Overview
RENAULT’S first passenger EV has arrived in Australia within the aggressive $60K worth vary quick populated by related EVs such because the Kia Niro, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Peugeot e-2008, Polestar 2 and Volvo EX30.
The brand new Renault Megane E-Tech rides on the brand new CMF-EV Alliance platform and that is the primary mannequin to reach in Australia carrying Renault’s re-designed diamond company emblem.
It has a 160kW/300Nm motor driving the entrance wheels solely, powered by a 60kWh battery pack affording a 454km WLTP driving vary. AC charging at residence on an ordinary plug takes as much as 9 hours, whereas DC charging may be accommodated as much as 130kW, recharging a 300km vary in half-hour.
Claimed effectivity is 15.6kWh per 100km, whereas efficiency is claimed at 7.4 seconds for the 0-100km/h dash.
Sometimes, EVs are heavier than ICE automobiles with the battery pack and motor including to the burden. Renault claims a number of weight-saving options have been particularly employed in an try to cut back the Megane’s avoirdupois.
The physique is all aluminium, whereas in accordance with Renault, the battery pack, at 400kg, is lighter than most. The motor is 145kg, once more lighter than normal, Renault claims, and makes use of copper coils fairly than uncommon earth materials corresponding to magnets. Tare weight is 1642kg, payload is 450kg, whereas the Megane E-Tech can tow as much as 900kg (braked) with 75kg of that on the towball.
The flexibility to recycle supplies was additionally key throughout Megane growth, with the outcome being greater than 90 per cent of the automobile is recyclable. Zero waste from establishing the physique was achieved by reworked or reshaped left-over aluminium materials to be used in different automobiles.
Greater than 28kg or recycled plastic and material supplies are utilized in dashboard, seats, centre console, headrests and ground mats.
Superior Driver Help Methods (ADAS) included are automated emergency braking with junction help and with pedestrian and bike owner detection, emergency lane preserving help with oncoming visitors and road-edge detection in addition to visitors signal recognition, hill begin help, driver drowsiness alert, distance warning alert and rear cross visitors alert with rear automated braking.
A reversing digicam can also be normal, as is full adaptive LED headlights with automated excessive beam. Twin frontal, facet chest-protecting and facet head-protecting (curtain) airbags, in addition to a centre airbag are normal. The Megane E-Tech was given a five-star ANCAP security score in 2022.
Renault claims it has launched some security measures to allow first responders to higher take care of a crash or hearth. A particular entry level permits water to be launched to the centre of the automobile’s battery, permitting it to be extinguished in lower than 10 minutes and a QR code on entrance and rear screens permits first responders to entry to the car’s technical info (such because the engine and battery location).
The Megane E-Tech arrives right here in a single specification, the Techno 60kWh.
Renault Australia managing Director Glen Sealy stated that the corporate would assessment that after a 12 months or so, opening the potential for a broader mannequin vary to come back. A 40kWh mannequin with 96kW/250Nm is accessible in different markets.
In the meantime the Australian spec automobile’s infotainment system makes use of a high-resolution 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster mixed with the 9.0-inch OpenR infotainment show. Wi-fi charging, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring is normal, as are two entrance and two rear USB-C ports.
A twin inside mirror may be activated to replicate as regular or to indicate a digicam feed. An Arkamys auditorium audio system with six audio system and 4 sound ambiences can also be normal.
Comfort options highlights embrace proximity unlocking, electrical lumbar adjustment for driver, 48-colour inside ambient lighting and adaptive cruise management. Wheels are 20-inch ‘Soren’ diamond-cut alloys on 215/45 sequence tyres.
Exterior colors embrace Rafale Gray, Shadow Gray, Stable White, Diamond Black, Flame Crimson, and Evening Blue –with the choice of a contrasting roof color in both Diamond Black or Shadow Gray, relying on the physique color chosen. Metallic paint prices $400 additional; dual-tone metallic is one other $800.
Drive Impressions
The Megane E-Tech has loads of good element such because the pop-out entrance door handles and distinctive entrance DRLs. Sitting on its massive 20-inch alloys it first seems to be a lot greater than it really is.
This can be a pretty compact SUV, at 4200mm lengthy, 1768mm broad and 1500mm tall.
Getting in and getting going is easy with the keyless entry and begin, and a gear lever wand on the fitting facet of the steering column such as you’d discover on Kona Electrical and numerous different EVs. Within the Renault, this column actual property is shared with a wiper stalk and audio controls, making it fairly busy in that space.
The woven material on the sprint and seats is sort of just like the Polestar 2. Entrance seats are supportive, there may be plenty of room for keys and telephone and absolutely anything else you’d like to position within the centre console. The important thing fob recess within the centre console (with a key icon stamped into it, to offer you a touch) is shallow. In the event you like spirited driving, be ready to search for the important thing fob on the ground later.
The controls together with the infotainment system affords no surprises, with exhausting buttons for HVAC on the backside of the centre display screen. Menus are fairly easy, however the distraction that any of those touchscreens presents is not any totally different right here. The sprint LCD display screen just isn’t as busy as some, and the varied drive modes (from Eco to Sport) are modified with out fuss with a devoted steering wheel button.
Imaginative and prescient out of the Renault is sweet, with the rear and rear quarters presenting massive blind spots.
Rear seat room is sweet for adult-size knees, however there may be nowhere to stay your toes below the entrance seats. The rear seat is sort of flat, which is able to higher go well with youngster seats or capsule fitment, however may get a bit uncomfortable for a protracted drive right here for grown-ups.
There isn’t a centre armrest or cupholders, however a twin air vent outlet is current in the back of the centre console. All door pockets are lined entrance and rear, however they aren’t particularly massive.
The boot has a 440-litre capability, with the AC charging cable sitting beneath the ground. The boot is sort of recessed, making lifting heavy gadgets out harder. The rear 60:40 cut up rear seat folds, however because the decrease cushion sits fairly pleased with the boot ground, it doesn’t current a flat loading ground when folded.
The Megane E-Tech drives nicely, with fast, direct steering, flat cornering stance and a agency however not jarring journey. Patchy street surfaces are absorbed with out harshness or lateral motion, and street and tyre noise are nicely suppressed.
Efficiency is sweet, with that linear torque electrical motors ship so nicely, and adjustable regen braking giving the choice of successfully one-pedal driving (though we didn’t check this in stop-start visitors).
Roads have been moist throughout the launch drive, so wheel spin below assertive, about half-throttle acceleration often occurred, even when in Consolation mode. If you might want to stand up to hurry rapidly, the Megane E-Tech complies rapidly, albeit with a definite rise of the entrance finish.
In brief, it is a responsive EV that performs with none nasty surprises, however we suspect the tyres have been chosen for his or her decrease rolling resistance than outright grip. That stated, we’ve pushed on far worse…
Vitality consumption was 14.9kWh/100km on the drive loop. The Megane E-Tech additionally data an economic system rating for the journey and right here the rating achieved was 44/100.
I need to do higher subsequent time.
The Megane E-Tech seems to be an fascinating various to extra mainstream EVs, and has the efficiency, vary, and dynamic means to make it aggressive. Some compromises within the cabin by way of storage and a few busy controls are the one clear downsides.
