Everything you need to know about the Renault Megane E-Tech

It’s quick, it’s good looking, it’s 100% electric, and it’s affordable to lease right now - here’s everything you need to know about the award-winning Renault Megane E-Tech.

Let’s get the most important bit out of the way first; we're working hard to bring you the most affordable Renault Megane E-Tech leasing prices available anywhere on the market.

Lease fees for the Megane E-Tech with Select begin at around £329.15 per month*. That makes it considerably more affordable than rival electric vehicles like the Nissan Ariya - which shares the same ‘CMF-EV’ electric platform - or the Kia EV6.

BUT because we're constantly beavering away behind the scenes to lower that monthly leasing price even further, please call one of our expert leasing consultations for the very latest, up-to-date offer on 0118 920 5130, or use the Contact Us page to send a message.

So, what's good about this eye-catching family hatchback?

In our eyes, Renault’s designers have got the styling of the Megane E-Tech spot on, somehow marrying the practicality of an SUV with the stance of a coupe. It's a real looker in the flesh.

Don’t just take our word for it, either. The Megane E-Tech has picked up a whole host of industry awards since it arrived at the end of last year, including the ‘Best Hatch’ prize in the Top Gear Magazine Electric Awards 2022.

Our own Select reviewer enjoyed the E-Tech, too, praising it as a ‘car full of personality and entertaining to drive, with stirring handling’.

Want to know more? Keep reading.

First looks

The Renault Megane E-tech is, fundamentally, a family hatchback but there’s a strong whiff of ‘SUV crossover’ about it too.

It’s slightly higher-riding than most hatchbacks, which means you get a good view of the road ahead. And in terms of its size, it has similar proportions to cars like the Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf.

Unlike those cars, however, the Megane E-Tech is 100% electric. Which brings us neatly to…

The powertrain

Your options here couldn’t be more simple, because there’s just one battery size. It’s a 60 kWh unit that’s similar to what you get with the entry-level Nissan Ariya or Kia Niro EV.

It means each and every Megane E-Tech gets a range of up to 280 miles between charges - which is more than the cheapest MG4 EV and the most affordable Volkswagen ID.3.

It also means that every Renault Megane E-Tech lease unlocks power of 223 PS, 300 Nm of torque and a rapid 0-62 mph acceleration time of 7.5 seconds.

The battery is also one of the slimmest on the market, which means the Megane E-Tech has a low centre of gravity and remains poised through the twisties.

When we recently put the Megane E-Tech through its paces, our reviewer found the E-Tech to be ‘flat and stable in the bends, limiting the body roll as much as possible at speed’, while the steering was ‘accurate and consistent’.

Rapid 130 kW DC charging capabilities also means you’ll be able charge the battery to 80% in around 30 minutes.

Practicality

A 440 litre boot stacks up well against competitors, with the trunk of the VW ID.3 weighing-in at 385 litres, and the MG4 EV lagging behind with 363 litres.

Given the Megane E-Tech’s SUV-like road presence, there’s also ample interior space for passengers in the front and the rear.

Trims and kit

There are four trims to choose from with a Renault Megane E-Tech lease.

The entry-level model is called ‘Equilibre’ and while it might be the most affordable variant, it’s not lacking in standing equipment.

You can expect 18 inch alloys, a 9 inch infotainment touchscreen, rear view camera, heated seats and steering wheel, interior ambient lighting, and a full suite of driver assistance and safety tech, including driver drowsiness alert, emergency brake assist, emergency lane keeping assist.

Moving up through the trims from Equilibre, there’s ‘Techno’, followed by ‘Launch Edition’ and the recently released, range-topping ‘Iconic’.

And one of the best things about the ‘Iconic’ Renault Megane E-Tech is that it gets a heat pump - which harnesses wasted heat from the battery and electric motor to warm the cabin and optimise the range between charges.

The mid-range Techno trim, meanwhile, provides desirable adaptive cruise control as well as larger 20 inch rims.

And, perhaps crucially, the Techno trim (and all models above) comes with an infotainment system that has Google services fully-integrated. It means you can use all of your favourite apps without having to rely on a connection with your phone.

Rival cars

We’ve mentioned a lot of the rivals in the paragraphs above, but they’re worth repeating here.

The MG4 EV has a similar range to the Megane E-Tech but the Renault trumps the MG when it comes to style, interior comfort and performance.

The Nissan Ariya (below) has the same basic underpinnings as the Megane E-Tech but can also be enjoyed with a larger 87 kWh battery.

The Volkswagen ID.3 can be leased in variants that have a greater range between charges than the Megane E-Tech, but the Renault is the more practical of the two.

And then you’ve got SUV-crossovers like the Hyundai Kona Electric and the Kia Niro EV to consider, as well as slightly larger models such as the Kia EV6 and the Hyundai Ioniq 5.

You might also want to look at traditionally-fuelled competitors such as the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus, and the all-conquering Honda Civic - the latter of which is leased as a frugal self-charging hybrid.

Verdict

The Megane E-Tech is a real departure for Renault compared with its Meganes of old, but we reckon it’s all the better for it.

You’re getting behind the wheel of a genuine head-turner, and a car that boasts a soft-touch and smart interior to rival premium German manufacturers, as well as enough power and performance to keep a multitude of motorists thoroughly entertained.

We also hope that Renault will ultimately offer an even more thrilling variant of the Megane E-Tech with added power - just like you get with the Kia EV6 GT or the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT - particularly as the petrol-powered Megane R.S has now gone the way of the dodo.

*Prices include VAT. Credit is Subject to Status, Ts and Cs and Arrangement Fees apply. Excess mileage may apply. Stock levels and prices correct as of 19/05/23.

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