Renault unveiled the 2021 Mégane E-Tech at the IAA in Munich. It is the French brand’s very first all-electric crossover with a range of up to 292 miles. Is it a big first step forward or does it leave more to be desired?

Overview

The electric car market in Europe, and the world over, is now becoming more competitive than ever - especially with the government’s tightening emissions regulations. As a consequence, many automakers have now pledged to go all-electric. Renault is no different, and the automaker continues to electrify its portfolio in accordance with the framework provided by the "Renaulution" plan, which was detailed by CEO Luca de Meo last January.

The French marque is looking at 2025 in this regard, and to that end, it has unveiled the Mégane E-Tech - their latest EV.> The Mégane name has been used for over 26 years. While the fourth-generation Mégane will be sold for a few more years, the new Mégane E-Tech will compete with cars like the current Volkswagen ID.3 and other recently launched electric compact vehicles like the Citroen E-C4 and Cupra Born.

Quirky French Design

The design of the Mégane E-Tech, which draws a lot of cues from the Mégane eVision concept car, blends a certain degree of conservatism with futuristic elements found in all-new EVs}. This model debuts the new modular platform CMF-EV. Renault adds that, with the new Mégane E-low Tech's form, they aim to break away from traditional lines. The overall stance is very stylish and typically French.

Keeping aside what they say, we can observe that the front end resembles its current combustion counterpart, with extended all-LED headlights minus the grille of course. The proportions are typical of a crossover. The door handles sit flush, and a lot of attention was given to improve the aerodynamic efficiency, as this is an EV. The car also promises a lot of space despite its small outward proportions, thanks to its long wheelbase. This electric-powered architecture has a wheelbase of 8’10”, a total length of 14’, a height of 5’.

Renault Megane E-Tech exterior dimensions

A Tech-Laden Cabin

This is where the new Mégane E-Tech shines. It is a tech-laden cabin, that features recycled materials like wood, fabric, and metals like titanium. It features an all-digital dashboard. A technical cooperation with Google benefits the interface, whether it’s for nav, the voice assistant, or a variety of other applications. Aside from that, several aspects stand out, such as the center 12-inch touchscreen integrated with another 12.3 inches that make up the dashboard.

These screens are divided by the air vents and are positioned in the shape of an inverted “L”. The instrument panel section of the display provides the driver with four customizable views: driving mode with dials, a zen minimalist option, navigation along with a map view, and battery mode. The system uses Qualcomm's Snapdragon Automotive Cockpit platform.

Performance & Range

At launch, the Mégane E-Tech will be available with an electric motor that is offered in two power levels, and there will be two different battery sizes. The base variant produces 130 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque with a battery capacity of 40 kWh and 186 miles of range.

Renault claims a charging time of 8 hours with a 7.4 kW charger. This obviously refers to charging done overnight at home. Renault claims up to 99 miles per hour on a 22 kW public charger and 186 miles on a 130 kW rapid charging charger. Regenerative braking also puts some juice back into the battery pack.

Renault Megane E-Tech specifications

Conclusion

The Mégane E-Tech looks very promising for the French brand’s attempt at an EV crossover. It aims to make EV’s more affordable, without compromising on efficiency and driving dynamics. However, what needs to bees seen is if there will be enough customer orders without causing difficulties in production, owing to chip shortages?

Although, what appears to be reassuring is that the announcement of the new Mégane was accompanied by another deal with Qualcomm, one of the top chip manufacturers, so let's hope that Renault benefits at some level with chip availability in the near future.