Renault has revealed the Megane E-Tech Electric, which replaces the current Megane, which, up until now, has only been available as a petrol or diesel.
The new Megane is likely to cost 50 per cent more as a result – expect to pay at least £33,000 when it goes on sale in Autumn 2022.
So what does your money buy you? Well, for kickoff, you get the stance of an SUV with the sporty roofline of a coupe, which means it can be stylish and practical.
The space available inside is likely to be more generous than you get in the current Megane, and EV-specific features like the flat floor and lack of a centre console make it feel very roomy. Renault has set out to make the cabin feel lounge-like with large swathes of pretty trims, chrome and textile finishes. It looks cool!
But not as cool as the infotainment screens. They stretch across the dashboard like a Curry's shop window and come fitted with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. They're highly customisable and run a Google operating system that means they can easily integrate with your phone and home computer for seamless internet browsing and things like that.
Love your music? Most models are available with a 400W nine-speaker Harman Kardon stereo with a bone-shaking subwoofer.
A choice of 130 or 218PS electric motors means you get a high-tech powertrain to go with the fancy infotainment – both models are front-wheel drive, 0-62mph takes as little as 7.4 seconds. You also get a choice of 40kWh or 60kWh batteries, giving a range of 186 or 292 miles, respectively.
Renault is promising premium-car-like refinement thanks to the electric motor's quiet operation and a layer of sound deadening sandwiched in the floor. The new Megane's low centre of gravity – 90mm lower than the current Megane – should also make it an agile handler.
