In balance?
Renault was one of the first manufacturers to have an EV on the price list, but until recently a fully-fledged electric family car was missing. The Mégane E-Tech Electric fills that gap. You can get in from the equipment level ‘Equilibre’, the French word for balance. We are investigating whether there is indeed a balance between the price and the standard equipment of the electric Mégane.
Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric EV40 130 hp Equilibre
€35,390
The model name ‘Mégane’ has been around since the 1990s. However, the Mégane E-Tech Electric only has its name in common with the regular Mégane. Furthermore, it is completely new and rolls on the CMF-EV platform. There are a number of variants on the price list. At the bottom is the basic version EV40 with 130 hp and a battery of 40 kWh. This allows you to cover 300 WLTP kilometers on one battery charge. The maximum charging speed on alternating current is 22 kW, the basic version sucks up to a maximum of 85 kW with power on the fast charger. He is not very smooth by EV standards. The sprint to 100 km/h is completed in 10 seconds and at 150 km/h the cake is finished.
The 130 hp version is also available as an EV60 with a larger battery pack of 60 kWh. In that case, you can fast charge with a maximum charging speed of 130 kW and the WLTP range is 470 kilometers. This variant is only available in conjunction with the “Evolution ER” trim level. Is 130 hp a bit too little power? Then Renault offers the EV60 with 218 hp. Then the Mégane suddenly accelerates to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds and the energy is gone at 160 km/h. In terms of range, you deliver something with 450 kilometers compared to the EV60 with 130 hp.
Dressing of your choice
From the outside, the entry-level Mégane E-Tech Electric does not really look like such. For example, 18-inch alloy is standard, as are LED headlights and taillights. This also includes a light sensor. The basic version is mainly recognizable by the black frame of the side windows and the lack of privacy glass. If you don’t want to pay anything extra, Renault will spray the electric Mégane in the color ‘blanc glacier’. For a different color you have to pay at least €800. The most expensive three colors cost €950. Renault also offers 20-inch light-alloy wheels on the entry-level version for €1,000. To dress up the car a bit, you do not necessarily have to seek refuge with the more expensive trim levels.
Renault Megane E-Tech Electric
Furthermore, Renault equips the Mégane E-Tech Electric as standard with things such as a reversing camera, rear parking sensors and keyless entry. The side mirrors are electrically adjustable and heated, but not auto-dimming or electrically folding. A Type 2 mode 3 charging cable is waiting for you in the trunk to be able to charge at public charging stations or a wallbox. A heat pump is not included as standard. If you do want it, you have to put €1,000 on the table. In terms of safety, an Active Emergency Braking System, Lane Keep Assist and traffic sign recognition are standard. The Mégane E-Tech Electric is equipped with cruise control, but it is not adaptive. Adaptive cruise control is also not available as an option on the entry-level.
Uniform
Where the basic version of the Mégane E-Tech Electric still manages to hide its nature nicely on the outside, it succeeds a little less well in the interior. For starters, the interior is only available in one uniform composition with black fabric upholstery. Silver accents in the doors and on the dashboard provide some frills. The biggest difference with the more expensive versions, however, lies between the front seats. The center console of the Equilibre is open and lacks a center armrest, making the interior suddenly a lot more simplistic. You can also order the center armrest and high center console for €900 in the ‘Comfort Pack’. You immediately get a rain sensor and climate control.
Renault Megane E-Tech Electric
In terms of digital facilities, the Mégane is already pretty good in its stuff as standard. In front of the driver’s nose is a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation, which almost seamlessly transitions to the right into a 9-inch touchscreen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are already included, as is five years of connectivity via the My Renault App. The audio system with four speakers is somewhat undersized for music lovers. Below the screen is a row of buttons for controlling the ventilation. You will often have to use that on the Equilibre, because you have to operate the air conditioning manually, unless you opt for the aforementioned ‘Pack Comfort’.
Other option packages that you can still get on the Equilibre are the ‘Pack winter’ (heatable, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated seats and electrically adjustable lumbar support for the driver’s seat) and the ‘Pack city’ (electric folding door mirrors and parking sensors on the front and front side) for €550 and €450 respectively. On the EV40 you can also choose the ‘Techno’ trim level, which costs €3,000 extra. Then things like adaptive LED headlights, a 12-inch touchscreen, auto-dimming interior mirror and wireless charging for the smartphone are included.
No sharp offer
All in all, the Mégane E-Tech Electric for more than 35 grand is certainly not bald, but it is also not a very competitive offer. Compared to the Volkswagen ID3, one of its main competitors, the Renault costs in the base €1,400 extra. On the Mégane you get for that money alloy wheels and a reversing camera, where the Volkswagen does not, but the ID3 puts things like automatic air conditioning, parking sensors for it, adaptive cruise control and wireless charging for the smartphone. So in the end it just depends on what you prefer.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl