Slow release of Megane E-Tech details and deliveries extended to Christmas

When it comes to gardening, to get good results a slow release fertiliser is often considered the best. It also appears that Ateco (the importers of Renault vehicles to Australia) is applying the same philosophy to the release of its new generation all-electric Megane E-Tech. 

Released last April in Europe and in November for the right-hand-drive UK market, it was initially announced for Australian arrival as ‘early 2023’.

However, that has been progressively pushed back to ‘mid 2023’ to now be due ‘by Xmas’. However, since mid-2022 Ateco have been busy emailing snippets of information about their all-new model electric Megane to potential Australian buyers.

That slow drip of information has finally moved forward enough for some left-hand drive examples of the Megane E-Tech to be doing the rounds of dealers, who have been running invitation-only showings of Renault’s electric future. 

The new Megane E-Tech is interesting in many ways. Firstly, it is built on the same electric-only CMF-EV platform used for the slightly larger Nissan Ariya.

This means the designers have taken advantage of the extra room available by pushing the wheels further out to the corners and swallow some real-estate from the former ICE engine bay to make the interior roomier than its ‘small SUV’ VFACTS classification would lead you to expect.

Also, being built on an electric-only platform – there will never be a petrol, diesel, hybrid or even PHEV version of the Megane. This means the Megane is the first ‘traditional’ Renault nameplate to go electric only, as part of Renault’s plan to be selling electric-only models in Europe by 2030.  

As for what we will get here: in mainland Europe, the Megane E-tech is offered with two battery sizes, three trim options and two motor sizes to create a price range there of between €35,200 to €51,400 (Au$58,800 to $85,850).

In the UK the Megane E-Tech is only sold with the 60kWh battery, but is offered in four trim levels ranging in price from £37,000 to £42,000. (Au$69,800 to $79,250).

Australia will get one version only though: a high spec, 60 kWh battery option with the most powerful motor.

The early indications from the dealer at the recent ‘reveal event’ I attended was that it will be around $74,000 plus the dreaded ORCs. (That’s On-the-Road-Costs by the way, not the ones from the Lord of the Rings, although occasionally it feels like ORCs are from the latter).

This means the likely Australian price will top-out somewhere near $78k on the road …. as well as make it ineligible for most state EV purchase subsidies.

So what will you get for your money when the Megane E-Tech eventually arrives? In 160 kW motor, 60 kWh battery form it has a WLTP driving range of 450 to 470 km (to be confirmed) and a 0 to 100 km/h time of 7.4 seconds.

Not quite ‘hot hatch’ perhaps, but certainly quicker than required for normal day-to-day driving – and whilst Renault do not build the electric Megane in all-wheel drive (AWD), there is an AWD option available in the Nissan Ariya.

This means it would not be a great stretch in the future to include AWD in the Megane E-Tech. In fact, it is rumoured the hot hatch moniker is being saved for an AWD version that will be sold with a Renault Alpine performance badge attached.

Boot volume will be 440 litres with the seats up or 1322 with the seats folded down. Towing capacity comes in at a respectable 900 kg braked/750 kg unbraked (pending Australian certification). 

AC charging is to be a very respectable 22 kW: ideal for longer trips off the beaten DC track when coupled with a portable three phase charger. DC charging speed, whilst reasonable, at 130 kW is not class leading. 

Colour choices include red, white, blue, black and a choice of two greys. These can be combined with a black (or in some cases grey) roof or the full colour applied to all the vehicle including the roof.

Interior wise – from brief stints sitting in both the front and rear, I found both the front and rear seats to be comfortable and well-padded. However on a long drive, the rear seats may not work so well for those over 1.8m tall.

The seats are trimmed in cloth rather than the ubiquitous leather/faux leather that is the vogue these days, with the cloth made from recycled materials.

As for meeting demand: the dealer where I attended stated they had an initial allocation of five, but they were confident of these at least arriving on time as the production slot for the first Australian batch had now been secured.

As to when another Australian build slot will be allocated by Renault in Europe (the Megane E-Tech is built in France) – we will have to wait and see. Certainly the demand is likely to be there (as it is for pretty much any EV here) for the initial five at the event I attended were snapped up with $500 holding deposits before the night was over.

There is still some time though before any arrive for sale here – so there is likely to be a good dose of more slow-release press statements and customer emails to encourage ‘spring growth’ before the Megane E-Tech can get into the hands of Australian buyers. By that time, we are likely to have seen multiple new and upgraded EV models arrive here to provide additional competition to it. 

In fact, if the long awaited national fuel efficiency standards come out with proper enforcement ‘teeth’, this may be quite a number indeed!

By the way: In the interests of full disclosure, I was actually one of the five on the night who put down a $500 refundable deposit on a Megane E-Tech. 

Update:

Since the reveal event I attended, the dealer reported back to me that they had made an error in describing its charging specifications. Upon checking with Renault Head Office, they had discovered the initial Australian version of the Megane E-Tech will be 7KW AC charging only.  

This by the way is in stark contrast to its European markets. In France it is offered as 7kW standard with 22kW as an extra cost option, whilst elsewhere in Europe (such as the UK and Germany) it is offered with 22kW charging as standard.

For those who are wondering: given 22kW AC charging won’t be offered even as an option here, I subsequently cancelled my holding deposit.