What's the difference?
The hotly anticipated Renault Megane E-Tech has arrived on our shores but we're only getting the mid-spec variant for now.
Renault's newest EV is related to the well-known Megane in name only because it has been built from the ground up as an EV. It’s not a hatchback, like its namesake, either, rather a crossover, which means it’s a bit lower than some of its small SUV rivals.
It faces firm competition in the likes of the Hyundai Kona Electric, Volvo C40 and newcomer bZ4X from Toyota. In this review we'll see how Renault's cutest EV handles life with my family of three.
Here in 2021, it finally seems like Australia is ready to adopt electric cars, with interest on the rise and many, many new models of various shapes and sizes on the horizon.
Nissan, though, has been quietly chipping away at the EV market with its Leaf, which first launched in Australia way back in 2012 and was then refreshed with a new-gen model in mid-2019.
But even the latest Leaf is beginning to look a little dated compared to the likes of the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, so what is Nissan to do?
Introduce the new Leaf e+ of course, which features a larger battery for increased driving range, as well as a more potent electric motor for peppier performance.
But is the Nissan Leaf e+ the electric car to buy?
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.
If you’ve never driven an electric car before, the Nissan Leaf e+ is the perfect starting point.
It looks and feels for the most part like a conventional car, and it doesn’t throw any of its tech in your face.
It might sound like a criticism, but the Leaf e+ is easy-to-use and unintimidating, which is refreshing in a world dominated by TikToks, smart watches and cryptocurrency.
With a boosted driving range and a bit better performance, the Nissan Leaf e+ certainly puts a strong case forward as your next – or first – EV.