What’s hot
- Excellent electric drivetrain providing smooth, quiet progress and very strong acceleration at town speeds
- “Chameleon” fast charger, patented by Renault, compatible with all power levels from 3kW (typical domestic installation) up to 43kW (public fast charger); a charge takes between 30 minutes and nine hours.
- Very keen starting price (after allowing for the government’s £5000 Plug-In Car Grant) for an EV of £13,650 (£13,995) – although the Zoe’s battery pack must be leased separately for £70 per month upwards
- Free domestic charging wallbox worth up to £500
- First Renault with the company’s R-Link connectivity technology, featuring entertainment, information and EV-specific apps
- Three generous spec levels; Expression, Dynamique Zen and Dynamique Intens
- Expression features fifteen inch wheels with Michelin energy-saving tyres, R-Link, sat nav, climate control, cruise control and hill-start assist
- Dynamique Zen and Intens have sixteen-inch wheels, remote battery charging and air-con/heating activation
- Dynamique Intens gets a rear parking camera, Zen gets Teflon upholstery protection
- Roomy and stylish interior
What’s not
- The usual EV limitation – limited range, homologated at 130 miles on the NEDC standard, with 90 being a more realistic figure in day to day use, although that fast-charging helps a lot if you can find the right facilities.
- The extra weight of those batteries and the suspension required to carry them make themselves felt in quite a firm, but not unpleasant ride.