The Renault Megane E-Tech has undergone a mid-cycle facelift that has introduced an updated look and more electric range for the family hatchback.
A significant pillar of Renault’s big-selling electric car range – alongside the Renault 4, Renault 5, Renault Scenic and upcoming Renault Twingo – the Megane E-Tech sits in the more conventional hatchback bracket as a rival to the Vauxhall Astra Electric and Kia EV4.
At the heart of the revised Megane E-Tech’s new features is a fresh Lithium Ferro Phosphate (LFP) battery pack, which offers improved range and quicker charging speeds compared with the existing model.
With the size of the battery rising from 60kWh to 67kWh, the Megane E-Tech is now capable of travelling upwards of 310-miles (WLTP) on a single charge – an improvement of 25-miles.
This compares favourably with the aforementioned Astra Electric and EV4, which offer 281 and 273-miles respectively, though the latter is available with a larger battery capable of up to 380-miles.
Recharging up to 165kW is now possible with the new Megane E-Tech, allowing a 15-80% replenishment to take place in just 24-minutes.
Power remains unchanged at 217bhp, but Renault promises a more involving driving experience after retuning the steering and suspension.
As part of the updates, the Megane E-Tech also gets a more rakish look than before, one that sheds some of the current model’s more bulbous lines for sharper edges that reflect other models in the range, such as the Renault Captur and Renault Symbioz.
At the front, a glossy diamond-pattern grille is flanked by slender headlights, while chequered daytime running LEDs at the corners provide a distinctive finish. The Megane E-Tech also gets larger alloy wheels and a refreshed colour palette.
Pricing for the Megane E-Tech is to be confirmed, though it’s still like to be eligible for the UK government’s Electric Car Grant.
As it stands, the current model is available with a Band 2 £1,500 discount, but this could be upped to the £3,750 Band 1 grant in line with the Scenic, 4 and 5 due to the improvements to the battery architecture.
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- Electric
- New Cars
- Renault