Name: New Renault Zoe models and Specifications
Brand: Renault

100kw-techno-r135-50kwh-5dr-auto

The Zoe has a 134bhp electric motor that drives the front wheels. Acceleration is surprisingly nippy – especially at town speeds – although with a 0-62mph time of 9.5sec, plenty of rivals will get you up to motorway speeds in less time. 



100kW

Of the two trim levels, we reckon cheaper Techno makes more sense. You get 16in alloys, automatic climate control, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and plenty of infotainment gadgetry.

Techno

Stepping up to to Iconic trim (from Techno) adds 17in alloys and a CCS socket (optional on Techno trim) for faster charging, but also pushes up the price significantly. 


Iconic

Hatchback

Hatchbacks, SUVs, hybrids, electric cars: Renault makes them all, in a variety of shapes and sizes, meaning&nbsp;it has a line-up designed to tempt pretty much everyone.

From the roadside, the standout feature of all its cars is design, with them instantly recognisable as members of the Renault family, without being so similar that they fall&nbsp;into the Russian doll trap. However, in terms of ability they're a mixed bag,&nbsp;ranging&nbsp;from very good to no better than average.

Models that fall into the former camp include the Clio small hatchback and Megane E-Tech electric car, while the smaller Zoe electric car is also impressive in most respects; it's just a pity Renault omits key safety kit.

On the other hand, the Captur, Arkana and Austral SUVs are all outclassed by several rivals.

Renault has some exciting new models planned, including a new Scenic (this time it will be an electric SUV instead of a conventionally powered MPV) and two cars that reimagine classic Renaults: the 4 and 5.

RENAULT

100kW Techno R135 50kWh 5dr Auto

100kW Techno R135 50kWh Boost Charge 5dr Auto

100kw-techno-r135-50kwh-boost-charge-5dr-auto

100kW Iconic R135 50kWh Boost Charge 5dr Auto

100kw-iconic-r135-50kwh-boost-charge-5dr-auto

Renault Zoe

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

The Zoe is priced roughly in line with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/electric/hatchback/review/n20910">Mini Electric</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/leaf/hatchback/review/n17338">Nissan Leaf</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/corsa/hatchback/review/n21183">Vauxhall Corsa Electric</a>. If you're buying on PCP finance, Renault usually offers&nbsp;cheaper monthly repayments than those rivals, although you can expect to pay even less per month for an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG4</a>.

Of the two trim&nbsp;levels, we reckon entry-level Techno makes the more sense. You get 16in alloy wheels, automatic climate control, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, along with all of the infotainment gadgetry.

Stepping up to Iconic trim adds 17in alloys and a CCS socket (optional on Techno trim) for faster charging, but also pushes up the price significantly.&nbsp;With the CCS option, the Zoe's battery can be topped up&nbsp;from 10-80% in just under an hour at speeds of up to 50kW. A 22kW Type 2 charger will take about three hours, while a 7kW home wall box will&nbsp;take about 8.5 hours.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/renault">Renault</a> as a brand came 18th out of 32&nbsp;manufacturers in the 2022&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2022-what-car-reliability-survey/n23397">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>, with the Zoe itself coming mid table in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a> class. Every new Renault comes with a five-year warranty. There’s no mileage limit for the first two years, but a 100,000-mile limit applies thereafter, and the main battery is covered by a separate eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty.

Sadly, the&nbsp;Zoe scored a shocking zero stars for safety when it was assessed by <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a>&nbsp;in 2021. Disappointingly, automatic emergency braking (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">AEB</a>)&nbsp;isn't available on any trim level, leading the the safety organisation to castigate Renault for its decision to 'debase' safety.&nbsp;

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a>

One of the great benefits of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric cars</a> is that they have just one gear, so smooth, nippy acceleration is on tap the instant you squeeze the accelerator pedal. That slightly eerie, uninterrupted stream of power is what makes the Renault Zoe relaxing but also surprisingly enjoyable to drive around town.

A 134bhp electric motor drives the front wheels, giving a 0-62mph time of 9.5 seconds. Plenty of rivals – including the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG4</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/electric/hatchback/review/n20910">Mini Electric</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/208/hatchback/review/n20228">Peugeot e-208</a>&nbsp;– will get you up to motorway speeds in less time.&nbsp;

The Zoe turns into corners keenly enough, helped by light and reasonably precise steering, and there’s plenty of grip spread evenly front to rear. There's more body lean through bends than there is in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n84">electric Fiat 500</a> and the Mini, but it handles more tidily than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/corsa/hatchback/review/n21183">Vauxhall Corsa&nbsp;Electric</a>.

Frustratingly, though, the Zoe's grabby brakes make it difficult to slow your progress smoothly. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-regenerative-braking-and-how-does-it-work/n25212">regenerative braking</a> system, which recovers energy that would otherwise be wasted when slowing down, is to blame for that.

As well as working when you press the brake pedal, the system is&nbsp;also engaged to some degree when you lift off the accelerator pedal. If the mode selector is set to 'D', the slowing effect is quite gentle, but in 'B' it becomes more marked. After a bit of practice, using 'B' mode will allow you to do large parts of your journey without using the brake pedal at all.

Ride comfort is reasonable&nbsp;at low speeds, with broken road surfaces absorbed effectively enough – even potholes don't send a nasty jolt through to your backside. Overall, it's less fractious than the firmer Mini Electric, and the&nbsp;Fiat 500 has choppier ride. If comfort is a top priority, the MG4 and Peugeot e-208 are even more agreeable.

Compared with most petrol and diesel rivals, the Zoe is pretty quiet. There's no combustion engine chugging away under the bonnet, of course – just a subtle whine from the electric motor and a strange whirring at low speeds to warn pedestrians of its presence. Still, by electric car standards, the Zoe isn't actually that refined, with more wind and road noise than in the e-208.

It does beat most rivals for range, though.&nbsp;The official figures suggest between 223 to 239&nbsp;miles on a full charge is possible (it varies depending on the trim level), but even <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/renault">Renault</a> acknowledges that those numbers are very optimistic.

In our own independent tests on a warm July day, the Zoe managed 208 miles on a charge. That’s almost twice as far as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/honda-e/hatchback/review/n20882">Honda e</a>, the Mini Electric and the Peugeot e-208, but the MG4 Long Range beat all of them.

The Zoe's range will be significantly shorter in the winter (low temperatures aren't good for battery performance). You should still get&nbsp;160-170 miles from a charge, unless you're&nbsp;thrashing it down a motorway for extended periods.

OUR PICK

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

http://example.com

R135

100kw

The Renault Zoe sets out to resolve two of the most common complaints about electric cars: the high price and the often feeble range between charges.

This five-door&nbsp;hatchback can do 200 miles on a full charge in warm weather, costs less to buy than many rivals and comes with plenty of standard equipment, including a wall-mounted 7kW charger installed at your home.

It's been around for almost a decade, but <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/renault">Renault</a> has made regular improvements over the years, upping the&nbsp;interior quality and infotainment gadgetry, lengthening the range between charges&nbsp;and boosting performance.

You can pay a bit extra for the ability to use rapid CCS public charging points, which can charge the Zoe from 10-80% in just under an hour. A&nbsp;22kW public charger will give you a full charge in around three hours, while it'll take about 8.5 hours for a full charge using a typical&nbsp;wall box at home.

The Renault Zoe's main rivals are the similar-sized&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n84">Electric Fiat 500</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/honda-e/hatchback/review/n20882">Honda e</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/electric/hatchback/review/n20910">Mini Electric</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/208/hatchback/review/n20228">Peugeot e-208</a>,&nbsp;as well as the larger but closely priced <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG4</a>. So,&nbsp;how does the Zoe&nbsp;stack up against those alternatives in the areas likely to matter most to electric car buyers? Over the next few pages we'll tell you everything you could possibly want to know.

You sit quite high up in the Renault Zoe, and the fact that the driver's seat can't be lowered might prove an annoyance if you're tall. There’s enough adjustment in the seat and steering wheel to allow most people to get comfortable, though.

The view out of the front is largely unobstructed, but the rear pillars block some of the view when you’re looking back over your shoulder. Happily, all versions come with a rear-view camera to help with parking.

Although it’s a small and fairly cheap <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a>&nbsp;the Zoe does a decent job of masking that with a smart-looking and reasonably high quality interior, although you will notice a few drab plastics and some flimsy-feeling air vents.&nbsp;Overall, it's not a patch on the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/mx-30/hatchback/review/n22066">Mazda MX-30</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/electric/hatchback/review/n20910">Mini Electric</a> for interior quality.

Both&nbsp;trim levels (Techno and Iconic) come with&nbsp;a 9.3in touchscreen&nbsp;infotainment system that’s located in the middle of the dashboard. It's reasonably intuitive to use, thanks to a logical layout and sharp graphics. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> and<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193"> Apple CarPlay</a> smartphone mirroring come as standard.

The air conditioning controls are worth a mention, too. They're a combination of physical buttons and dials, so you don't have to stab away at a touchscreen just to tweak the interior temperature, as you do in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/e208/hatchback/review/n20228">Peugeot e-208</a>.

All trims get a crisp 10.0in digital display behind the steering wheel, rather than conventional instrument dials. You can set it to show a cute graphic of a leaf that grows and shrinks depending on how efficiently you’re driving.

Small electric car is a good all-rounder blighted by a terrible Euro NCAP safety rating

There’s plenty of space in the front of the Renault Zoe for tall adults to get comfy, and storage is generous&nbsp;too. There's a convenient tray below the touchscreen to stow your phone, a couple of small cupholders and a shallow cubby for pens and other oddments above the glovebox.

All models have five doors, making access to the rear seats fairly easy. Once inside, shorter adults will be more than comfortable, but taller folk will find themselves a bit squeezed for head room and, if there’s a long-legged person sitting in front, knee room too. The&nbsp;Zoe beats the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n84">electric Fiat 500</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/electric/hatchback/review/n20910">Mini Electric</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/208/hatchback/review/n20228">Peugeot e-208</a> for rear passenger space, but if you often&nbsp;need to put adults in the back, you'd be better off with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG4</a>.

The Zoe has a surprisingly big boot. It's really deep, and we managed to fit six carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf – only one fewer than the larger and more expensive <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/leaf/hatchback/review/n17338">Nissan Leaf</a> managed. The Zoe can carry far more luggage than the Mini, the Fiat 500, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/honda-e/hatchback/review/n20882">Honda e</a>&nbsp;and even the&nbsp;e-208.

Mind you, there's an annoyingly big lip at the boot entrance, and when you fold down the rear seatbacks (which split 60/40), you're left with a big step in the floor of the extended load bay.

techno

iconic

Well priced, fairly practical and has a longer range between charges than most of its rivals. Sadly, it's let down but Renault's decision to omit critical safety kit, something that resulted in Euro NCAP giving the car a shocking zero star rating.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test </li> <li>Quick charging times and compatibility with the most ubiquitous types of public charging points </li> <li>Priced to be within the grasp of more than just the privileged few </li> <li>As with any car, ride comfort, practicality and ownership costs can’t be ignored</li></ul>

We define an electric car as one that runs purely on battery power and has no tailpipe to puff out nasty chemicals.

The best of the breed offer sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test cycle.

Electric

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Spacious enough for four adults to sit comfortably</li> <li>Logically laid-out interior that doesn’t</li> <li>feel too cheap</li> <li>Mature driving manners </li> <li>Decent-sized boot</li> <li>Competitive buying and running costs</li></ul>

Small cars, or superminis as they’re also known, used to be bought almost exclusively as first cars or by people with no children – but the likes of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/review/n106">Ford Fiesta</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ibiza/hatchback/review/n17359">Seat Ibiza</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen Polo</a> have grown to the point where they can be considered all-round family transport, albeit with the odd compromise.

Small

<h2>What we're looking for </h2><ul><li>Generous enough real-world range to fit most lifestyles</li> <li>Plenty of charging options and quick top-up times </li> <li>Usable space and strong practicality</li> <li>Comfortable ride that isn’t hindered by a heavy battery</li></ul>

With so many electric cars now on offer, we've split the smaller models from the larger ones to ensure that we're able to compare direct rivals.

As well as being adept at coping with city life, small electric cars need to be roomy enough for a couple of adults and able to drive a decent amount of miles between charges.&nbsp;

There are some great small electric cars to choose from. The affordable Seat Mii Electric proves you don't have to have break the bank to go green, the Renault Zoe has been improved in every area, making it a great small EV prospect, and the Kia e-Niro was named our overall 2019 Car of the Year.

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