The first fully electric generation of the Renault Megane arrived almost four years ago. It waved goodbye to combustion engines and committed entirely to electric power. From what is being suggested, that approach could shift again within the next three years.
Renault’s next generation of the French compact family car-due before the end of the decade-may call on a petrol engine. That possibility was raised by François Provost, the new CEO of the Renault Group, during the launch of the Twingo last week.
Renault Megane EREV remains a possibility
The Megane is not expected to abandon 100% electric powertrains. Instead, the plan is to make it more appealing by broadening the range of drivetrains, aiming to win over buyers who remain unconvinced by all-electric options.
Speaking to Auto Express, Renault CEO Fabrice Combolive said that, “if adoption (of EVs) isn’t as fast as expected, perhaps we can complement the range with a few options, such as a range extender or a plug-in hybrid - and that’s what we’re working on”.
According to the executive, of those two routes, the most likely choice would be a range extender, where the combustion engine is used purely to charge the battery and has no mechanical connection to the wheels.
Horse range-extender technology for future Renault Megane EREV
It is worth noting that Horse-Renault’s combustion powertrain supplier-recently presented a compact range-extender system combining a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, a generator and an inverter. It is offered with 94 hp or, with a turbo, 161 hp, and it is designed to comply with future Euro 7 emissions rules.
The company says this system can be used to hybridise existing electric vehicles, integrating with their current electric motors.
If these plans go ahead, however, they are only expected to materialise close to the end of the decade. In the meantime, to ensure it stays up to date, the electric Renault Megane E-Tech is about to receive a facelift-and the first test prototypes have already been spotted on the road.
What will change?
Among the headline updates is the introduction of new batteries, although capacities have not yet been confirmed. Even so, there is speculation that the Renault Megane 2026 could adopt cheaper LFP-chemistry batteries, which may help reduce the model’s price.
Battery options and WLTP range
At the other end of the spectrum, indications suggest it could be offered with a higher-capacity battery, such as the Scenic’s 87 kWh pack, or the 75 kWh unit used in the new Nissan Leaf-delivering ranges well beyond today’s up to 468 km (WLTP combined) figure.
Cabin digitalisation and connectivity
Inside, a notable step forward is expected in terms of digital features and connectivity. Integration with Google services will remain, but the interface is set to be reworked for smoother day-to-day use. But the Megane 2026 updates may not stop there:
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