Cheap as frites: Renault Megane E-Tech adopts cheaper pricing in bid to turnaround Aussie fortunes
The 2024 Renault Megane E-Tech has now permanently adopted the $10,000 discount that was introduced back in May, which means the small French electric SUV is now priced from $54,990 plus on-roads.
Motivating the introduction of new lower pricing across the board is Renault Australia’s announcement that the original promotional pricing had driven an influx of orders.
Originally, the Megane E-Tech was priced at $64,990 (plus ORCs) that led to the small SUV becoming one of the slowest-selling small SUVs, with just 171 cars delivered in the first half of 2024.
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The French car-maker now hopes that the Megane E-Tech can now begin to erode away the incredible sales success that remains the Tesla Model Y that has sold 12,516 sales in the first six months of 2024.
The new lower pricing means that the Megane E-Tech is now roughly the same cost as the Hyundai Kona Electric Standard Range, MG 4 Essence 64kWh hatch and the entry-level Model Y RWD.
Keeping things simple in Australia just one version of the Megane E-Tech is offered – the Techno EV60 and it comes with plenty of standard kit that includes large 20-inch alloy wheels, adaptive LED headlamps, recycled part faux leather seats, 48-colour ambient lighting, a 9.0-inch infotainment system, 12-inch digital instrument panel, wireless phone charging and a six-speaker Arkamys sound system.
Just one battery – a 60kWh lithium-ion battery – is available that provides for a range of 454km and is combined with a single e-motor that produces 160kW and 300Nm of torque.
Charging is up to 130kW with a fast DC charger with a 15-80 per cent top-up taking around 30 minutes.
I like the look of the new Renault Magane E-Tech and the $10,000 price cut makes it an even more attractive proposition. However my reservations are:
Range – 450 k’s seems pretty average. Is it?
Quality – French – and many other Euro cars – have historically been perceived as quirky / stylish but unreliable and with poor resale. It seems the French brands are still struggling with this image. Is there any substance to it or are the Euro brands on par with the Japanese, Koreans, Chinese and Americans (ie Tesla) these days?
Just saw the most recent US customer ratings for new cars (probably largely ICEs) and Lexus and Toyota remain firmly on top for quality. Volkswagen and Audi on the other hand were well down the rankings, somewhere near Chrysler . . .