Renault Zoe Review

Range

It might be a small car, but the Renault Zoe’s new bigger battery means it has the capacity to venture out of town and take on bigger journeys. We think 200 miles should be comfortable to achieve without too much effort and 245 miles could be possible if you drive gently and the weather is mild. This is important as the heater and air conditioning sap battery power in extreme temperatures.

Perhaps more importantly, the Zoe’s extra range could be used by drivers who don’t have off-street parking. One charge a week at a supermarket or service station could see them through for seven days of motoring with no petrol.

Bear in mind that the Iconic model isn't as efficient as the Techno though, getting 16 fewer miles out of a charge in official tests. 

Battery

The latest version of the Zoe has seen the battery grow in capacity to 52kWh thanks to some clever new chemistry – that’s 25% more capacity than the old model, despite it being physically exactly the same size as before. That might be about half the size of a big Tesla’s powerpack, but the Zoe is a much smaller and lighter car, so its range is still very respectable. 

Like most electric cars, the battery is located under the floor to lower the centre of gravity and keep it safe. It means the Zoe feels roomier than rivals which are converted from petrol cars and have compromised passenger or boot space as a result.  

Charging

Topping up the batteries in a Zoe couldn’t be simpler – but there aren’t many options available compared to most rivals. Most customers will be expected to use the commonly available home, work or public points which can charge at anything between 3 and 22kW using an AC feed from the mains. 

The top version of the Zoe, called Iconic has the option to use a 50kW DC rapid charger through a CCS plug. It allows you to get an extra 90 miles or so of range in 30 minutes from a service station charger.