Electric Renault Megane: review and autonomy test for the E-Tech Electric

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Once upon a time there was Renault Megane, the sedan/wagon with traditional or plug-in hybrid engines. Today there is Renault Megane E-TECH Electric that is & egrave; transformed into an electric crossover.

It is not; excessive in design: is inspired by SUVs, but does so on tiptoe . We will see more; ahead that & egrave; actually a & quot; trick & quot; to make it more & ugrave; comfortable despite the presence of the battery. This is a very smart move, so how crafty & egrave; the whole electrical sector. There is for & ograve; some aspect that is not; rejected completely, but & egrave; postponed to September …

  • INTERIORS: COCKPIT AND TRUNK
  • INFOTAINMENT: THIS TIME WE ARE (AND ADAS)
  • BATTERY, CHARGING AND CONSUMPTION
  • HOW DO YOU GO? ROAD TEST
  • TECHNICAL SHEET
  • PRICES, EQUIPMENT AND INCENTIVES
  • VIDEO

INTERIORS: COCKPIT AND TRUNK


The practical modular central tunnel, the comfortable armrest with lots of space inside and the shelf for wireless charging that almost seems to communicate the new Renault course where the smartphone (and its interaction with the car) becomes central. Well done, too bad those stubborn Frenchmen don't want to take the volume satellite out from behind the wheel.

Behind it is comfortable: the step & egrave; right, space & egrave; a lot because & eacute; the platform gives priority to the passenger compartment: the wheels are at the extremes and the overhangs are minimal. The trick concerns having improved the comfort for passengers in terms of height of the sofa. Many electric, having the battery pack, prevent you from resting the whole thigh because & eacute; the sofa & egrave; more lower than usual just to keep the head room. Here the combination of a crossover style (slightly raised car) and a very thin battery pack allows to eliminate this problem and restore the habitability; we are used to.

It loses points in the acoustic comfort , you notice the rolling of the tires and some aerodynamic rustles that are actually present. We need to take a step forward. in this aspect to really worry the premium world.


Good trunk … Improve in quality? of the interiorsComfortable for those who sit behind but with an important step but the most plastics remain? rigid

INFOTAINMENT (PERFECT) AND ADAS . In the past, Renault has given us many reasons to complain about the system used. They changed often but never managed to hit the target. Finch & eacute; is not serious; the turning point came: I understood that professionals were needed, they involved the likes of LG, Google, Qualcomm (Snapdragon Automotive Cockpit) and Continental .

Result? They hit the mark: the infotainment & egrave; really smooth , the operating system is; Android Automotive based on Android 10, there is; the Play Store to download new apps , updates via OTA, the interface is easy and understandable, the screens are in high resolution and the integration between the central screen and the instrument screen is; the right one. Not only is the map replicated behind the wheel, but there is; also confirmation that the system & egrave; single, integrated between the right and left screens. Is not serious; something fake where a & quot; hand & quot; does not talk to each other. And everything is; easy and intuitive and there are Android Auto Wireless and Apple CarPlay Wireless .


The same integration between a display and the other can be found among the # 39 ; car and the on-board infotainment system. An example? Google & quot; maps & quot; know how much autonomy we have, they know how we are using the car , how much we are consuming and why. So it is they are able to automatically plan charging stops along the way. Well done … it's a pity that the glossy effect of the screens is; really excessive: many fingerprints, many reflexes, little honor .

The SIM & egrave; integrated , used for updates, but also to control the car remotely via smartphone app .


Infotainment bomb … Excellent quality? of video camerasDigital rearview mirror but glossy screensVolume controls

The ADAS are very good, although we will have to try them again and more; long on the highway. The endowment is; complete, you have a Level 2 that with the anti-collision in case of emergency and the car & egrave; also able to avoid damage braking alone (between 3 to 10 km/h) in reverse if we are about to hit an inanimate object.

The cruise control (adaptive) and the limiter are able to automatically set themselves on the speed; read from the detection of signals if we want, otherwise they can work with the classic manual adjustment.

BATTERY, CHARGING AND CONSUMPTION

Renault & egrave; one of the few that has always believed in 22 kW in alternating current . They were among the best with the on-board charger with the old generation, they continue to be with the new one. The 22 kW columns are finally usable: it matters little for those who have a garage, but it is; essential for those who recharge on the street .

The battery is; made with LG cells (Nickel, Manganese, Cobalt, NMC with less Cobalt), half the height of Zoe, weighs 395 kilograms and has active liquid cooling to handle it. This allows you to reach up to 130 kW in direct current a, provided you choose the 60 kWh battery . Those who choose the 40 kWh are limited to charging at 85 kW in DC.

Mobilize Charge Pass & egrave; the single account with the card for all the columns, an ecosystem that offers a promotion of 200 & euro; in two years for recharging and allows you to access IONITY with the discounted rate. In addition & ugrave; & egrave; It is possible to receive advice on installing the wallbox or columns.

Renault Megane E-TECH Mobile launches an Electric ecosystem for recharging 1

Auto 12 Feb

With little motorway, Megane E-Tech Electric recorded about 16 kWh/100 km , a good result that will have to; for & ograve; be confirmed with more evidence long where we will go to test more & ugrave; long performance on the motorway to understand if the 60 kWh can & ograve; being a & # 39; car also made for traveling .

A first datum arrives for & ograve; from a test on a quick route , albeit not completely motorway: here, with an average of 91.5 km/h and a distance of 73 km with many hills, the recorded consumption is; state of 20.9 kWh/100 km which corresponds to an autonomy of about 290 km under these conditions.

We can also confirm 360/375 km real with a recharge , with the doubt, however, that in flat conditions the Electric Megane will be able to; do better, between 400 and 420 km of autonomy.

HOW DO YOU GO? ROAD TEST

With a brand like Megane, an all-new electric platform, an engine with instant torque and a steering wheel advertised as very direct, without forgetting the low center of gravity thanks to the battery, the new French electric could delight those looking for a little high crossover and so much fun to drive. Unfortunately (or fortunately) there is no that rigid setup I was looking for.

The shock absorbers are adaptive, but also in Sport it remains more & ugrave; prone to comfort. It is about personal tastes for & ograve ;, because & eacute; if you are looking for the car every day to make the passengers feel good (and comfortable), here is Megane E-Tech Electric shows off all its charisma: little roll to avoid overwhelming those behind, good absorption to take the life with softness, easy to ride for when you lend it to those who & egrave; less savvy. Missing, for & ograve ;, that & quot; quid & quot; : will we have to wait for an RS E-Tech Electric to get it?

The power: 220 CV/162 kW for the most powerful, the 60 kWh battery. The dispensing is brilliant, but always sweet, never traumatic yet able to make us perform any emergency maneuver in safety, thanks also to a 7.4 s 0-100 km/h.

The steering is very direct , a lot of agility; in curves, but unfortunately such a setup had to be associated , at least in Sport, with a higher load . Instead & egrave; always very servo-assisted and takes a while of time to adapt to a behavior that & egrave; unusual compared to most of the proposals on the market.

Guide to a pedal? Good, you use the paddles on the steering wheel to increase regeneration but & egrave; a traditional setting and there is no the real & quot; one pedal & quot; . Braking? To be re-evaluated in the review.

TECHNICAL SHEET MEGANE E-TECH ELECTRIC

DIMENSIONS

  • LENGTH: 4.199 mm
  • WIDTH: 1,768 mm (2,055 with mirrors)
  • HEIGHT: 1,505 mm
  • WHEELBASE: 2,685 mm
  • GROUND CLEARANCE: 135 mm
  • BOOT: 440 – 1.332 liters (+32 liters cable compartment)
  • RIMS: 17 & quot ;, 19 & quot;
  • TIRES: 215/65 R17 or 235/50 R19
  • WEIGHT: 1541/1.636 Kg in running order
  • BATTERY: 40 kWh/60 kWh (400 V), weight 292/394 kg

PERFORMANCE

  • SPEED & Agrave; MAXIMUM: 150 km/h
  • ACCELERATION 0-100 Km/h: 10 s/7.4 s
  • CONSUMPTION: 15.8 – 16.1 kWh/100 km (WLTP combined)
  • CO2 EMISSIONS: 0 grams per km (combined WLTP)
  • STEERING DIAMETER: 10.4 meters
  • AC CHARGING (single-phase, 2.3 kW): 21 hours/30 hours and 28 minutes
  • AC CHARGING (single-phase, 3.7 kW): 12 hours and 12 minutes/17 hours and 51 minutes
  • AC CHARGING (single-phase, 7.4 kW): 6 hours and 17 minutes/9 hours and 11 minutes
  • AC CHARGING (three-phase, 11 kW): 4 hours and 23 minutes/6 hours and 25 minutes
  • AC CHARGING (three-phase, 22 kW): 2 hours and 10 minutes/3 hours and 10 minutes
  • DC CHARGING (130 kW) 1 hour/1 hour and 14 minutes
  • WARRANTY: 8 years/160,000 km (battery)

PRICE: from 36,800 euros

PRICES AND EQUIPMENT

The price starts from 36.800 & euro; up to 45.300 & euro; for the top of the range, Iconic with 60 kWh battery: this is the price range of a car with an 8-year warranty or 160,000 km for the battery and a two-year classic warranty on the car. Equilibre, Techno and Iconic are the configurations available for the 40 kWh battery, Techno and Iconic those for the 60 kWh version:

  • EV40 Boost charge (40 kWh , 85 kW DC, 130 hp)
  • EV60 Optimum charge (60 kWh, 130 kW DC, 220 hp)

Who chooses the financing can & ograve; take it home with 36 installments of € 289, an advance of € 11,450; and a final installment of around 23,000 & euro ;, figures that drop to 246 & euro;/month with an advance of 7,500 & euro; and a final installment of 18,400 & euro; using the incentive of 5,000 & euro; with scrapping.

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