With the outlines of social leasing now known, offers from manufacturers are starting to arrive. Among the most active, there are Renault and Citroën. After the ë-C3 from 54 euros per month and the Twingo E-Tech at 40 euros per month, it is the turn of electric sedans to be available at “cut” prices: the Citroën ë-C4 is available at 129 euros per month, while the Renault Mégane E-Tech starts at 150 euros per month. Which is the better deal?
That’s it, great start for social leasing, this proposal made by Emmanuel Macron during his last presidential campaign. Even if, between what was announced and what is implemented, there are several significant differences, the electric car at (almost) 100 euros per month for low incomes is now available.
At Survoltés, we have already told you about the Citroën ë-C3 from 54 euros per month, or the Renault Twingo E-Tech at 40 euros per month. Two offers no more expensive than a telephone subscription.
Still, these city cars are not necessarily made for all uses. Their limited autonomy can restrict their versatility, and for those who have a slightly higher budget to allocate to their car, still entering into the highlights of social leasing, the two French brands offer two alternatives.
We know these cars well, since it is the Renault Mégane E-Tech, which we had the opportunity to test when it was launched in 2022, but also the Citroën ë-C4, which also passed between our hands. When the first is displayed from 150 euros per month, the chevron firm hits harder with an offer at 129 euros per month. Which is the best offer? Decryption.
The Citroën ë-C4 at 129 euros per month and the Renault Mégane E-Tech at 150 euros per month
Overall the two cars are pretty much similar, except that we found the Mégane a little better finished and more upscale than the Citroën ë-C4 during our tests. The Mégane also benefits from an infotainment system based on Google Automotive that is much more convincing than the ë-C4’s system designed in-house. Unfortunately, as we will see, the basic version of the Mégane that interests us does not rely on Google services.
The Citroën ë-C4 at 129 euros per month
As usual with this type of offer, this concerns the base model, namely the “You” finish. We find an electric motor of 136 horsepower and 260 Nm of torqueand not the new 156 hp engine, which is also available on the “You” finish, but which is priced more.
This motor involves the “smallest” battery, i.e. the Standard Autonomy version. The car is thus equipped with an accumulator with a capacity of 50 kWh (46.2 useful kWh), allowing Citroën to claim approximately 350 kilometers of autonomy according to the WLTP cycle. DC charging power peaks at 100kW.
Here is the standard equipment of the “You” version:
- Rear parking and hill start assist
- Front, front side and curtain airbags
- Dual-zone air conditioning, automatic lights and wipers
- Heat pump and thermal preconditioning
- LED spotlights with V-shaped light signature
- My Citroën Play (Bluetooth hands-free kit, wireless Mirror Screen, 6 HP DAB MP3 digital audio system, 10-inch touchscreen tablet)
- Safety Pack (automatic emergency braking, active lane departure alert, driver attention alert, collision risk alert)
- Speed sign recognition and recommendation
- Cruise control and speed limiter
- Electric and heated exterior mirrors
- Citroën Advanced Comfort suspension
- Leather steering wheel adjustable in height and depth
- 2-position trunk floor
- 18-inch Aeroblade Anthra gray alloy wheels
- Pedestrian horn
- Mode 3 three-phase charging cable 3 x 32 A for T2 charging socket, length 6 meters
- 7.4 kW single-phase on-board charger
- Perla Nera black tint
The Renault Mégane E-Tech at 150 euros per month
The model at 150 euros per month benefits from an electric motor of 130 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque. The battery, with a capacity of 40 kWhallows you to perform 300 kilometers according to the WLTP cycle. The “balance” finish allows you to benefit, as standard, from the equipment listed below:
- Electric front door handles
- LED headlights with dynamic indicators
- Textile upholstery
- Soft Touch Steering Wheel
- 12-inch digital instrumentation
- 9-inch central screen
- Wireless smartphone replication
- Audio Arkamis Classic 4 speakers
- Manual air conditioning
- Speed regulator
- Height-adjustable driver’s seat
- Rear parking sensors
- Reversing camera
- Approach unlock
- Regenerative braking with steering wheel paddles
- Help keeping in line
- Automatic emergency braking
- Traffic sign recognition
- Overspeed alert
- Fatigue detection
- Safe distance alert
- 18-inch alloy wheels
The base color to benefit from the offer is very dull since it is “Glacier White”. On the other hand, if you want to add one or two options (including colors), you immediately exit the offer and the monthly payments increase.
Renault also offers several types of charging for its Mégane, and obviously the offer includes the “Standard Charge” version, that is to say with fast direct current charging of 85kW.
What are the conditions to be eligible for the LLD offers for Citroën ë-C4 and Renault Mégane E-Tech
Both offers being linked to social leasing, there will be several boxes to check before you can benefit from these offers.
LLD at 129 euros per month for the Citroën ë-C4
This is a long-term rental on 36 months and 15,000 kilometers per year, or 45,000 km in total. Citroën indicates that the offer at 129 euros per month is subject at a first rent of 13,000 euroswhich returns to zero once the ecological bonus of 7,000 euros and aid of 6,000 euros from social leasing are deducted.
LLD at 150 euros per month for the Renault Mégane E-Tech
This is, again, a long-term rental offer on 37 months and 12,500 kilometers per year, or 37,500 km in total. Renault indicates that the offer at 40 euros per month is submitted at a first rent of 13,000 euroswhich returns to zero once the ecological bonus of 7,000 euros and the social leasing aid of 6,000 euros are deducted.
The conditions to be met to benefit from social leasing
Social leasing is intended for people whose reference income per share is less than 15,400 euros, or 39,600 euros for a couple with one child. Thus, 4 to 5 million people would potentially be eligible.
You live more than 15 kilometers from your workplace and use your personal car to get there. If you are an employee, your employer must provide you with a certificate justifying the distance. If you are not an employee, you must provide a sworn statement as well as proof of affiliation to a social security system for the current year.
We will have to work together to benefit from social leasing since the government will only select 20,000 to 25,000 files initiallyin 2024, and while stocks last.
How much will the LLD of the Citroën ë-C4 and Renault Mégane E-Tech cost you?
For the calculations, it is rather simple, since there are not many parameters that enter into the equation.
LLD at 129 euros per month for the Citroën ë-C4
Over three years of LLD, your Citroën ë-C4 will cost you 4,515 euros. Citroën displays its car from 35,740 euros on its site, ecological bonus of 7,000 euros and social leasing aid not deducted. The calculation will be truncated with social leasing aid because this involves financing. They will not be eligible for a cash purchase of the car. Therefore, let’s start with a front price with the bonus of 7,000 euros deducted, which gives us 28,740 euros.
Starting from this price, you will pay over the three years of the rental 15.7% of the price of your car. This is less than the three-year discount for this type of car.
LLD at 150 euros per month for the Renault Mégane E-Tech
Over three years of long-term rental, your electric Mégane will cost you 5,400 euros. Renault displays its car from 33,000 euros on its site, ecological bonus of 7,000 euros and social leasing aid not deducted. Same problem as for the ë-C4 above, we cannot remove social leasing aid for the calculation. The price, with the bonus of 7,000 euros deducted, is therefore 26,000 euros.
Starting from this price, you will pay over the three years of the rental 20.7% of the price of your car. This is, again, less than the discount over three years, even if it is higher than the Citroën. This is certainly due to a lower residual value.
Things to remember
Well helped by the subsidies, obviously, these two offers are very good deals even if, in our eyes, the Renault Mégane is a bit expensive since it offers less overall than the Citroën.
Indeed, in addition to being more expensive, the Mégane has less autonomy, slightly lower charging power and some less equipment, such as the absence of a heat pump. In return, as stated above, the Mégane is in our eyes a little better finished and the technologies are also more advanced, even if the version concerned does not include Google services.
Remember that long-term rental is interesting if you want to change your car regularly, without bothering with resale. Maintenance and warranty can be included throughout the duration of the financing, even if an electric car does not necessarily require the same maintenance intervals as a thermal model. For the Renault Mégane, the brand announces a three-year warranty, 24/7 assistance and maintenance for six euros per month. Unlike the Twingo offer, Renault does not include six months free recharge.
For both offers, you will have to be fast, very fast even. That concerning the Citroën is valid until January 8, while that of the Mégane until January 31, 2024. At the same time, your application for social leasing must be accepted. And as stated above, there won’t be something for everyone. Another annoying element, at Citroën, it only concerns vehicles in stock. In other words, these are very specific basic versions, and few dealers (still) have them.