goes on sale next spring, the Megane E-Tech Electric will take on the Volkswagen ID.3 and Nissan Leaf.
The E-Tech Electric has a taller stance than the outgoing Megane and features a striking nose with Renault’s new retro badging, sharp LED daytime running lights and a grille and headlights that form a single swathe across its nose. It will be available with a contrasting black roof, and its door handles are flush fitting to reduce drag. Large alloy wheels measuring from 18- to 20-inches help offset the car’s stocky proportions.
The Megane will be the first model using the new CMF-EV platform developed by the Renault-Nissan Alliance for its new wave of battery-electric models. Two battery options will be offered, with 40 or 60kWh versions offering a driving range of 186 or 292 miles, respectively. By comparison, the Volkswagen ID.3 has driving range figures of 214 to 340 miles, depending upon its battery specification.
Owners will also be able to rapid charge at speeds of up to 130kW, giving a 15 to 80 per cent charge in 30 minutes. The Megane E-Tech Electric will come with standard 7.4kW charging using a home wallbox, which can be upgraded to 11 or 22kW by plundering the options list. Two power options will be available, with the entry-level motor getting 128bhp and a second, more potent option offering 215bhp. The top version will race from 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds and has a 99mph electronically limited top speed. Both will send their power to the front wheels only, unlike the ID.3 which is rear-wheel drive. Steering wheel-mounted paddles will also be fitted to allow the driver to quickly adjust between four levels of regenerative braking strength.
Renault has used aluminium extensively to help cut weight, and claims the kerb weight of just over 1,600kg for the 60kWh version is class-leading, helping make the E-Tech Electric more enjoyable to drive. The weight of the electric motor has come in for some scrutiny and weighs 10 per cent less than the motor found in the supermini-sized Renault Zoe.
A long wheelbase means interior space should be generous, and its 440-litre boot is larger than the outgoing Megane offered with a combustion engine. The E-Tech Electric also ushers in a new infotainment system for Renault, powered by the Android Automotive operating system. There’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and 12-inch portrait touchscreen, and the navigation system is now based on Google Maps.