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Effectively earlier than it dropped in Australia, the all-new Renault Megane E-Tech had already been lauded by colleagues within the UK and Europe as a reduce above its rivals.
After spending simply over per week dwelling with it within the hustle and bustle of Sydney, it’s straightforward to see why this diminutive (by proportions) EV has already earned loads of applause and nods of reward from the punters.
Design smart, it has French aptitude in spades.
With the inflow of Chinese language electrical manufacturers together with scores of Teslas (additionally in-built China) roaming our streets, the Renault Megane E-Tech Techno EV60 – its full mannequin identify denoting battery dimension – stays one of many few Europeans on this phase, alongside the Cupra Born.
Its hatchback-style physique and compact proportions are misleading. That’s why Renault calls Megane E-Tech a crossover SUV, as a result of each labels appear to be right right here.
It boasts loads of room inside because of a flat ground throughout the second row and a superb dimension boot behind. There’s no frunk (under-bonnet storage), however there’s a separate underfloor compartment for charging cables that’s bigger than anticipated.
The Megane E-Tech is a battery-electric automobile boasting sound engineering competency, notably almost about journey, dealing with, and steering.
Reassuringly, it’s constructed on the identical devoted EV platform underpinning Renault’s efficiency EV model Alpine. It steers and handles fantastically, to not point out glorious journey consolation over all method of bumps and damaged highway.
Whereas the styling at each ends screams avantgarde with the low-profile glasshouse and massive wheels, the Megane E-Tech can also be comparatively standard trying with its hatchback physique.
That’s a superb factor for these trying to transition from conventional combustion-engine automobiles to 100 per cent electrical mobility for the primary time.
Together with the lengthy listing of normal equipment there are a few key aesthetic options I like, together with cool mild signatures incorporating LED exhibits (back and front) as you strategy the automobile, and animated flip indicators.
It additionally boasts the perfect auto-extending flush door handles within the enterprise because of each an modern, but sensible design which includes a seize hook at one finish for a failsafe grip.
And for those who subscribe to the ebook ‘there is no such thing as a planet B’ in relation to local weather change, you’ll be delighted to know the Megane E-Tech is over 90 per cent recyclable and contains a minimum of 28kg of recycled plastics and materials throughout the dashboard, centre console, and headrests.
It could not look like a giant deal to some, nevertheless it comes throughout as a real effort to do the appropriate factor nevertheless small it may appear within the grand scale of local weather change initiatives.
Climb aboard the Megane E-Tech and also you’ll discover one of many extra fascinating and higher-quality cabins on this comparatively inexpensive EV class, together with the recycled materials and plastics. Take the leather-wrapped and contoured steering wheel which jogs my memory of that within the shockingly costly Aston Martin DB12.
It’s flattened at each ends however is equally tactile and good to the contact. There are paddle shifters, however not for shifting gears. As a substitute, these ones supply 4 ranges of regenerative braking. They will even have the impact of stepping up and down like gear ratios should you really feel like extra driver involvement.
Not solely does the mix of leather-style upholstery with recycled materials and contrasting sew look modern and trendy, the seats are properly bolstered however with out impeding basic consolation throughout each seat rows.
Kudos to the ergonomic specialists, who’ve managed to fuse cutting-edge infotainment with conventional buttons and switches to make issues easy and intuitive for these hopping into an EV for the primary time.
This issue alone could be a sport changer for some patrons. There’s loads of good tech, together with a big 12.3-inch digital driver’s show paired with a 9.0-inch touchscreen with crystal-clear graphics and fast response.
And whereas the ergonomics talked about earlier are bang on, there’s additionally wi-fi (and wired) smartphone mirroring and charging to make the consumer expertise stress free.
The Megane E-Tech additionally will get multi-sense, a system permitting the driving force to set one in every of 4 experiences (modes). There’s ambient lighting with a 48-colour palette to select from that may be programmed to alter colors all through the day – Renault calls this function ‘Dwelling Lights’.
Renault has geared up the Megane E-Tech with a protracted listing of luxurious options, together with 20-inch Soren wheels, adaptive LED headlights with auto high-beam, a key card with keyless entry with ‘walk-away’ locking, and a sensible rear-view mirror that enables the driving force to modify between a typical rear-view and wide-angle camera-based view.
Audiophiles will just like the Arkamys sound system; by no means thoughts the six audio system as a result of it sounds higher than many 12-speaker programs I’ve heard in costlier automobiles.
There’s additionally entrance, rear, and aspect parking sensors, adaptive cruise, and a full suite of Superior Driver Help Programs (ADAS) making certain a five-star ANCAP security score.
Earlier than hopping into the driving force’s seat to expertise that punchy EV take off, it’s price noting the ecological sensitivity of producing past the cabin.
At solely 110mm, its 60kWh battery is among the world’s thinnest and once more is 99 per cent recyclable.
That very same ultra-low profile battery additionally provides it a decrease centre of gravity for flat cornering and sound physique management, as does its refined multi-link rear suspension setup.
There’s glorious compliance to take in the harshest bumps with out compromising its deft dealing with. It’s a benchmark so far as this phase goes.
Furthermore, it’s one of many lightest EVs we’ve seen from this phase. Constructed of largely aluminium, it suggestions the scales at simply 1642kg – lighter than its closest rival and a key think about why it’s such a reliable handler.
That’s not one thing you’ll be able to say about most EVs, as a result of most are shockingly heavy.
Higher nonetheless, there are direct environmental advantages to the automobile’s manufacturing course of. After stamping and reducing the light-weight physique panels, all of the aluminium scrap is distributed again to the provider for recycling.Â
Renault calls it a ‘closed loop’ when it comes to the round financial system strategy to automobile manufacturing.
Dynamically it’s properly forward of the sport, behaving extra like its standard petrol-engine Megane predecessors in relation to energy supply, brakes and steering.
To that very level, it has very fast steering with simply 2.3 turns of the steering wheel from lock-to-lock.
That’s correct supercar spec, and one more issue enhancing the driving expertise. It’s not simply the automobile’s cat-like agility that can put a smile in your face, it’s the ten.4m turning circle that makes mundane manoeuvres like three-point turns and U-turns a breeze.
Then there’s the electrical motor itself. It weighs simply 145kg and is freed from any uncommon earth metals. You may’t say Renault isn’t making an attempt scale back its influence on the atmosphere.
It’s received loads of go. Not solely is the Megane E-Tech zippy off the road, it’s not scary fast like many different EVs are typically.
This simply is likely to be essentially the most linear electrical automobile in its class, providing a extra pure pedal really feel with energy supply, but additionally with braking and steering controls.
Vary is a claimed 454km on the WLTP take a look at cycle within the extra economical driving modes, regardless of its comparatively small 60kWh battery.
AC charging at dwelling is sweet for as much as 7.4kW whereas as much as 130kW DC is feasible at quick charging stations, so going from 15 to 80 per cent capability will take roughly 35 minutes and add round 300km of vary.
Priced from $54,990 earlier than on-roads, the Renault Megane E-Tech is a tempting proposition as one of the user-friendly EV crossovers for the massive metropolis – one which oozes model however with precision dealing with, nice journey consolation, and simple manoeuvring within the tightest spots.
And let’s face it, nothing else invokes a way of Parisian aptitude higher than this delightfully versatile EV with a bunch of cool tech on board which makes it a pleasant place to be through the each day commute.
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