2024 Renault Megane E-Tech targets $70K price

The 2024 Renault Megane E-Tech will arrive in Australia towards the end of this year, with pricing starting from around $70,000.

The Megane E-Tech is an incredibly important car for Renault. While its first EV, the Zoe, was a toe dipped in the water, the latest CMF-EV-based car propels Renault’s longest-standing Megane nameplate into the future.

Speaking to media, Glen Sealey, Renault Australia's general manager, confirmed the Megane E-Tech will arrive in the fourth quarter of the year priced around $70K before on-road costs.

It will land in a single, high-specification variant, with a 450 kilometre WLTP driving range from a 60kWh battery pack. It is offered in lower trims in Europe with a smaller battery, but Renault is looking to keep the range simple in Oz.

Renault doesn’t have aspirations to knock Tesla off the top spot in the Australian EV sales race. Beyond confirming several thousand expressions of interest, Renault Australia declined to comment on initial supply.

“It sounds ridiculous, I know, but the worst thing we can do is over-stock this car. So we have to see what the demand is and go from there”, said Sealey.

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The Megane E-Tech is only the beginning of Renault’s electric journey. It will be followed by a smaller hatch, currently known as the Renault 5 concept, and a small SUV – dubbed the 4.

Aussie plans aren’t confirmed for those vehicles yet, but we may well see them here by 2024 or 2025.

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Megane E-Tech Australian specification

ADR compliance has been completed for the E-Tech, though the final specification may still change before it goes on sale.

The vehicle we were shown around is a left-hand-drive evaluation vehicle in top-level Iconic trim. It’s relatively indicative of our final spec, and is fitted out with:

In left-hand-drive markets, there is an even larger 12-inch portrait orientation infotainment touchscreen available, however, it’s not clear if that will be fitted to Aussie cars.

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Dimensions

Although the Megane E-Tech looks medium SUV-sized in pictures, it isn’t. Measuring exactly 4.2 metres long, it matches a MkV Volkswagen Golf in exterior size. Think of it like a reverse Hyundai Ioniq 5 in that sense.

It rides on a long wheelbase, though, with 2685 millimetres between each axle, and at 1505mm tall, it's only a whisker higher in stature than a regular hatchback. The boot is generous, too, at 440L (VDA) it’s competitive with small SUVs such as the Kia Seltos and Nissan Qashqai.

In the Megane E-Tech’s development keeping weight low was a priority, and meant a whole new rear hatch system was developed. The result is a competitive 1711 kilogram kerb weight.

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Range, charging, and powertrain

The Megane E-Tech is available in front-wheel-drive with a single motor producing 160kW/300m for a 0-100km/h sprint in 7.4 seconds.

While the larger CMF-EV-based Nissan Ariya is available with a twin-motor setup, the compact Megane will be front-drive only.

A slim 60kWh battery pack – designed by Renault and built by LG Chem – measures 11cm thick and weighs 395kg. It bestows the Megane E-Tech with 450km WLTP driving range at a rated energy consumption of 16.1kWh/100km. Other markets can get a cheaper 40kWh battery pack and 96kWE motor; both are off the cards for Oz.

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Using a 400-volt architecture the E-Tech’s DC charging maxes out at 130kW, for 10-80 per cent charge (equivalent to 350km driving range) in 30 minutes. AC electricity can be taken at 7kW.

Renault is currently looking into home-charging solutions for the E-Tech’s launch and will offer installation of home wallboxes (at the buyer's cost) arranged via its 58 Australian dealers.

Further details, including final pricing and specification, will be revealed closer to the Megane E-Tech’s release in the fourth quarter of this year.