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.
Subaru is entering uncharted territory.
The Uncharted is the brand’s first electric small SUV and a bold new direction, as the Japanese maker enters one of the most hotly-contested and now sought-after new segments in the Australian car market.
There is no shortage of new options calling out to Australian buyers and with a broad range of price-tags, designs and on-board tech it’s never been a more difficult time to enter this space.
So what does the Subaru Uncharted do differently, and is it worthy of your consideration? We took one for a week to find out.
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 Uncharted follows the Subaru promise of offering compelling all-wheel drive and a capable driving experience at a reasonable price, but only if you compare it to its traditional rivals.
The trouble for Subaru is that this part of the market has moved on, and EV buyers now have a different set of expectations relative to its usual point-of-difference.
In that sense, this is a good electric Subaru - but is it objectively a good electric car? With the circa-$60K pricing, that’s a harder argument to make.