French car maker Renault has announced that a fully electric version of the Megane will be available in Australia later this year, marking its return to the Australian EV market since pulling the underperforming Zoe electric car in 2020.

The Megane E-Tech will be powered by a 160kW electric motor and a 60-kWh lithium ion battery. The car will have a driving (WLTP) range of 454 kilometres and with a claimed consumption of 15.6kWh per 100km.

The car can go from 0-100 kilometres an hour in 7.4 seconds and has 300Nm of torque, and is available to order now from $64,990 plus on road costs, The first cars are due to delivered at the end of 2023.

“All-New Renault Megane E-Tech is a gamechanger,” says Glen Sealey, Renault Australia’s General Manager.

“This is ‘Renaulution’ in action: dynamic proportions, an engaging and efficient drive, impressive levels of comfort and safety, and committed actions to a sustainable future.”

This is the second attempt at the Australian EV market for the company, with the Zoe – an immensely popular car in Europe – selling less than 100 vehicles in Australia between 2017 and 2020, when it was pulled from the market.

A spokesperson for Renault told TheDriven that it was clear that demand for EVs has been rising (the share of EVs in the Australian market has been more than 7 per cent in 2023). Renault’s customer feedback and internal modelling and research suggest that the Australia’s market has shifted since the Zoe was available.

It was “always in the plan to roll out suitable electric vehicles when they became available in right-hand drive for our market,” the spokesperson said.

If all goes well this won’t be the last EV from Renault on our shores, with TheDriven told the Kangoo E-Tech van is the next cab off the rank for Australia.

2023 Renault Megane E-Tech at a glance