Should you buy one?

Yes. The new Renault Megane isn’t the electric hot hatchback we were hoping for, but that’s not such a bad thing. It’s a practical electric family car with a reasonable range, great acceleration and a platform that’s just entertaining enough to make you smile on the right road.

It’s also a lot more attractive than the current opposition, mainly thanks to its interesting interior and space-age looks. The Volkswagen ID.3 looks bland in comparison. And even though the Cupra Born is arguably more fun to drive, it can’t match the Renault for quality or technology.

The price will be a sticking point for many. The Renault’s £37,000 starting figure looks like an awful lot of money when compared to the £27,000 MG4. Just remember that the cheapest MG4 comes with less standard equipment and can only travel 218 miles on a charge according to the WLTP cycle.

By the time you’ve specced the MG up with a comparable level of equipment and a similar maximum range to the Renault, you’re looking at more than £31,000. The Megane’s classy interior and clever technology help to justify the extra £6,000.

What we like

The Megane E-Tech is a quality product. The cabin is far nicer than the Volkswagen ID.3’s and it uses a more interesting mix of materials. The Google-based infotainment system is also a doddle to use and we like the way the car drives, even if it isn’t the white-knuckled hot hatch we were expecting.

What we don’t like

The boot’s a good size, but it’s an impractical shape. The chassis will also protest if you try to hustle it down a challenging back road with the same level of commitment as a touring car driver, which is an important consideration if you live somewhere rural. Finally, the Techno model’s 20-inch alloy wheels are too big for British roads (which is a shame because they look great). If you can, stick with the 18-inch alloys on the base-model.

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