Zeekr 7X vs Renault Megane E-Tech

What's the difference?

The first thing that comes to mind in summing up the Zeekr 7X Performance is value. So much standard equipment for the money, stunning acceleration, top-shelf safety and a solid ownership package. It’s also practical, comfortable and the design inside and out is sleek. This electric SUV has thrown down a hefty gauntlet in challenging its existing opposition and there’s no doubt if you’re in this part of the market you should take a close look.

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 7X was developed at the Zeekr Design and Technology centre in Gothenburg, Sweden and arguably its most distinctive design element is the full-width band across the nose with standard LED headlights and DRL strip below. 

They’d be matrix units if we were in China and the black band would house Zeekr’s ‘Stargate’ panel capable of displaying words and digital animations. But ANCAP crash-test requirements put the kybosh on that for Australia and it’s been replaced by the black cover. But there’s still room to play with animations on the lights that remain, including musical accompaniment through internal and external speakers. 

Other than that, the car’s overall shape and proportions have a touch of Porsche Macan about them with a bulging mid-section and racy 21-inch rims filling the wheel arches.

There’s a slim, tail-light bar across the rear, a concealed wiper and an integrated spoiler on the top of the tailgate contributing to a smooth, clean look. No surprise, drag co-efficient is a slippery 0.25.

Inside, the fuss-free theme continues with a multi-layered dash design dominated by the 16-inch central media screen, compact digital instrument display and split-level centre console. And we’ll get to interacting with it all shortly.

Admirable restraint has been exercised in the simple surfacing and choice of trim materials with enough decoration to add visual interest.

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!

So, before even getting in the car it’s worth talking about this Performance grade’s auto-opening doors.

The physical door handles are still present but inoperative (except in an emergency), so it’s a press of a button on the B-pillar, or a swipe card if you prefer, and open sesame. 

There’s ‘pinch protection’ for the windows on all side doors and impact avoidance which means it will stop short of denting your neighbour at the car park.

After a week of press-button experience I could easily live without this functionality but my significant other loved it. So, personal preference reigns supreme.

At close to 4.8 metres long, a touch over 1.9m wide and around 1.7m tall (with a 2900mm wheelbase) the 7X is a ‘large’ medium SUV and the interior reflects its generous external dimensions. 

There’s plenty of breathing space and a bright open feel thanks in part to the standard panoramic glass roof with power-sliding shade.

In the front, in terms of practicality, there’s a large, deep bin between the seats with a lid that opens from the left and right, another section with two swing-out cupholders and a roll-top lid, plus a big area in the lower console plus generous door bins. And there are handy flip-top boxes in the door armrests.

Worth noting on our test example, opening and closing the sliding cover over the cupholder section generated a groaning noise like oversize nails scraping down a blackboard, which didn’t exactly fit the premium vibe.

The glove box is opened with a button on the dash, which feels overly complicated. But then, in terms of power and connectivity there are twin 50W device charging bays and two USB-C sockets in the lower console.

In a big win for parents loading small kids into car seats, the rear doors open to 90 degrees. Then for storage, you’ve got map pockets on the front seat backs, decent door bins, two cup or bottle holders and a lidded box in the pull-down centre armrest, a small oddments tray at the back of the centre console and a pair of drawers under the seat.

And in the back, in terms of space, sitting behind the driver’s seat set for my 183cm position, I’ve got ample headroom, legroom and more than enough foot room. 

There are power window shades, individual ventilation outlets in the B-pillars to manage the climate control for the rear section as well as one USB-A and a USB-C socket in the armrest box.

And then, there’s the Occupant Monitoring System, a camera view of the rear seat which instantly does away with the awkward 180-degree parental head turn from the front seats. A small camera in the B-pillar is activated by a dash-mounted button for a wide-angle, picture-in-picture video image on the main media screen. 

And don’t worry, if you’re in the back and don’t appreciate the attention, a simple sliding cover over the lens can block the shot. 

With the 60/40 split-folding rear seat upright the 7X boasts 539 litres (VDA) of boot space, which is pretty handy, and that number expands to a hefty 1978L with the back seat down. 

There’s a load-through hatch, tie-down anchors, multiple bag hooks, specific lighting, a 12-volt socket and two storage compartments under the floor. The height of the power tailgate is adjustable but there’s no hands-free function.

Braked trailer towing capacity is 2.0 tonnes (750kg unbraked) and it’s worth noting vehicle-to-load functionality (using a specific discharge cable in the main charge port) is onboard.

But there’s no spare tyre of any description, with a repair/inflator kit your only option, which in this market isn’t good enough.

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.

For the moment, the Megane E-Tech is being offered in only one grade for the Australian market and that’s the Techno EV60, which is the mid-level version of Renault’s brand new EV.

The EV60 is priced from $64,990, before on-road costs, and that positions it right in the middle of its rivals. The nearest competitor is the Hyundai Kona Extended Range at $60,500 MSRP, newcomer Toyota bZ4X 2WD slides in at $66,000 MSRP and the Volvo C40 Plus sits at $78,990 MSRP.

The E-Tech comes with a decent array of features for a mid-spec variant and premium items include heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a digital rear view mirror and wireless functionality for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but you do miss out on items like a powered tailgate and electric front seats which most of its rivals sport.

Technology looks good with a 9.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual-zone climate control, faster USB-C ports (four total) and a wireless charging pad.

Sound is covered by the Arkamys Auditorium sound system with six speakers and the mood can be set with the 48-way configurable ambient lighting system.

Despite missing out on a powered tailgate, the EV60 has some features that still offer convenience like keyless entry, heated and auto-folding side mirrors and auto-folding flush door handles that pop out on approach (front only).

The Zeekr 7X Performance is powered by dual electric motors, asynchronous magnet on the front axle and permanent magnet at the rear. Combined power is 475kW with peak torque at a grunty 710Nm.

That amount of muscle is up there at the top of the category with the likes of the MG IM6 Performance (572kW/802Nm), Tesla Model Y Performance (461kW/741Nm) and even the track-ready Hyundai Ioniq 5 N (448kW/740Nm).

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 7X boasts an 800V electrical architecture which means it has 420kW charging capability and even though the max public charging output currently available here is 350kW, at that level you can expect the 100kW NMC battery to charge from 10 to 80 per cent in around 13 minutes. AC charging is a handy 22kW for 10-100 per cent charging in four hours.

Claimed (WLTP) range is 543km and on test we saw average energy use of 18.8kWh/100km, which is in the middle of Zeekr’s claim of 17.7-19.9kWh/100km for the combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle and more than acceptable for an EV of this size and weight.

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.

So, even at around 2.5 tonnes, with all that power and torque under your right foot, the 7X Performance can rocket from 0-100km/h in a supercar-like 3.8 seconds. It is properly quick.

Suspension is by double wishbones at the front and a five-link set-up at the rear and the hefty body is well-controlled in the main, although you can feel modest lateral movement on quick changes of direction. 

The ‘Continuous Control’ air suspension has three settings - Comfort / Standard / Sport - with a distinct difference between them.

In Comfort, small bumps and ruts still make their presence felt, but overall ride compliance is impressive. Hot tip is to avoid the Sport mode unless you’re determined to press on through your favourite set of corners, or (implausibly) line up for a track day.

The 7X rides on Zeekr’s ‘SEA’ (Sustainable Experience Architecture) platform which features an integrated alloy diecast rear section which seemingly makes a ‘solid’ contribution to overall refinement and noise reduction.

Speaking of which, wind noise is close to imperceptible even at freeway speeds, helped in no small part by the car’s slippery drag coefficient.

The accurate speed-sensitive steering delivers good road feel, which isn’t always the case with larger EVs, and the big 21-inch (265/40) Continental EcoContact 7 tyres are pleasingly quiet while gripping with reassuring determination.

Braking is by ventilated discs all around with chunky four-piston calipers up front. There are two levels of regenerative braking and a ‘single-pedal’ setting, although the latter is best treated as a third regen level because it seems reluctant to bring the car to a full stop quickly enough, even in slow-moving traffic.

Important to mention crash-avoidance safety aids like lane-keeping assist and driver fatigue monitoring don’t intrude unduly. There are subtle occasional vibrations through the steering wheel and only when necessary. 

You’ve also got a 360-degree overhead view and a good quality reversing camera, both of which are super-handy when manoeuvring. Or if you want some real assistance ‘Automatic Park Assist’ will help you slot the car into the space you’re aiming for, as well.

Ergonomically speaking, while there’s a physical control for audio volume something like exterior mirror adjustment for example is via the combination of a screen slider and a steering wheel control which is fussy. That said, progression through screens and functions for media and car settings is logical and quick thanks in part to a grunty Qualcomm Snapdragon chip platform.

Under the heading of miscellaneous observations, an 11.6m turning circle is useful for a car of this size, the mega audio system cranks (with the driver’s headrest speaker a highlight) and the adaptive cruise works well, picking up acceleration rapidly when pulling out to overtake a slower-moving car in front.

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. 

The E-Tech has a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating from testing in 2022 and has seven airbags, including a front centre airbag.

The EV60 comes with lots of passive safety features including dusk sensing auto LED headlights, LED DRLs, a rear fog light, child safety locks, tyre pressure monitoring, traffic sign recognition tech, an intelligent seatbelt warning, a reversing camera plus front, rear and side parking sensors.

Active safety equipment includes items like blind-spot monitoring, driver attention alert, rear collision warning, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure alert, lane keeping aid, and adaptive cruise control (with stop and go).

You also get a digital rear view mirror which is essential as the back window is narrow and the camera feed provides a clearer view than you’d have without it.

The rear row also features ISOFIX child seat mounts on the outboard seats and three top tethers but two seats will fit best. The front passenger seat also has ISOFIX child seat mounts and a top tether.

AEB with car, pedestrian, cyclist and junction turning assist function is operational from 8.0-80km/h (160km/h for cars) but it is common to see that starting figure sit closer to 5.0km/h.

The 7X Performance is covered by Zeekr’s five-year/unlimited km warranty, with eight-year/160,000km cover for the drive battery, neither of which are exceptional for the category. But there’s also five-year corrosion and paintwork warranty cover, with roadside assist included for the same period.

Recommended maintenance interval is two years/40,000km with optional health checks in between. Stick to the basic schedule and you’re looking at $1755 over the first five years.

Go for the complimentary first year service plus two other optional health checks and the figure is $2385, or an average of $477 per workshop visit over the same five years. Far from over the top for an EV in this part of the market.

The Zeekr dealer footprint currently takes in multiple sites in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney with additional locations in Canberra and Perth as well as The Sunshine Coast and Geelong, for a total of 14.

Some are currently ‘pop-ups’ with the intention to transition them to permanent status, with all dealers able to facilitate servicing (on site or at a separate location).

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.