Test Renault Megane E-Tech: Preliminary Stage to Renaultlution!

Renault CEO Luca de Meo announced nothing less than the "Renaultlution." It starts with the Megane, for which a revolution is as foreign as it once was for Angela Merkel – but it comes fully electric and is Renault's first model on the new E-Platform, which Nissan also uses for the significantly larger Ariya. At the same time, the well-known Megane continues to be built, increasingly also as an E-Tense Plug-in Hybrid. A topic that reached the Megane late, but then comprehensively – we tested it in the preferred station wagon version. Its trunk holds 447 liters, 53 liters less than the petrol version but only two liters less than the diesel version, mainly missing in the underfloor compartment. When loaded up to the roof, the Plug-in offers 1408 liters, the diesel 1432 liters, and the petrol 1504 liters. Practical in the Intense version is the foldable front passenger seat backrest, allowing for a loading length of up to 2.7 meters. The space available otherwise corresponds to the other family members, with comfortable seats and enough space for four.

Noticeably improved with the last facelift was the infotainment system, whose 9.3-inch monitor, like the cockpit display, is clearly structured and reasonably intuitive to operate. The online multimedia system Easy Link allows for "over the air" navigation and software updates. Additionally, switching between functions and user levels now takes significantly fewer steps. Pleasant: The driving modes and climate control are still operated physically, not by touch – Renault also retained the audio control satellite.

Economical electric consumption and CO2 values

Typical of Renault are the striking LED light strips front and rear, otherwise, the Megane remains unobtrusively good – and surprisingly economical: In the city, it achieved a very economical average of 14.9 kWh/100 km, in the countryside it settled at 14.4 kWh before engaging the combustion engine after 44.2 kilometers, resulting in 2.3 l/100 km and 12.3 kWh on the display at the end of the stage. But even on the highway, the E-machine boosted with 0.8 kWh, yet the petrol engine guzzled 7.1 l/100 km as per its nature. In the end, we achieved an economical 5.3 l/100 km plus 4.8 kWh/100 km, though one must admit that the Megane 115 dci would have been similarly economical or not more expensive energy-wise on long, brisk stretches.

The diesel, however, emits a fleet-critical 104 g CO2 per kilometer, whereas the e-Tech remains at 29 grams. But it comes at a gross cost of 6,840 euros. No wonder, considering the effort behind the technology: In the basement, the clutchless Multi-Mode transmission, based on a claw transmission, combines four gears of a 1.6-liter four-cylinder naturally aspirated engine (92 PS) with the two gears of the 49 kW strong E-machine – either in parallel or in series, depending on the driving situation. This results in a total of 15 transmission modes, which are unobtrusively varied for the driver to achieve optimal consumption. However, the nearly 1.7 tons curb weight is a lot for the naturally aspirated engine with E-machine, so one takes it easy, which suits the rather subtly geared steering.

And so, the "old" Megane bids farewell as an e-Tense quietly and by no means as "intens"-ively as its name might suggest: Because revolu- or, rather, Renault-ations were always foreign to its discreet nature – it leaves those to its successor.

Technical data:

Four-cylinder gasoline engine + permanently excited electric motor, 1,598 cm³, system output: 116 kW (158 hp)/5,600 rpm, system torque: 300 Nm/3,200 rpm, LxWxH: 4,626x1,814 (2,065 mm with mirrors)x1,449 mm, wheelbase: 2,712 mm, 39-l fuel tank + 9.8 kWh battery, 447-1,408 l trunk capacity, curb weight test vehicle (fully fueled, incl. 80-kg driver): 1,747 kg, trailer load: 750 kg

Performance metrics:

Elasticity 50-80/80-120 km/h: 3.1/5.9 sec., Acceleration 0-60/0-80/0-100 km/h: 5.1/7.5/10.0 sec.

Noise at 30/50/60/80/100/120 km/h: 52.3/53.0/53.8/56.1/59.1/62.0 dB(A)

Consumption test circuit (159.0 km): City: 14.9 kWh, Country: 2.3 l/100 km + 12.3 kWh/100 km + Highway: 7.1 l/100 km, Total: 5.3 l/100 km + 4.8 kWh

Cost per km: 0.38 euros

What does this mean?

The Megane E-Tech accompanies the brand's transition to electromobility and is particularly recommended for commuters. For those satisfied with less trunk space, it can also be ordered as a sedan. However, this transition occurs in the typically discreet Megane manner, leaving the "Renaultlution" to its successors, R5, R4, and the Alpines.