Renault Megane E-Tech - Range, charging and running costs

All Megane E-Tech models have a 60kWh (useable) battery, which provides a claimed (WLTP-certified) maximum range of up to 280 miles, putting it on par with 58kWh versions of the Cupra Born and VW ID.3

However, when tested against the MG4 Long Range, we found the Megane E-Tech's efficiency to be a weak point, and that’s only been further confirmed after covering close to 4,000 miles in our Megane E-Tech long-term test car. 

We’ve found the overall efficiency rating to be just 3.1 miles per kWh, which equates to a real-world range of under 190 miles. This dropped to around 160 miles on a full charge in colder temperatures because the car we tried didn’t have a heat pump. That’s why we’d recommend getting a mid-range Techno+ model: a heat pump comes as standard on this model, providing a more efficient way of heating the interior and helping preserve the car's range.

Planning longer journeys shouldn’t be a chore, because the Megane E-Tech can charge up to 130kW, meaning a 10 to 80 per cent top-up from a suitably fast ultra-rapid charger takes around 30 minutes. Hooking up to a 7.4kW home wallbox charger will take a flat battery to a full charge in just over nine hours.

An electric car will have tax benefits compared with an equivalent petrol, diesel, or hybrid car. That’s because an EV's lower emissions mean company car drivers will pay far less in Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rates. EVs also benefit from not having to pay road tax or the London congestion charge, at least until 2025.

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Insurance

Insurance premiums for the Megane E-Tech should be reasonable because all models sit in either group 25 or 27 (out of 50). In comparison, the MG4 Long Range sits in group 28 or 29, while the Cupra is in groups 25 to 28, depending on which trim level you opt for.

If you’re interested in paying even less for insurance, then consider the electric Citroen e-C4, which starts in insurance group 21.

You can get personalised car insurance quotes fast with our comparison tool powered by Quotezone...

Depreciation

Renault’s decision to switch to electric power for the Megane E-Tech has been a positive move in terms of longer-term residual values.

Our expert data predicts that after a typical ownership period of three years/36,000 miles, the Megane E-Tech should retain around 50 per cent of its original value. This is well ahead of the e-C4, which is predicted to retain less than 40 per cent of its value over the same period. However, the cheaper MG4 is forecast to retain around 52 per cent of its value over the same time period.

To get an accurate valuation on a specific model check out our valuation tool...