Megane eTech Vs Renault 5 Comfort Vs Anything Intersting
Discussion
I'm looking to purchase a smallish EV which is not totally boring to drive. My initial thoughts were one of the last i3s, however the mrs doesn't like them as much as I do. Apparently a carbon tub and suicide rear doors aren't cool in her world...
We are looking to purchase with cash, so was ideally looking to buy nearly new so someone or preferably a company car user will take the massive initial depreciation of an EV. Budget was £25k max, but you will see that the first car I mention is well above that when specced with the proper battery and some comforts, so it may increase for the right car. Most importantly the mrs doesn't want anything too mumsy so Kia and Hyundai small type suvs are out and so are Fiat 500E cutesy type cars...
Pickings seem to be slim for small, fun cars with decent range +150 miles in winter.
So after all the hype we have test driven the R5 and thought it was OK. It doesn't blow you away as some of the reviewers would have you believe and some of the materials, finishes and road noise are not great.
So that has had us thinking about the Megane eTech. In theory it sits between the R5 and the plethora of suv type EV's with their massive batteries and 2000kg plus weights. I'm trying to get a test drive, however I am concerned it may be a bit boring. It's 200kg heavier than the R5 but that might be an advantage when it comes to build quality. Has anyone driven one in comparison to the R5?
We have looked at Cupra Born (infotainment is shocking and the capacitive switches are horrible), Smart #1 (quality is awful and it just looks a bit odd), Smart #3 (like the look and design but too expensive and similar quality to the #1), Kia EV6 (too large/wide), Skoda Enyaq (too large and heavy) and a few others.
Has anyone got any bright ideas as i am running out of potential options? If the Megane doesn't work, then it might be a case of using the 0% finance on an R5 and putting the funds in an investment to try and offset the extra cost. This part of the market is crying out for some good options as it seems everyone has been building overweight, boringSUVs to try and hide the battery weights It's enought to drive you into an ICE car, but determined to get an EV as part of a solar & battery installation at home.
We are looking to purchase with cash, so was ideally looking to buy nearly new so someone or preferably a company car user will take the massive initial depreciation of an EV. Budget was £25k max, but you will see that the first car I mention is well above that when specced with the proper battery and some comforts, so it may increase for the right car. Most importantly the mrs doesn't want anything too mumsy so Kia and Hyundai small type suvs are out and so are Fiat 500E cutesy type cars...
Pickings seem to be slim for small, fun cars with decent range +150 miles in winter.
So after all the hype we have test driven the R5 and thought it was OK. It doesn't blow you away as some of the reviewers would have you believe and some of the materials, finishes and road noise are not great.
So that has had us thinking about the Megane eTech. In theory it sits between the R5 and the plethora of suv type EV's with their massive batteries and 2000kg plus weights. I'm trying to get a test drive, however I am concerned it may be a bit boring. It's 200kg heavier than the R5 but that might be an advantage when it comes to build quality. Has anyone driven one in comparison to the R5?
We have looked at Cupra Born (infotainment is shocking and the capacitive switches are horrible), Smart #1 (quality is awful and it just looks a bit odd), Smart #3 (like the look and design but too expensive and similar quality to the #1), Kia EV6 (too large/wide), Skoda Enyaq (too large and heavy) and a few others.
Has anyone got any bright ideas as i am running out of potential options? If the Megane doesn't work, then it might be a case of using the 0% finance on an R5 and putting the funds in an investment to try and offset the extra cost. This part of the market is crying out for some good options as it seems everyone has been building overweight, boringSUVs to try and hide the battery weights It's enought to drive you into an ICE car, but determined to get an EV as part of a solar & battery installation at home.
I've recently bought an ex demo Mini Cooper SE Sport EV. My first EV and I'm very impressed with it. Slightly over your budget but if you don't pick a Level 3 pack one it's closer. Like you I didn't want an SUV type thing, I swapped to this from an ICE 2016 JCW Hatch. I don't think I'd be going back although I have kept the F-Type V8 just in case........
I don’t think many EVs are fun to drive but they can be on as the batteries are under the floor and lots of them are RWD
How about a Peugeot 208? That should just about manage 150 in the winter
Your budget also opens up stuff like model 3, polestar 2 which will both be quick and are decent enough to drive
The only other sporty ones I can think of are the Taycan and etron gt, everting else is a suv
How about a Peugeot 208? That should just about manage 150 in the winter
Your budget also opens up stuff like model 3, polestar 2 which will both be quick and are decent enough to drive
The only other sporty ones I can think of are the Taycan and etron gt, everting else is a suv
Edited by Quattr04. on Monday 28th April 17:18
Just a quick update. We’ve decided to go with a smaller EV and narrowed down to the R5 and the Mini Cooper SE as recommended by shunt. I know the reviews for the R5 have been amazing however I’m a little concerned by the quality and how flimsy it feels. The mini is significantly heavier but feels much better screwed together and was more fun to drive. We are watching the nearly new prices closely to see if they will drop into our budget otherwise we will order an R5.
Slightly left field if you’re thinking hatchback EV…
BYD Dolphin, very comfy ride and well appointed. Decent discounts new and nearly new.
Something like this;
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504071...
Worth noting they come with a whole car 6 year warranty and the EV bits are 8 year….
360 camera’s pan roof etc, 0-60 7 secs….
BYD Dolphin, very comfy ride and well appointed. Decent discounts new and nearly new.
Something like this;
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504071...
Worth noting they come with a whole car 6 year warranty and the EV bits are 8 year….
360 camera’s pan roof etc, 0-60 7 secs….
Edited by HarryW on Sunday 11th May 22:22
VH02 AML said:
Just a quick update. We’ve decided to go with a smaller EV and narrowed down to the R5 and the Mini Cooper SE as recommended by shunt. I know the reviews for the R5 have been amazing however I’m a little concerned by the quality and how flimsy it feels. The mini is significantly heavier but feels much better screwed together and was more fun to drive. We are watching the nearly new prices closely to see if they will drop into our budget otherwise we will order an R5.
You won't be disappointed with the Cooper SE, build quality is really good. The way it rides on our crappy roads is so much better than the ICE JCW it replaced. SAT NAV and other tech is brilliant. Range was showing at 227miles when I got in it this morning at 100% charged. It makes the F Type feel very old!VH02 AML said:
Just a quick update. We’ve decided to go with a smaller EV and narrowed down to the R5 and the Mini Cooper SE as recommended by shunt. I know the reviews for the R5 have been amazing however I’m a little concerned by the quality and how flimsy it feels. The mini is significantly heavier but feels much better screwed together and was more fun to drive. We are watching the nearly new prices closely to see if they will drop into our budget otherwise we will order an R5.
Alpine A290?VH02 AML said:
I'm looking to purchase a smallish EV which is not totally boring to drive. My initial thoughts were one of the last i3s, however the mrs doesn't like them as much as I do. Apparently a carbon tub and suicide rear doors aren't cool in her world...
VH02 AML said:
Pickings seem to be slim for small, fun cars with decent range +150 miles in winter.
Just as well she doesn't like the i3s, as you wouldn't be doing +150 miles 
Edible Roadkill said:
I test drove the Megan. Was quite pleasantly surprised at how well it went.
It's a very good steer. The chassis is surprisingly neutral, it turns in well. Throttle response fantastic (a given for an EV). It can be fun for its form factor.It's very cheap used particularly if you can get one with the original 5 year warranty. Although they have gone up of late as people are finally realising how good they are
I wonder where the OP is with his decision but I hope he has test driven one before going ahead with the MINI.
In response to the question of where ami with the decision. I still haven’t bought anything yet. I haven’t found a mini Se in the spec we want within our budget.
I’ll admit that I never drove the megane. My local dealer ignored my request for weeks and the smile on my partners face when she drove the mini made it clear that was what she wanted.
With the prices above our budget for the SE we are now considering delaying the conversion to EV and looking at low mileage ICE variants of the previous gen cooper s until the prices of the ev cars drop.
I’ll admit that I never drove the megane. My local dealer ignored my request for weeks and the smile on my partners face when she drove the mini made it clear that was what she wanted.
With the prices above our budget for the SE we are now considering delaying the conversion to EV and looking at low mileage ICE variants of the previous gen cooper s until the prices of the ev cars drop.
VH02 AML said:
In response to the question of where ami with the decision. I still haven’t bought anything yet. I haven’t found a mini Se in the spec we want within our budget.
I’ll admit that I never drove the megane. My local dealer ignored my request for weeks and the smile on my partners face when she drove the mini made it clear that was what she wanted.
With the prices above our budget for the SE we are now considering delaying the conversion to EV and looking at low mileage ICE variants of the previous gen cooper s until the prices of the ev cars drop.
They are still available in your budget - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503120...I’ll admit that I never drove the megane. My local dealer ignored my request for weeks and the smile on my partners face when she drove the mini made it clear that was what she wanted.
With the prices above our budget for the SE we are now considering delaying the conversion to EV and looking at low mileage ICE variants of the previous gen cooper s until the prices of the ev cars drop.
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