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The Renault Zoe was one of the first proper electric cars available from a major manufacturer. It debuted all the way back in 2013, and was one of just a handful of EVs on sale at the time. Now, almost every car manufacturer offers an EV, so the Zoe was one of the real pioneers.
Early cars were relatively short on range, and Renault tried to keep the purchase price down by offering a battery rental scheme, which was more attractive when new than for used buyers. But Renault has kept the Zoe fresh over the years and while it’s no longer a class-leader, later examples offer a useful saving over new ones and benefit from a pretty good range.
If you want a conventional five-door supermini with electric power, like the Zoe, then the Peugeot e-208 and Vauxhall Corsa Electric are two such options. A Honda E is more stylish but can’t get close to the Zoe on range, while heavy depreciation means some larger models also fall within reach of Zoe shoppers.
This is a question of two parts. If you’re tempted by an early Renault Zoe, thanks to the low prices these cars are now available for, then you’ll need to bear in mind that with a range of only around 100 miles, and slower charging than many modern EVs, they’re best suited to local drivers only.
Later Zoes though are much more usable, with faster charging rates and a longer range to begin with - up to 239 miles depending on spec, and even considering real-world range will likely be lower, they should still go twice as far as the earliest cars. The question then becomes whether the Zoe is worth buying over some of the alternatives for similar money.
There’s a lot to like. The Zoe’s styling is ageing well, and both early and later models have attractive cabins - the early cars denoted by a simple design in light trim shades, and later cars with a cabin more like the current Renault Clio. Infotainment tech has improved over the years but all are comfortable and offer good visibility.
Renault focused more on comfort than handling with the Zoe, so while it grips well, you’ll get sharper handling from a similarly-sized EV like the Mini Electric, or a similarly-priced car like the MG4. Naturally, there’s no engine noise, though you’ll start to notice some wind and tyre noise at higher speeds.
Newer designs like the Peugeot e-208 and Vauxhall Corsa Electric offer similar range to the Zoe and slightly more modern features, while the Mini Electric and Fiat 500e are more funky to look at and better to drive - though later Zoes actually still beat the Mini and Fiat on range. Due to rapid depreciation on some EVs though, you may find larger, longer-range cars for the same money as a nearly-new Zoe.
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As an electric car the best advice we can give you is to buy the most recent Renault Zoe that your budget allows. Renault has improved both the Zoe’s range, charging ability, and equipment levels over the years, so while earlier cars were perfectly decent, later models are simply more usable. That said, if you only plan to be using the Zoe for local runs, then even the early models with around 100 miles of range may be more than sufficient, and they’re great value.
Keep an eye out for those with quicker charging options, but don’t worry too much about trim level otherwise - recently at least, there’s not a great difference in equipment between models, and range is harmed on Iconic versions by the larger wheels.
Renault Zoe R135: In the current Renault Zoe range there’s just a single battery size and motor available, so you get 52kWh of capacity, and a 135PS motor. The Zoe can reach 0-62mph in 9.5 seconds, and it has an official WLTP range of 239 miles in Techo trim, and 223 miles in Iconic models. A 0-80% rapid charge takes 1h 10min, while a typical 7.4kW home wallbox can charge from 0-100% in 9h 30min.
As the Renault Zoe has been on sale for over a decade now, Renault has changed trim levels a few times and offered different equipment along the way. The trim levels listed below refer to the most recent models, which are better equipped than the earliest cars, as well as having the latest battery and charging technology.
The Renault Zoe Techno equipment includes 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a 9.3-inch touchscreen navigation system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, auto headlights and wipers, cruise control, a heated steering wheel, and more.
The Renault Zoe Techno Boost Charge only differs from the regular Techno in one way, coming with a standard 50kW combo CCS DC charger.
The Renault Zoe Iconic Boost Charge gets larger 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, and titanium door strip detailing.
The Renault Zoe’s dimensions are:
Length: 4087mm
Width: 1787mm (without mirrors), 1845mm (with mirrors)
Height: 1562mm
The Renault Zoe’s boot size is:
338 litres
1225 litres with the rear seats folded (to roof)
It’s good news here, as regardless of which year of Zoe you’re looking at, you won’t have to pay a penny in VED or ‘road tax’. Even as the tax structure has changed over the years, electric vehicles have always been free to tax - though this may change in future.
An early Renault Zoe in Expression trim starts in group 15, while a nearly-new Techno is group 18. Some trim levels go up to group 25, so it’s worth double-checking the insurance costs of any car you’re looking at.