Renault Megane facelift – Focus on interior and safety, and an impressive plug-in hybrid
This was certainly some news. The new Megane was launched in 2016 and has actually aged very well. However, with the incoming Megane E-Tech, Renault decided that the entire lineup could need a small refresh.
Lets start with the most interesting one. The Megane E-Tech. Plug-in hybrid of course. Design taken from F1 an implemented into Renaults road cars might give them an edge in the hybrid game. The electric engine combined with the petrol engine produces 160 hp. Run on full electric and the maximum range is 62 km. More impressively is a range of 50 km at a top speed of 135, less than 40 grams of CO2/km.
Cheap to own in Sweden at least when regarding taxes. It is also interesting that many car makers goes for hybrids with higher power numbers, since pure petrol engines are reaching 100 hp. Speaking of which, Renault has a 100 hp eco version of the existing 1.3 TCe. Renault is also joining the 1.0 L club at the end of the year.
What are the key parts of the Megane refresh then? The exterior, is not it. Even though there are new LED headlights, minor updates to the front bumper, such as chrome in the grille and air deflectors. More updates have been done but they are as interesting as watching paint dry compared to everything else there is to talk about. Worthy of mentioning is that a refresh is often something like this, so it is not bad by any means.
The interior was the more obvious one. Maxed out, and you get a 10.2 inch middle screen, and in the lower versions you are treated with a 9.3 or a 7 inch screen. The EASY LINK infotainment system is apparently completely updated. The center console controls have been redone and a new seat and upholstery are also featured.
The safety features are endless. Adaptive speed control up to 160 km/h with start and sop function. Lane departure warning is also handy. What the lane guard system does is however beyond me. If you like, there is also the driver drowsiness detection and it does exactly what it sounds. Visual and steering wheel movements will keep the driver awake and if needed, tell the driver to take a break.
Over to my favorite, the new Megane R.S. Some bigger changes underneath are the more powerful, 300 hp and 420 Nm, engine that was only available in the Trophy-version, but can now be found in the regular R.S, as well as a mechanical valve. The latter was available before, but I believe that it can now be changed manually independently of which mode the car is in.
Oh, and the GT-line is now replaced with the RS-line. Less names to remember.