► Updates for Megane E-Tech EV
► New look, new batteries, more tech
► More driving range, fewer trim levels

In the light of more dashing and recent attention-grabbers, it’s easy to forget that Renault’s current streak of electric-car excellence began with an all-new Megane E-Tech back in 2022. This has now reached midlife refresh point, and there are more changes than first meet the eye.

Although the eye does also have a bit of adjustment to do, as there’s a proper facelift involved in addition to chassis changes, a new battery and tech upgrades. Renault’s even renamed the underlying platform – what used to be the AmpR medium is now the RG medium 1.0.

With Megane product leader Benjamin Kotlowski telling us that ‘design is the main reason for buying’ according to surveys of current Megane customers, followed by the driving experience, the decision to change so much about the way the car looks seems like a brave one. Renault chief design officer Laurens van de Acker calls the transformation ‘profound.’

Shouldn’t those diamonds on the front be straighter?

Renault has rather leant into the diamond motif for the updated Megane, including changing the front daytime running lights into that twinned batch of rhombi at the outer ends of the bumper. Much like the BMW badge on the rear pillar of the old X2, opinions are bound to differ about whether they look right or not, but the adjacent idea is to create a kind of chequered flag affair, and in that respect the leaned-over angle makes sense.

Other obvious changes at the front include the central Renault badge being lowered completely into the new diamond pattern grille, meaning it no longer intersects with the bonnet. But in fact, every element at the leading end of the car has been changed, except for the headlights. The overall impact is to make the new Megane look wider, with more of a forward-leaning stance.

At the back, the big change is to the lights, which keep the full width lightbar but gain a new structured appearance that’s no longer covered by a lens. Though there is also new design to the lower fascia. Finished in a new Satin Blue paint option, the whole thing looks very neat and purposeful in person. If perhaps strangely less modern than the original design.

What about engineering changes?

The most impactful update under the skin is a new 67kWh battery pack. This uses LFP (lithium iron phosphate) chemistry instead of the previous 60kWh NMC (nickel, manganese, cobolt) and has a cell-to-pack architecture with a world-first density of 232 closely packed cells, which results in 53 per cent of the battery’s structure being used for actual energy storage.

This is useful, because LFP batteries typically cost less and are longer-lived than NMC batteries, but have struggled to match NMC’s energy density, impacting driving range. Even with the packaging improvements here, the larger battery has forced Renault to raise the height of the new Megane E-Tech by 20mm to retain proper ground clearance – the previous Megane NMC battery having been particularly thin.

Driving range for the updated model is 310 miles (500km), according to the usual WLTP measures. That’s 19 more than before, and a big increase over the 249 offered by the Renault 4 E-Tech – if still someway short of the 379 miles available from the Scenic E-Tech, albeit via an 87kWh battery.

Other good news for Megane buyers: faster 165kW DC charging – up from 130kW – delivers 15-18 per cent in 24 minutes, which is 25 per cent faster than before.

The new LFP battery is assembled alongside the Megane itself at Renault’s Douai plant in the Northern France. The Megane’s 217hp wound-rotor synchronous motor is also manufactured in France, at Cléon, and is made without the use of rare earth metals.

The whole car is 20mm taller?

Yes. So although the Megane is pitched as a hatchback it now looks more like an SUV than ever, with noticeably more arch gap to go with those quite prominent lips above the wheels.

To compensate for this, Renault has redone the suspension and the steering in an effort to retain the sporty feel of the previous version. There are new springs and dampers, plus recalibrated steering, all intended to keep the balance between comfort and handling.

The Megane was always a touch firm, so it would be a bonus if Renault has taken advantage of the longer suspension travel to deliver a little more compliance. But there is no suggestion that this is the case, and the car comes as standard on 19- or 20-inch alloy wheels.

As per the Renault 4 E-Tech and recent updates to the Renault 5 E-Tech, the new Megane gains a one-pedal driving mode for the first time. This, along with four other regen levels, is controlled via paddles on the steering wheel.

As before, it remains a roomy choice for a car of its size – with Kotlowski claiming it offers the ‘best-in-class ratio between dimensions and space.’ While only a modest 4.2m long, the Megane has 440 litres of boot space and plenty of room inside for passengers.

Any other changes?

The choice of trim levels has been reduced to two: Techno and Esprit Alpine. Both are well equipped, with the former getting upgraded materials on the inside and the latter retaining a distinctive, sporty vibe. Both feature a 12.0-inch infotainment screen as standard, running the latest version of Renault OpenR Link infotainment, which has Google built-in as well as offering access to Android Auto and Apple Carplay.

Kotlowski goes as far as to say there’s ‘no need to add options to have a very well equipped vehicles’ – which we’re sure will please the dealers no end.

OpenR’s evolution means there are now more than 100 compatible apps available in the Google Play store, while the voice control will soon make use of Google’s Gemini AI to achieve more conversational interaction. Megane buyers will get three years of internet connectivity as part of the package, at a rate of 2gb per month. Enough for up to 40 hours of audio streaming every month (though only about three hours of video); previously you had to rely on your phone’s data.

Other rare – if not quite unique – innovations include dual-purposing the now mandatory driver monitoring system as a driver recognition system. Using the camera to achieve a face ID, this will automatically set the car to your preferences, adjusting up to nine settings including the driving position, mirrors and audio. Five profiles can be stored, and they’re only held by the car – which should reduce any privacy concerns.

A new magnetic wireless phone charger offers greater power and convenience, and there are now more than 30 driving aids available. These range from predictive eco driving advice to ‘intelligent’ adaptive cruise control, and the driver gets a new ‘more realistic’ view of everything the car is sensing in the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, too. There’s also a new ‘smart’ driving mode, which automatically switches between Normal, Sport and Eco settings, depending on how you’re driving at the time.

Topping off all of the above, Renault is launching a new smartphone app. My RNLT replaces the existing My Renault, promising more functionality and – hopefully – greater user-friendliness. The currently app is rated a lowly 1.5 stars in the Play store; the new one is intended to support owners right from the point of purchase, with pre-delivery tracking and tutorials as well as assisting with connectivity and other actions.

The new app will become backwards compatible with all connected Renaults over time, but only the very latest models – including the new Megane – will work with it initially. The original app will be phased out over time, with owners encouraged to switch as their vehicles become available in My RNLT.

When does the new Megane E-Tech go on sale?

We’re told it’s ‘too early to say’ when the updated model will reach UK buyers, but it’s going to be late 2026 or early 2027. So no word on pricing yet, either.

Based on Renault’s continuing impressive EV performance – the latest we’ve driven being the marvellous Renault 4 E-Tech Plein Sud – if you’re in the market for a more conventional mid-size family hatchback, the new Megane E-Tech could be worth waiting for.