Term
Initial payment (months)
Electric
Renault Zoe
100kW Iconic R135 50kWh Boost Charge 5dr Auto
238 miles
Range
52 kWh
Battery size
70 mins
Charging time
134 bhp
Power
22E
Insurance group
338 litres
Boot space
Leasing this car includes.
Manufacturers warranty
In the event of an unexpected mechanical issue, you're all covered!
Road tax
That's right, all deals include road tax. No hassle. No fuss. No fees.
Breakdown cover
Just in case worst comes to worst. You'll never be left stranded.
- Overview
- Specification
- Charging & range
87 mph
Top speed
134 bhp
Power
9.5 secs
0-62
52 kWh
Battery size
238 miles
Range
70 mins
Charging time
Electric
Fuel
Front Wheel Drive
Drive-train
Key features.
- 17" Elington alloy wheels with black/gold inserts
- Navigation system
- Heated seats
- Cruise control + speed limiter
- Automatic air conditioning
- Reverse parking aid
- Hands-free parking
The recipient of numerous awards, it’s hard to argue that the Renault Zoe electric supermini is one of the most attractive electric vehicles currently on sale, and certainly one that’s small enough to drive around town. Benefit from up to 238 emission-free miles. Live the electric life.
0
Combined.
238 mi.
Combined
Charging.
Standard and fast charging available
Charging port location.
Front Front.
Charging port
Front Front.
Fast charging port
Battery.
52 kWh.
Battery capacity
52 kWh.
Battery useable
Charging times.
Between 0 - 0
Charge times.
1 hr 10 min
Rapid charger (50kW)/(0-80%)
3 hr 0 min
Fast charger (22kW)/(15-80%)
9 hr 25 min
Installed home charger (7kW)/(0-100%)
16 hr 10 min
Installed home charger (3kW)/(0-100%)
How much is it to insure?
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Renault Zoe review.
Renault's ZOE supermini EV features a long operating range and some useful updates. Jonathan Crouch drives it.
Ten second review.
Renault's ZOE now goes further in its efforts to persuade supermini buyers of its all-electric virtues. 238 WLTP-rated miles to be exact. A powerful 100kW R135 motor delivers strong acceleration too, plus there's a smart look both for the exterior and the cabin. If you've always liked the thought of an all-electric supermini but needed more convincing to buy one, Renault hopes that what's on offer here will be enough to make you think again.
Background.
If you've ever hankered after an electric car, there might have been a few impediments to an impending purchase. The first wave of electric cars weren't styled very appealingly. Never a good thing. Then came a second generation of vehicles that looked more like cars but which carried price tags that read like a bad joke. Electric cars were either cheap and horrible or expensive and barely adequate. Even when we moved on a bit from that, they still couldn't offer a credible level of battery range for most potential customers. Renault though, wants to change things. The brand has already brought us the fun Twizy lightweight city car and even a Kangoo van featuring battery power. With the improved version of this ZOE supermini though, the company's got really serious about all-electric concept, notably so since the introduction of the version we're going to talk about here with its capable 52kWh Z.E. battery and powerful R135 electric motor.
Design and Build.
Most people would walk past the ZOE and not take it for anything other than Renault's latest cute little car. Rather refreshingly for a car of this kind, its design inspiration is sophisticated and grown-up. With curvaceous flanks and neat one-box shape, it's quite a good-looking thing, especially in this revised form, where the car features full-LED headlamps, smart bumpers and big LED tail lights. The fascia's also been updated in recent years, primarily with a smart 10-inch TFT instrument cluster. The dashboard has been completely redesigned to significantly improve the quality of its finishes. The centre of the dashboard houses the Renault EASY LINK multimedia system, which benefits from a large 9.3-inch touchscreen. There's an electronic parking brake too. Otherwise, things are much as they've always been on a ZOE. Some of the plastics aren't going to give Audi designers anything much to think about, but being built down to a price is very much the point of this car. It's no bad thing. The view out is extremely good as you sit rather high but a lack of seat height adjustability might prove an issue for taller drivers. As with most superminis, space in the back is more mini than super but access is good thanks to the standard five-door layout, and there's more than enough room back there for the kids. One substantial plus point is the 338-litre boot which extends to 1,225-litres should you fold the one-piece rear bench.
Market and Model.
Renault has refined the ZOE supermini EV range down to one 52kWh battery, one R135 electric motor and one 'GT Line+' trim level, costing around £32,000. As standard, you get Renault's R-Link multimedia system, with a 9.3-inch centre screen which features 'Apple CarPlay'/'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring and 'always-on' 4G connectivity as part of a data pack included for the first three years of ownership. R-Link features steering wheel-mounted controls and voice recognition. It also delivers integrated connectivity with motoring services and applications available from the R-Link Store. Other standard ZOE features include Bluetooth, climate control, cruise control, Bluetooth, a Renault keycard and a speed limiter function. Through the three-spoke wheel, the instruments are covered off by a 10-inch TFT monitor big enough to display 3D mapping. Here, a central circular driving gauge is flanked by customisable sections you alter via steering wheel buttons, with trip computer, audio and nav functions selectable on the left and either an Energy Monitor or an eco-driving 'leaf' graphic available on the right. Programmable pre-conditioning heats or cools ZOE's cabin when the vehicle is charging, so when the driver gets into the car, the cabin is just the right temperature and battery charge is saved in use. As a further neat touch, this can be activated remotely via the owner's smartphone.
Cost of Ownership.
The key question though, concerns driving range. This model's original 22kWh battery could only take this car 93 miles on a full charge; not good enough. The introduction of the brand's much improved 52kWh battery has been important then, boosting the WLTP test cycle reading to 238 miles. That could make all the difference for potential electric car buyers. What about charging? Well, the standard type-2 cable provided with the car and its Cameleon charger are used for everyday AC charging use, such as at home with a Wallbox, at work, in the car park or on public roads using anything up to a 22kW supply. When using a 7kW Wallbox a 100kW ZOE model can charge from 0 to 100 percent in 9 hours and 25 minutes. This ensures that a complete recharge can comfortably be achieved overnight. Around 190 miles of range can be achieved in just 8 hours. Users charging their vehicle at home can also benefit from the programming options, adjusting their recharge to correspond with tariff fluctuations from their electricity supplier. Plugging the ZOE into a public 22kW roadside charger can deliver a useful 78 miles of range in only one hour. Where the ZOE scores a knockout blow overr an ordinary combustion supermini is if you need to travel into congestion zones. London offers 100% exemption while Westminster council offers four hours free parking and a number of charging points. Renault still hasn't fully got round the issue that most urban drivers have to leave their cars parked on the street and so have no practical way of recharging from a home power point.
Summary.
This improved Renault ZOE represents another step towards the electric vehicle becoming a genuinely practical mode of transport for the average motorist. There are still a number of caveats that will inhibit mass take-up, but most of these are due to the inherent nature of electric vehicles themselves, rather than any flaw in the ZOE in particular. On the contrary, it's a likeable little thing and might just be the most attractive electric vehicle currently on sale. If you have off-street parking and a short-ish and predictable urban commute, the numbers don't work out at all badly and there aren't many small cars that are much more relaxing to pilot through the city streets. We think the potential WLTP range increase to as much as 238 miles will make all the difference for potential buyers, but the arithmetic still works out in favour of a small petrol supermini on a pure costs basis. Until taxation legislation more completely favours Evs, that's going to be very hard to change. The gap is small though and many drivers will be willing to pay a small premium for the ZOE's smooth ride, silent acceleration and feel-good vibe. If it works for you, why not?
Renault's ZOE now goes further in its efforts to persuade supermini buyers of its all-electric virtues. 238 WLTP-rated miles to be exact. A powerful 100kW R135 motor delivers strong acceleration too, plus there's a smart look both for the exterior and the cabin. If you've always liked the thought of an all-electric supermini but needed more convincing to buy one, Renault hopes that what's on offer here will be enough to make you think again.
If you've ever hankered after an electric car, there might have been a few impediments to an impending purchase. The first wave of electric cars weren't styled very appealingly. Never a good thing. Then came a second generation of vehicles that looked more like cars but which carried price tags that read like a bad joke. Electric cars were either cheap and horrible or expensive and barely adequate. Even when we moved on a bit from that, they still couldn't offer a credible level of battery range for most potential customers. Renault though, wants to change things. The brand has already brought us the fun Twizy lightweight city car and even a Kangoo van featuring battery power. With the improved version of this ZOE supermini though, the company's got really serious about all-electric concept, notably so since the introduction of the version we're going to talk about here with its capable 52kWh Z.E. battery and powerful R135 electric motor.
Most people would walk past the ZOE and not take it for anything other than Renault's latest cute little car. Rather refreshingly for a car of this kind, its design inspiration is sophisticated and grown-up. With curvaceous flanks and neat one-box shape, it's quite a good-looking thing, especially in this revised form, where the car features full-LED headlamps, smart bumpers and big LED tail lights. The fascia's also been updated in recent years, primarily with a smart 10-inch TFT instrument cluster. The dashboard has been completely redesigned to significantly improve the quality of its finishes. The centre of the dashboard houses the Renault EASY LINK multimedia system, which benefits from a large 9.3-inch touchscreen. There's an electronic parking brake too. Otherwise, things are much as they've always been on a ZOE. Some of the plastics aren't going to give Audi designers anything much to think about, but being built down to a price is very much the point of this car. It's no bad thing. The view out is extremely good as you sit rather high but a lack of seat height adjustability might prove an issue for taller drivers. As with most superminis, space in the back is more mini than super but access is good thanks to the standard five-door layout, and there's more than enough room back there for the kids. One substantial plus point is the 338-litre boot which extends to 1,225-litres should you fold the one-piece rear bench.
Renault has refined the ZOE supermini EV range down to one 52kWh battery, one R135 electric motor and one 'GT Line+' trim level, costing around £32,000. As standard, you get Renault's R-Link multimedia system, with a 9.3-inch centre screen which features 'Apple CarPlay'/'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring and 'always-on' 4G connectivity as part of a data pack included for the first three years of ownership. R-Link features steering wheel-mounted controls and voice recognition. It also delivers integrated connectivity with motoring services and applications available from the R-Link Store. Other standard ZOE features include Bluetooth, climate control, cruise control, Bluetooth, a Renault keycard and a speed limiter function. Through the three-spoke wheel, the instruments are covered off by a 10-inch TFT monitor big enough to display 3D mapping. Here, a central circular driving gauge is flanked by customisable sections you alter via steering wheel buttons, with trip computer, audio and nav functions selectable on the left and either an Energy Monitor or an eco-driving 'leaf' graphic available on the right. Programmable pre-conditioning heats or cools ZOE's cabin when the vehicle is charging, so when the driver gets into the car, the cabin is just the right temperature and battery charge is saved in use. As a further neat touch, this can be activated remotely via the owner's smartphone.
The key question though, concerns driving range. This model's original 22kWh battery could only take this car 93 miles on a full charge; not good enough. The introduction of the brand's much improved 52kWh battery has been important then, boosting the WLTP test cycle reading to 238 miles. That could make all the difference for potential electric car buyers. What about charging? Well, the standard type-2 cable provided with the car and its Cameleon charger are used for everyday AC charging use, such as at home with a Wallbox, at work, in the car park or on public roads using anything up to a 22kW supply. When using a 7kW Wallbox a 100kW ZOE model can charge from 0 to 100 percent in 9 hours and 25 minutes. This ensures that a complete recharge can comfortably be achieved overnight. Around 190 miles of range can be achieved in just 8 hours. Users charging their vehicle at home can also benefit from the programming options, adjusting their recharge to correspond with tariff fluctuations from their electricity supplier. Plugging the ZOE into a public 22kW roadside charger can deliver a useful 78 miles of range in only one hour. Where the ZOE scores a knockout blow overr an ordinary combustion supermini is if you need to travel into congestion zones. London offers 100% exemption while Westminster council offers four hours free parking and a number of charging points. Renault still hasn't fully got round the issue that most urban drivers have to leave their cars parked on the street and so have no practical way of recharging from a home power point.
This improved Renault ZOE represents another step towards the electric vehicle becoming a genuinely practical mode of transport for the average motorist. There are still a number of caveats that will inhibit mass take-up, but most of these are due to the inherent nature of electric vehicles themselves, rather than any flaw in the ZOE in particular. On the contrary, it's a likeable little thing and might just be the most attractive electric vehicle currently on sale. If you have off-street parking and a short-ish and predictable urban commute, the numbers don't work out at all badly and there aren't many small cars that are much more relaxing to pilot through the city streets. We think the potential WLTP range increase to as much as 238 miles will make all the difference for potential buyers, but the arithmetic still works out in favour of a small petrol supermini on a pure costs basis. Until taxation legislation more completely favours Evs, that's going to be very hard to change. The gap is small though and many drivers will be willing to pay a small premium for the ZOE's smooth ride, silent acceleration and feel-good vibe. If it works for you, why not?
In case you missed anything.
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