Renault Megane E-Tech vs Kia K4

What's the difference?

The design for the Renault Megane E-Tech is top-notch and the eco-conscious footprint is even better. It’s an easy and comfortable car to be in but the price is a smidge too high in my opinion when you consider there’s currently only one choice for us Aussies and it’s a mid-spec variant at that. It also misses out on some items its rivals have but is a solid EV to consider for urban dwellers.

The new Kia K4 GT-Line has a lot to offer - an interesting design, lots of features and a pleasant driving experience. It’s not without its quirks and there are times when a more powerful engine may have improved it for me as a long-term prospect as I do some big kays every year but it ticks the boxes as a friendly urban dweller.

The E-Tech’s plump body panelling gives me some cute marshmallow vibes from certain angles but there are enough features to keep it looking slick, like the fun LED headlights, massive 20-inch alloys and optional two-tone paintwork.

I’m also a fan of the door handles on the E-Tech as they add some nice focal points, because the front has auto-flush handles that pop out on approach and the back door handles are positioned on the C-pillar.

If you're eco-conscious the E-Tech ticks the box because Renault has designed it to be 90 per cent recyclable.

The body is made of aluminium and can be reformed and shaped into new products at the end of its life. The interior materials are made from recycled fabrics and trims; even the lithium-ion battery is free from any rare earth minerals.

Head inside the cabin and the grey knit trims and upholstery on the seats, doors and dashboard creates a cabin space that feels warm and inviting. It's a similar feel to the Polestar 2 - simple but refined.

Although, with my kid around I have higher anxiety about dirtying them!

Have to admit I wasn’t convinced on the design of this new sedan at first as it can look a little out of sorts from certain angles. But the more time I spend with it, the more I appreciate its sharp lines and sporty rear shaping.

The small sedan market doesn't have a lot of options now because SUVs are so popular but it's nice to see a design that stands out and the fang-like LED light design at the front and rear, as well as the 18-inch alloy wheels make the K4 look very cool.

The rear doors look sleek because the handle has been hidden in the C-pillar and the K4 is particularly striking in our test model's 'Wave Blue' ($600 RRP) paint colour.

Head inside and you'll find a cabin that looks slick with a two-tone synthetic leather upholstery that feels supple underhand and a plethora of soft touchpoints under all the bits that touch.

The black headliner creates a posh space but the sunroof helps the cabin to feel airy when you need it to.

The dashboard isn't too wide, preferring a sharply linear shape and is headlined by a massive display panel that houses dual 12.3-inch screens and a 5.0-inch climate panel.

There is still a strong presence of plastics inside but you don’t tend to focus on them.

Unlike some other new cars hitting our market, the K4 hasn’t done away with its buttons and dials - and there’s enough to satisfy those who don’t like to rely on a screen for everything. The extra traditional element of the physical gear selector adds to its charm as well. 

The E-Tech’s cabin is fairly roomy up front with plenty of head- and legroom. The front seats are super comfortable with powered lumbar support and I wouldn’t mind them not being powered if the price point was a bit lower. 

The rear seat is comfortable enough once you get seated but the top of the door apertures are low, and I have to duck my head to get in and out.

Your head also brushes against the roof lining in the back which isn't terribly comfortable, especially considering there is no fold-down armrest to lean on.

The front row benefits the most with individual storage and you get a lot of options to choose from but the centre console is one of the most practical I’ve seen for the class. Lots of pockets and nooks that feature adjustable 'walls'.

You get a single permanent cupholder but with the removable walls, accommodation for a second cup or bottle, can be catered for.

Underneath the multimedia screen you get a dedicated phone shelf, which I love using.

In the rear, you get two map pockets and shallow bin storage in each door.

The charging options are good with two USB-C ports in each row as well as a 12-volt outlet and a wireless charging pad up front but you miss out on V2L (Vehicle to Load) functionality in this model.

The 9.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system looks great headlining the dash and is easy to access and use. The system rebooted once on me while driving but other than that everything is responsive.

You get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and the CarPlay is easy to get started.

The steering wheel has numerous stalks, controls, regen paddle shifters and even the gearshifter on the column, too. It takes a beat to get used to it but I like how driver orientated it is.

The boot offers great storage at 440L but it’s a deep well, which might be annoying if you’re unloading heavier gear. There is underfloor storage for the cables, too, and like I said, you miss out on a powered tailgate.

The K4 feels big for the class, especially compared to its nearest rivals and that translates to a cabin that feels adult-friendly in both rows. An impressive feat for a small sedan.

Access is the only time you will have moments of 'I should have opted for an SUV'. That's because you will get in your daily squats sliding in and out of the K4 due to its 140mm ground clearance.

The rear doors also feature a wide wing that juts out from the door handle and it catches your hip almost every time you go to close the door.

The wide front seats offer lots of comfort with thick padding and long under-thigh-support. The driver's side is powered with adjustable lumbar support but the passenger seat only offers manual adjustments, which is surprising for a top-grade model. However, both front seats enjoy heat and ventilation functions.

The back bench seat offers similar comfort to the front with seat padding and length but it's not terribly wide and two adults (or child car seats) will fit best.

Amenities and storage is decent for the class with each row enjoying four drink holders and two USB-C ports. Front rowers also get a wireless charging pad and 12-volt socket.

In the front there is a large glove box that fits more than just an owner's manual, a mid-size middle console and a centre console that features retractable cupholders to open up the space if you need to. A dedicated phone cradle with small spaces on each side rounds up individual storage for the front.

In the rear there are two map pockets, a small item cubby next to the USB-C ports and a pair of directional air vents, reading lights and a fold-down armrest.

The boot space is massive for the class at 508L (that's nearing mid-size SUV territory) but the aperture is narrow and I couldn't fit my big booster seat through the opening.

The boot is quite deep as well and you may find yourself climbing into it to retrieve items that roll into the back.

The rear bench seat has a 60/40 split which can help with storage and there is a temporary spare tyre underneath the floor.

While you don't get a powered tailgate in this model, the lid isn't heavy to operate and has a proximity opening function that keeps it practical when you have your hands full.

This just means when you approach and stay near the boot with the key fob on your person the boot lid will pop open for you.

The 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system looks great with crisp graphics and a responsive touchscreen. The menus are in an easy-to-understand layout which you'll get accustomed to in no time. The 5.0-inch climate display sits to the right of this system and it's nice to have it on display all the time.

The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster isn't all that customisable but it's easy to read with large text and a small menu screen that shows nav directions, trip info or a compass.

The built-in satellite navigation system is easy to get going and to cancel a route guidance, it's a one button affair which is great for when you're on the go.

The system features wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The CarPlay is simple to connect to and retained a steady connection this week with feedback from my callers that my voice was clear on calls.

The new K4 sedan is offered in four grades - the base-model S which has an optional 'Safety Pack' available, the mid-spec Sport and Sport+ grades and the flagship GT-Line, which is the model on test for this review.

The GT-Line is sharply priced at $42,990, before on road costs. This positions it in the middle of its small sedan rivals, the Hyundai i30 N Line Premium ($41,500 MSRP) and the Mazda3 Astina ($43,310 MSRP).

What the K4 GT-Line has going for it over its peers is a standard specification list that features some heavy-hitting technology.

This includes dual 12.3-inch displays, a 5.0-inch climate display, built-in satellite navigation with 10-years' of map updates, wireless/wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and dual-zone climate control.

Charging is taken care of by two USB-C ports for each row but the front row also enjoys a 12-volt socket and fast wireless charging pad in the dedicated phone cradle.

There's also an eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, over-the-air updates, digital radio, AM/FM radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 'Sounds of Nature' soundscape for added ambience.

The Kia Connect app is also included and this allows user access to the emergency call functionality (e-Call), remote control functions for the vehicle, as well as vehicle status monitoring.

Premium equipment includes a tilt and slide sunroof with electric sunshade, two-tone synthetic leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, an electric drivers seat (with two-position memory function and adjustable lumbar support) and a heated steering wheel.

For a small sedan, it comes packed with features!

The Techno EV60 has a single electric motor. It produces a power output of 160kW and 300Nm of torque, and Renault says it will sprint from 0-100km/h in 7.4-seconds.

That's perfectly adequate for keeping up with traffic or getting  around town. You only notice a sluggishness with power when you have a full load of gear. Flipping it to 'Sport' mode make it feel peppier, if you ever need it.

The flagship grade is front-wheel drive and has a 1.6-litre four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine that produces up to 142kW of power and 265Nm of torque giving this a more powerful presence than its non-turbo siblings (which only produce up to 112kW/192Nm).

However, while the power is adequate for the GT-Line there are times when the engine sounds like it's working a bit too hard.

The eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission can also become flustered as it moves through the lower gears, especially when you’re accelerating quickly.

On the whole, the power delivery and outputs are more than enough for a city environment and the odd road trip.

The official energy consumption figure is 15.6kWh/100km and I averaged 13.9kWh after a fair mix between urban and open-road driving.

That’s outstanding consumption but the official driving range for this E-Tech’s 60kWh lithium-ion battery is up to 454km, which is similar to the Hyundai Kona Electric but I still had an eye on the range during longer trips.

The E-Tech has a Type 2 CCS charging port which means you can benefit from faster DC charging speeds, however, it can only accept a top speed of 7.4kW on AC power.

On a 7.4kW AC charger, you can go from 0-100 per cent in a little over nine hours but on a standard 2.3kW house plug, that jumps up to over 30-hours. 

On a 130kW DC charger expect to go from 15-80 per cent in as little as 30 minutes, which is pretty convenient if you have access to one.

Sadly, the E-Tech doesn’t have vehicle-to-load capability, so you can’t power or charge bigger items.

With an official combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle fuel usage figure of 6.7L/100km and a fuel tank size of 47L, this model has a theoretical driving range of 701km. That does sit around 80 kays less than some of its rivals but it’s still sufficient for those wanting to do the odd road trip!

My on-test fuel usage has popped out at 9.2L/100km, which is based on figures achieved at the pump (32.05L) and my km travelled (348km).

I’ve done mostly urban trips this week with one longer open-road drive and overall I’m not too surprised by that figure because I’ve been pushing it hard but it could be better.

The K4 is a simple gal because Kia recommends a minimum 91 RON unleaded petrol to be used for all models.

I have mostly loved driving the E-Tech. It's easy to cruise around in and the power is adequate for open-road driving but it prefers an urban environment.

The power can feel a bit lacklustre when you are carrying lots of people or gear but you mostly feel that when you're on a steep incline and trying to keep up your speed.

The steering is crisp and that makes the E-Tech very responsive to drive. The power is delivered smoothly and it feels well-balanced when you put your foot down.

There is more roll in corners than I was expecting but the car still feels firmly planted. 

The ride comfort is great. The suspension is more firm than soft which means you feel the road but it's not a major bother. There is a bit of wind noise at higher speeds, as if the door isn’t properly sealed by a millimetre but it doesn't annoy me. 

The regenerative braking is controlled by paddles on the steering wheel and you have three levels plus a one-pedal function to choose from.

The single pedal set-up is pretty smooth, even in stop/start traffic, but it’s great to be able to quickly change modes on the go.

The smaller size of the E-Tech makes it an easy car to manoeuvre in a small car park. You get front, rear and side parking sensors which is great because the reversing camera isn’t as clear as it should be for this price level. 

As mentioned earlier, the power is adequate to move this car around on the open-road but you have to be a little aggressive on hills to keep your speed consistent.

It’s not always quick off the mark, though, and you’ll notice that when you have to cross traffic or enter a roundabout - so allow for extra car lengths. Once you get going, it’s responsive in the city.

The steering is sports-stiff and so is the suspension. This makes the handling feel nimble in turns and sure-footed when doing quick lane changes but you hear and feel every bump in the road. 

On-road comfort is okay around the city but the road noise is very loud inside the cabin and is particularly noticeable at higher speeds. You’ll have to raise your voice to chat to passengers in the back when you're on the highway.

The K4 has a small turning circle of just 10.7m and you can easily do a U-turn in spaces that others might have to do a three-pointer. This made the K4 feel friendly in small car parks and on ramps.

The direct steering makes it easy-enough to park, as does the reversing camera and front/rear parking sensors but I’m pretty disappointed that at the top grade-level, you miss out on a 360-degree camera system (tsk, tsk, Kia).

The Kia K4 has just been launched and hasn’t been tested by ANCAP yet, so is unrated but Kia is hustling to get it tested so it can join in on their strong five-star performance record. The K4 has seven airbags, including a front centre airbag.

The K4 GT-Line has all of the bells and whistles when it comes to safety equipment and includes the big-ticket items like blind-spot monitoring and collision avoidance, intelligent seatbelt warning (all seats), rear cross-traffic alert, front cross-traffic alert, lane keeping aid, lane departure alert, leading vehicle alert, emergency call functionality, side exit warning, rear occupant alert, traffic sign recognition, driver monitoring and alert, LED DRLs, dusk-sensing LED headlights, front/rear parking sensors and a reversing camera with dynamic guidelines.

The K4 GT-Line has AEB with forward collision warning, car, pedestrian, cyclist, and junction crossing detection.

The rear seat has two ISOFIX child seat mounts on the outboard positions and three top tether anchor points but two seats will fit best.

Kia has become well-known for having annoying sound alerts in their cars and while the K4 has them too - you can easily disable the most annoying one, the traffic sign recognition, by holding the steering wheel volume button in for a few seconds.

The E-Tech comes with a five-year/100,000km warranty, but it’s usual to see an unlimited km term for the class. The battery is covered by an eight-year or up to 160,000km warranty term.

Service intervals are reasonable at every 12 months or 30,000km and you also get five-years roadside assistance included.

Pricing over the first five years ranges from a low of $230.04 to a high of $519.62, averaging out at pretty competitive $317.72 per service. No capped-price deal is available.

The K4 GT-Line is offered with Kia’s seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. That’s a pretty good term for the class and there is a seven-year capped price servicing program for a flat $3877 (averaging $554 per service), which is slightly more expensive than others in the class.

Servicing intervals could get annoying if you do big kays every year as they're spaced at every 12 months or 10,000km, whichever occurs first.