Renault Zoe Review

Practicality and Boot Space

The Renault Zoe is a small car, so you can't expect the same space as a larger car such as a Nissan Leaf. However it should be big enough for small families. It’s a five door too (the rear handles are hidden to give a sportier look) so school-run pick-ups are easy and quick. 

Once inside, the seating position is a little more upright than you’d find in a standard car of this size but it’s never uncomfortable. It’s a shame the driver’s seat doesn’t adjust for height though, but you soon get used to it.

In the back it would be a tight squeeze for adults, and the rear door openings are small which makes folding yourself in a bit awkward. But kids will be fine and two grown-ups will be OK for shorter journeys too. It’s certainly comparable to other hatchbacks of this size. 

The biggest surprise though is the boot. At 338-litres it’s as accommodating as most cars from the class above, such as a Ford Focus or VW Golf.

Technology

It might be one of the cheapest electric cars you can buy and a relatively familiar sight on our roads, but the Renault Zoe is a surprisingly advanced car – especially after its latest upgrade. 

The traditional instruments are replaced with a screen, just like you’d find in an Audi or Porsche. Then there’s a big central tablet-style screen in the middle of the dashboard, like a smaller version of the one you’d find in a Tesla. It can all be controlled with voice commands so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road to prod buttons. The Zoe also connects easily to your smartphone too, with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. As with most things these days there’s also an app, allowing you to check the battery status, pre-heat the passenger compartment and plan a route to include charging stations.

There’s no need to worry about your phone battery going flat either. Once you’ve exhausted it there’s a wireless charging pad under the Zoe’s centre console. 

Safety

Renault used to have a reputation for making very safe cars, but the independent EuroNCAP organisation gave the Zoe its lowest zero rating in the latest 2021 test - quite a fall from the full five star rating it received in 2013. This is partially because Renault has stripped out some of the accident preventing equipment from lower models in the Zoe range, but there were some worrying results in the physical tests too, especially in side impacts. This is sure to be a concern if you are carrying you family around.