The ZOE is the fourth full electric plug-in car to have been launched by Renault. Previous creations already in the company’s line-up include the Kangoo Z.E. van and the Twizy city car. The latter will make the biggest cynic smile after driving it.

The Renault ZOE is similar in size and design to conventional five-door superminis like the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa. The key difference of course, however, is that the ZOE is driven purely by an electric motor.

Thanks to the UK £5,000 Government plug-in vehicle grant you can get a Renault ZOE for a ‘discounted’ price. When you mix in exceptionally low running costs then the ZOE starts to become a very attractive proposition. Will the ZOE short a fuse and fizzle out or will it shock you with electrifying performance?

Performance

The ZOE feels sprightly when in and around town thanks to the 87bhp electric motor. Prod the accelerator and the power is instant as there is no turbo lag to wait on.

Figures are never going to wow you, but if you remind yourself that this is an electric car then the benchmark sprint time of 13.5 seconds and a top speed of 84mph are pretty respectable. If you are planning on sticking to the roads of the concrete jungle, then you will be happy to hear that it takes just four seconds to reach 0-30mph. 

Handy if you need a burst of acceleration when pulling out of junctions.

Ride and Handling

There was quite a large amount of bodyroll when cornering enthusiastically but city driving is what this electric car is built for and therein it should remain.

Thanks to its light steering, the ZOE is easy to drive. The steering is however very numb, which isn’t great when you start to venture onto B roads. There was quite a large amount of bodyroll when cornering enthusiastically but city driving is what this electric car is built for and therein it should remain. The VW Up! and Ford’s Ka are better to drive, but the ZOE is pretty good for an electric car. Also, those who like the convenience of an automatic gearbox will really enjoy the ZOE’s ‘stop & go’ styled gear selector.

Interior and Equipment

The Renault ZOE was one of the top three finalists which contended for the 2013 World Green Car of the Year award.

There is definitely a futuristic vibe about the ZOE, thanks to its white interior colour scheme, micro-chip styled detailing on the roof and a swooshing silver ‘wind turbine’ design on the dashboard.  On the practicality front the ZOE is surprisingly spacious. With the seats in place it has a load space of 338 litres.  That comfortably beats ‘mainstream’ superminis including the Ford Fiesta and Renault Clio. Just like the Nissan LEAF you can remotely heat the cabin of the ZOE via the ‘My Z.E. interactive pack’, especially useful in winter months. Some may be worried about kit in the ZOE, but you shouldn’t be as every model comes with Bluetooth, USB connectivity, touchscreen infotainment system with a built in sat nav and climate control as standard. Parking sensors are also available, but for an added cost.

Cost

Nine hours will charge the ZOE to full capacity when using a household socket and will cost you just £1. 

One of the issues with the ZOE is that you will have to rent the battery and at £70 each month, which is hardly cheap. This does mean, however, that battery will always be under warranty should anything go wrong giving you added peace of mind. Just like the Nissan LEAF, the ZOE has a limited travel range, particularly compared to any conventional powered family car. It has a claimed distance of 130 miles on a full charge – although this is more likely to be around 100. Drive the ZOE enthusiastically or keep the aircon on at full power and you will reduce that range quite significantly. Nine hours will charge the ZOE to full capacity when using a household socket and will cost you just £1. However, a fast-charging point will take the battery up to around 80 per cent battery capacity in just 30 minutes. There is also an optional Wall-Box charger you can have fitted in your house, which takes 3.5 hours to fully charge the ZOE and cost £3 in electricity charges.

Our Verdict

The Renault ZOE is a very accomplished electric car. It has incredibly low running costs and should be a boon around town thanks to being extremely nippy and easy to park. The ZOE is bigger in terms of stowage space when comparing to the Ford Fiesta, meaning it is a very practical addition the Renault line-up. Other attractions of the ZOE include its lengthy standard equipment list and the neat futuristic design. It’s also attractively priced compared to the majority of other electric vehicles currently on sale. Still though, it’s pricier to purchase then a lot of petrol or diesel-powered equivalents. The ZOE makes the most sense if you plan to use it for commuting in a city and you know there are charging points within convenient reach.