2024 Renault Megane E-Tech Techno EV60 review

This is the same Renault Megane E-Tech Electric – but it’s now wearing a very different price tag.

Since our first taste earlier in the year, the French brand has taken a very sharp knife to the asking price and slashed $10,000 off. What started as an end of financial year (EOFY) deal has become permanent.

While the vehicle is fundamentally unchanged, the repositioning could change the electric Megane’s prospects in Australia. It was good… but too expensive at launch; it’s now a much stronger proposition.

It’s now priced squarely in line with the market-leading Tesla Model Y, offering a legacy manufacturer alternative at price parity, and in typical Renault fashion it has a distinctly French vibe about it.

From the concept car looks to the eye-catching design elements and quirky details, the Megane E-Tech will feel much more like a typical ‘car’ than some of the affordable electric offerings from Tesla and other emerging Chinese brands.

While a bit player in the Australian market, the Megane E-Tech has been subject to acclaim overseas, and is based on the same capable CMF-EV underpinnings as the Nissan Ariya – another EV that has been well received abroad but as yet not released in the Australian market.

Does this deserve a fresh look from in-market EV buyers after its price cut? Well, read on to find out…

How does the Renault Megane E-Tech compare?

View a detailed breakdown of the Renault Megane E-Tech against similarly sized vehicles.

Renault

Megane E-Tech

How much does the Renault Megane E-Tech cost?

Just one specification remains available in Australia, dubbed ‘Techno EV60’.

To see how the Megane E-Tech lines up against its rivals, check out our comparison tool.

What is the Renault Megane E-Tech like on the inside?

French cars are known for their unique designs and ergonomics, but compared to a lot of electric vehicles the Megane E-Tech’s cockpit feels refreshingly conventional.

For starters, there’s a wraparound display array incorporating the digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen, as well as slimline physical switchgear for most things.

While it’s still a bit Renault in the sense it has some flair to how things are designed and executed, you’re not left trying to figure out how to adjust various your mirrors, or steering wheel height via a touchscreen like you might in a Tesla.

The instrument display may be basic and a bit lacking in configurability, but there’s a pair of basic virtual dials for your speedometer and power meter – and these can be pared back for a minimal look with your speed front and centre if that’s all you want to see.

You can cycle through a couple of widgets with trip or navigation information, but other than that it’s pretty basic and won’t be challenging rivals for personalisation. It’s down to taste if that’s a good or bad thing I guess…

I’m a big fan of the grey textured cloth upholstery with leatherette accents, which give off a lounge-like vibe and help break up the various black plastic surfaces used throughout. The seat upholstery is made from 100 per cent recyclable materials, and there’s recyclable fabric on the dashboard too.

The seats themselves are very comfortable and offer a wide array of adjustment, albeit manually. While this would have been a big knock for an electric vehicle wearing a premium price tag, the Megane E-Tech can be forgiven a little for omitting powered seat adjustment at its new price point.

You also get multi-stage heating for both front chairs as well as a heated steering wheel, which came in handy during the chilly Melbourne weather we had while I was testing this car. The Megane E-Tech is also one of the few vehicles on sale with heated cloth seats – I personally prefer them to cheaper leather-like alternatives.

One thing you’ll need to get used to is the Mercedes-like column-mounted shifter, which if you’re not careful could be mistaken for an indicator or wiper stalk. You get used to it, but make a point to remember not to touch it on the move so you don’t accidentally shift into neutral…

Atop the dashboard is a 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which is disappointingly smaller than the higher-end 12.0-inch portrait-oriented unit available in overseas market.

Despite being something of a tech hero, local versions of the Megane E-Tech miss out on satellite navigation and app-based connected services.

You do, however, get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, which worked mostly well during my testing – save for the odd hiccup where my iPhone 15 Pro Max didn’t connect right away.

The OpenR interface is based on the Android Automotive platform, and offers smart graphics but isn’t always the quickest to respond. While the layout is fairly simple, some of the menus to find basic things like trip computer reset, amongst other things, are needlessly vague or convoluted.

Below the display is a row of toggle switches for functions including temperature and fan controls, which still work better than fiddly touchscreen-based virtual buttons.

There’s also a cool grippy phone holder with a wireless charging pad appearing to float underneath the the display.

The minimalist and open plan layout means there’s also decent storage, including a modular cubby in the centre console which doubles as a handbag-sized bin, as well as a permanent toothed cupholder further back.

Other oddment storage includes a sliding drawer under the floating centre armrest, the latter also donning a small cubby for the vehicle key or credit cards, as well as felt-lined door bins which stop things rattling about.

The Megane may seem very compact on the outside (only 4200mm long), but its 2685mm wheelbase means it offers surprisingly good passenger space in the second row. For reference, a Mazda CX-5 offers 2700mm between the axles.

I’m 6’1 and could sit comfortably behind my own driving position with a bit of room to spare. It’s far from palatial, but you shouldn’t have any issues fitting two adults back there even behind taller drivers. Kids will be fine, too.

Amenities in the rear include directional air vents, USB charging ports, map pockets behind both front seats, and door bins that can hold large bottles.

Oddly, there’s no fold-down centre armrest with additional cupholders, though you do get the requisite ISOFIX and top tether anchor points for child seats.

Further back the Megane E-Tech offers a handy 440 litres of quoted cargo capacity with the rear seats in place, which expands to 1332 litres with the rear seat backs folded.

While the cargo area is quite deep and squared off, there’s not a huge amount of floor length nor is there an adjustable floor to bridge the gap between the seat backs and the boot base. There is an underfloor compartment to hold your cables.

To see how the Megane E-Tech lines up against its rivals, check out our comparison tool.

What’s under the bonnet?

While three different powertrain variants are available globally, Australia gets a single high-spec option.

It’s worth noting the discrepancy between the claimed power consumption and range figures. Despite the range quoting a WLTP figure, like most brands this is an “up to” figure.

Divide the claimed energy consumption into the battery capacity and you’re looking at just under 400 kilometres on the combined cycle. Our as tested consumption figure puts that closer to 350 kilometres.

To see how the Megane E-Tech lines up against its rivals, check out our comparison tool.

How does the Renault Megane E-Tech drive?

The old ICE Megane was a keen handler, and there’s a hint of that DNA in its all-electric successor.

160kW and 300Nm is a fair bit of grunt for what is a small car, even if being an EV it’s a little over 1.6 tonnes. A Hyundai Kona N Line 1.6T AWD is a physically larger car but only 90kg lighter, and offers less power and torque.

Being electric, all 300Nm is pretty much on tap from the moment you tap the throttle, meaning you scoot away from the lights with gusto and pull right through city and suburban speeds right through to freeway velocity.

Renault officially quotes a 7.4-second 0-100km/h sprint time, which not long ago was the realm of performance hatches. I’d be more interested to see the 0-60km/h figure, which would be arguably more impressive. By the seat of the pants, the Megane is pretty quick especially in its Sport mode.

In normal driving though, the initial response via the accelerator pedal is a little dulled so you don’t lurch of the line and lose your beret. You get a smooth, effortless character that’s pretty well suited to cruising around the city.

Riding on 20-inch wheels and low-profile tyres with passive damping, the Megane E-Tech definitely errs on the firmer and sportier side in terms of ride comfort.

There’s decent compliance most of the time but sharper hits like tram tracks and drain covers can thud into the base of your seat. 18-inch wheels with chubbier tyres are available overseas, and in my opinion would be a worthwhile option to offer in Australia if Renault Australia’s product planners are listening…

I spent most of my time in the Normal and Eco modes. The former offers the best balance of performance and efficiency. You can also use the steering-mounted paddles to adjust regenerative braking force, which in its most aggressive setting all but achieves that one-pedal driving that EV drivers love.

Personally, I shuffled between levels because there are times I preferred to have a more conventional braking experience. This is all down to personal tastes, though you do have to re-adjust every time you start the car up.

The steering is pretty quick and offers decent feedback, which adds to the fun of piloting this zippy little car.

The firm ride and big wheels help the Megane E-Tech feel quite hunkered down and keen to turn in with limited body roll, but this isn’t a rebirth of the Megane R.S. – I wonder if there’s an Alpine version coming…

It’s also nicely settled on the freeway, happily cruising at 100-110km/h. The ride also settles nicely at speed, and there’s decent insulation from road and wind noise.

What’s frustrating is that despite its tech hero status, the Megane E-Tech isn’t offered with the brand’s flagship technologies in Australia – including the larger touchscreen as well as a proper semi-autonomous highway mode.

In overseas markets the Megane E-Tech offers a Level 2 semi-autonomous assistant which combines the adaptive cruise control with lane centring assist to take the load off extended highway stints as well as traffic jams.

While the adaptive cruise system on its own is fine and offers stop and go functionality, there’s only lane departure warning and a very mild lane-keep assist. Mind you, all versions of the Megane E-Tech in the UK come standard with the Level 2 system.

I also have to knock the Megane for its very average reversing camera, despite a surround camera being offered overseas.

The camera feed on the 9.0-inch display feels small and is a little off in terms of perspective. While the Megane is a small car, its high sides and small windows would make a 360 camera system worthwhile.

What do you get?

Just one trim level is available, with the only available option in Australia being premium paints.

Megane E-Tech Techno EV60 highlights:

• 20-inch two-tone alloy wheels
• Tyre repair kit
• Adaptive LED headlights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Shark fin antenna
• Rear privacy glass
• Electric side mirrors
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 6-speaker Arkamys Auditorium sound system
• Wireless phone charger
• 2 x USB-C ports, front
• 2 x USB-C ports, rear
• 12V socket
• Renault smart key
  • Hands-free unlock
  • Walk-away lock
• Electric park brake
• Dual-zone climate control
• 48-colour ambient interior lighting
• Heated steering wheel
• Black headlining
• Recycled fabric dashboard cover
• Alcantara-style front door trims
• Recycled fabric and leatherette upholstery
• Heated front seats
• Driver electric lumbar support
• 5.0m Mode 3 charging cable

Is the Renault Megane E-Tech safe?

The Renault Megane E-Tech wears a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on Euro NCAP testing in 2022.

It received a 85 per cent for adult occupant protection, 88 per cent for child occupant protection, 65 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 79 per cent for safety assist.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Pedestrian detection
  • Cyclist detection
  • Junction assist
• Rear AEB
• Lane departure warning
• Lane-keep assist
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Driver attention alert
• Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
• Traffic sign recognition
• Front, rear and side parking sensors
• Reversing camera
• Tyre pressure monitoring

How much does the Renault Megane E-Tech cost to run?

The Megane E-Tech gets a five-year or 100,000-kilometre warranty, with the high-voltage EV battery covered for eight years or 160,000 kilometres.

I did do a charging test at an “up to 150kW” DC charger near my place, but disappointingly I didn’t see the Megane get anywhere near its advertised 130kW max capacity.

It generally hovered around the 50kW mark, which saw 32.93kWh replenished in 47 minutes according to my receipt. For reference, the car was showing around 20-25 per cent indicated charge when I rolled up to the charger.

CarExpert’s Take on the Renault Megane E-Tech

There’s something quite charming about the Megane E-Tech, and at its new price it’s not a bad alternative to various Chinese-branded and built competitors in the same bracket.

It’s not without its faults but it looks sharp, drives well, and now is priced well enough to put it on the radar of more shoppers. If Teslas are too out there and you’re not willing to try a Chinese brands, this is well worth a look.

That said, some odd feature and tech omissions, disappointing charging speed and an at times terse ride are drawbacks in what is an otherwise quite pleasant and fun package.

Our white test car looks a little boring compared to the swish red and blue premium paints, especially with the available contrast grey or black roof options. It looks quite special in the right spec.

But while this French EV is a good alternative to emerging competition from China and something like a Tesla Model 3, it’s still beaten in many areas by rivals in terms of tech, charging as well as range and efficiency.

I still say c’est la vie and give it a look.

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