Renault Megane E-Tech plug-in hybrid on sale now

• Available in two trim levels 
• Claimed fuel economy of 235.4mpg 
• On sale now from £29,495 

Order books have opened for the new Renault Megane E-Tech plug-in hybrid (PHEV). Priced from £29,495, the family hatchback is due to arrive in September and will rival the likes of the Peugeot 308 PHEV and the Skoda Octavia iV. 

The launch of the new E-Tech PHEV hatchback sees Renault discontinue the petrol and diesel versions of the Megane, leaving only the PHEV powertrain in the existing Sports Tourer estate and the new hatchback.

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2021 Renault Megane E-Tech PHEV: plug-in hybrid powertrain

The Megane E-Tech’s plug-in hybrid combines a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine with a 9.8kWh lithium-ion battery and a 64bhp electric motor. Together, the petrol engine and electric motor produce 158bhp, which enables the Megane E-Tech to sprint from 0-62mph in a respectable 9.4 seconds before going on to reach a top speed of 109mph.

The PHEV model claims official fuel economy of 235.4mpg and can manage a pure-electric range of up to 30 miles, while emitting just 28g/km of CO2. Its low emission output means it will appeal to business users since they qualify for a Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rate of 11%.

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Charging and warranty 

The battery can be recharged from zero to 100% in just over four hours when connected to a domestic three-pin socket or three hours using a Type 2 charger. The battery also comes with an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty. 

Specifications 

The Megane E-Tech is available in two trim levels: Iconic and R.S. Line. The entry-level Iconic gets 16-inch alloy wheels, chrome trim, privacy glass, and front and rear parking sensors as standard. It also comes equipped with a suite of safety equipment, such as lane departure warning, automatic high-beam and traffic sign recognition.

The E-Tech R.S. Line, which is priced from £31,495, sits on larger 17-inch alloy wheels and gains sportier front and rear bumpers. It’s also equipped with a reversing camera and hands-free parking system, plus active emergency braking comes as standard. 

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Interior and technology 

The Megane E-Tech in Iconic trim has a cabin finished in brushed aluminium and black upholstery with a leather steering wheel and customisable ambient interior lighting. It also gets automatic dual-zone climate control and is equipped with a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as a 10-inch digital gauge. 

The R.S. Line variant, meanwhile, gets a dedicated R.S. Line steering wheel, gear-lever gaiter and dashboard detailing. It also gets R.S. Line-branded sports seats and a larger, 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment display. 

The Renault Megane E-Tech PHEV will also be joined by the Megane E-Tech Electric crossover in 2022.