Under-the-radar Megane Tourer can’t escape its day of reckoning

I hate to say it, but I told you it was too good to be true. The fuel consumption — and consequently the level of emissions — claimed by many makers of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) is the stuff of fantasy. The incentives for drivers to buy them amount to a massive leap of faith that they do what they say on the tin. As many of us have discovered, they don’t.

Now a day of reckoning is dawning, with €2,500 to be cut from the €5,000 SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) grant from July 1. The Government says this is in line with a review of value for money. It follows similar moves by other EU countries.

Is it the thin edge of the wedge for plug-in incentives? Many are inclined to think so. As things stand, we Irish taxpayers are forking out up to €7,500 (SEAI grant of €5,000; VRT rebate of up to €2,500) each time someone buys a plug-in. In many cases, these vehicles are not being plugged in.

The thing is there is no way of checking. It’s a bit like writing a blank cheque. As you know, plug-ins have two power sources: battery and a petrol/diesel engine. If you plug-in regularly, you can drive on the battery alone for 50km and, increasingly, upwards of that distance. So if you commute an average distance, then electric power has you covered.

Driving further and longer brings the engine more into play and the system operates like an ordinary hybrid — until you charge up again. But too few seem to be regularly charging. This is such a pity because PHEVs can save you money on fuel. Just not the amount claimed by the manufacturers.

Take my experience of a long-term test in Renault’s Megane Sports Tourer estate. I had time to plug in and get into the routine of becoming part of the ‘first step to electric car’ mindset. Sure, on longer trips the battery kicked in more, but I still reckon I returned 63mpg tipping around suburbia. It really came into its own on the short trips to the supermarket or shops when the electric element was mostly in play.

In that respect it was much better than a ‘pure’ petrol or diesel (for relatively small mileage, I stress) and surprisingly practical, with loads of cargo space, lots of room in the cabin and a high level of spec.

Combining a 9.8kWh battery and a 1.6-litre petrol engine, it suited me well for the relatively small number of trips here. No, I never got near the Renault claim of 217.3mpg but there is a certain satisfaction to be gained from knowing you’re keeping your side of the incentive bargain.

It wasn’t all ‘green’ driving. Old habits die hard and this was one lively piece of work when I looked for some zip on the open road. Really decent chassis too. There was a sense of sturdiness and comfort throughout.

This Sports Tourer is a bigger car than it might first appear. I had a lot of room for all sorts of bits and pieces. I liked the look of it; one or two so-called ‘observers’ didn’t.

Either way, I found it easy to live with and I must say it would be a pity to see it suffering the €2,500 cut announced for July 1. But that is what happens when an open-ended incentive system is operated like ours has been up to now.

The Government is not without blame either; we need more strategically positioned charging points to encourage greater usage.

The nearest charging point to me is 400m or so away, but I depend on at least one of the two slots being free. That was not always the case, despite lower volumes of traffic.

Then there is the reality of just being too tired or lazy, or bad weather persuading you to skip a charge. I remember simply saying it wasn’t worth getting soaked.

So I bid farewell to the Megane Sports Tourer. It had my back through many a dark day, I can tell you, and I came to rely on it more than I realised at the time.

I know we don’t really do estates in this country. They do on the continent. But if you’re looking for something really practical — with a bit of style — you could do a lot worse.

It’s the sort of car that goes under the radar but, sadly, it won’t escape the impending cut.

Facts & Figures: Renault Megane estate PHEV

Iconic E-Tech plug-in 160bhp, auto. From €25,690; model tested €31,865. Standard: Isofix points on outer rear seats, rear parking sensors, auto dual zone air con, front fogs, 7in touchscreen, USB/AUX sockets, voice control, domestic and Type 2 charging cables. Test car also had Vision system, Easy Link nav, 16in alloys, black velvet trim, Bose system.