The upgraded all-electric Renault Megane E-Tech has gone under the knife to freshen up its act and to help the small crossover challenge the likes of the upgraded BYD Atto 3, Kia EV4 and the inbound Hyundai Ioniq 3.
Confirmed to arrive in Australia in the first half of 2027, the Renault Megane E-Tech bags a sportier look that has already been previewed by the Austral and Rafale SUVs sold in Europe, with the high-riding hatch featuring an almost entirely redesigned front end.
With just the front lamps carrying over, there’s a new grille, badge and lower front bumper that features eight-element chequered flag daytime running lamps in either corner, which look lifted from the previous Megane RS hot hatch.
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The new grille, meanwhile, features a gloss black finish and a diamond pattern, plus a badge that is now positioned under the bonnet, which has grown a power bulge as part of the updates.
Standing 20mm taller on account of a larger battery, designers say that as well as giving the Megane more road presence, the visual tricks appear to make the Renault EV look wider.
At the rear, there’s a lower rear bumper that is said to give the vehicle a stronger on-road stance, with an integrated diffuser, drawing yet more links with the firm’s former hot hatch offering.
A restyled 3D-effect tail-light plus a Satin Blue paint finish round out the exterior changes.
Following the facelift, the Megane E-Tech is available in just two trims: The Techno comes with a body-coloured front bumper and new 19-inch alloy wheels, with larger 20-inch rims an option.
A more expensive Esprit Alpine is also available that gets the larger wheels as standard plus sportier design cues.
Inside, perceived quality has been boosted, says the French brand, with upgraded materials employed that even see the introduction of the option of a wood finish.
LED mood lighting has also been added, although the previous car’s twin-12-inch screens carry over unchanged but now incorporate a Gemini AI-powered assistant.
Fresh tech includes a built-in camera within the A-pillar that not only can detect driver drowsiness but also can recognise the person climbing behind the wheel, automatically configuring the seats and infotainment to their preferred settings.
Finally, there’s also a new faster wireless smartphone charger.
Beneath the skin, Renault engineers have slotted in a larger, more energy-dense 67kWh lithium iron phosphate (+7kWh) battery that boosts the range by 46km to 500km.
Weighing in at 1772kg, the new Megane is 100kg heavier than before, with 75kg of that mass coming from the battery.
To cope with the weight, the Renault EV has received a comprehensive suspension retune, although the Megane E-Tech gets no more power, with the 160kW/300Nm e-motor carrying over.
The extra bulk means the Megane E-Tech now accelerates from 0-100km/h in 7.6 seconds – 0.2 seconds slower than before.
More upgrades include raising charging rates from 130kW to 165kW, which is claimed to slash charge times by 25 per cent over the outgoing car.
A 15 to 80 per cent top-up is claimed to take 24 minutes, with AC charging remaining either 11kW or 22kW as an option.
Vehicle-to-load (V2L) is now available, while a heat pump, battery and interior preconditioning are all standard.
Thanks to the new LFP battery, which can be up to 30 per cent cheaper than a nickel manganese cobalt battery (NMC), the Megane E-Tech might be in store for a sizeable price cut from the $54,990 (drive-away) charged for the existing Techno EV60 sold Down Under, but Renault Australia says it’s too early for pricing or specification.
Keen pricing remains much needed for both the Megane E-Tech and larger Scenic E-Tech, which command a premium over equivalent Chinese models.
With that in mind, last year Renault delivered just 4569 cars Down Under, a decline of 17.8 per cent over the volume of cars sold in 2024, although a 500 per cent sales surge in Renault EVs off the back of the recent Middle East conflict could help the French brand achieve the 6000 annual sales it targets to be sustainable.
