Renault Zoe - third generation electric car

Renault Zoe is not a first timer in electric car circles, as the latest third-generation all-electric Zoe was first launched back in 2012.

The current Zoe ZE 50 model is a fun companion in the city, but for a small car with a rather large 52 kWh battery, it can at best cover more than 300 km on a single charge.

At the end of the day, there are always two important things that seem to weigh in the balance when it comes to electric cars.
How far can you go on a single charge? How quickly can I charge the car?

Renault Zoe has managed to answer at least one of these questions almost perfectly.

Big battery, but consumption could be cut

In the Zoe’s size class, battery sizes vary widely among competitors. Zoe’s 52 kWh battery ranks comfortably at the top of the list. There is no constant worry about charging the battery.

You can drive the car for several days in a row without constantly thinking about the next charging stop.

During a week’s test drive, electricity consumption averaged 19-20 kWh/100 km. The outside air temperature varied between zero and 100 degrees Celsius and the car was always driven when it was cold, with a temporary high electricity consumption due to the heating of the interior.

Given the number of cold starts and the test driving conditions, consumption can be considered average, although there is room for improvement.

In summer conditions, consumption will certainly be some kilowatts lower. In Finland, frosts can easily last up to six months, so as a winter car the Zoe offers a range of around 250 km.

No need to sit at the charging station for hours on end

You can always improve your electricity consumption, but when it comes to charging options, the Zoe earns almost full marks.

Regardless of the equipment level, the car always comes with a 22 kW AC charger. This allows the car to charge from empty to full in just under 2.5 hours. A 22 kW charger is not a given in the higher end of the range.

An optional CCS quick charger has been added, which may come in handy for drivers with a busier lifestyle.

Priced at just over a thousand euros, the quick charger allows the car to be charged at 50 kW, which will fully charge the car in about an hour.

The charging socket is conveniently located directly under the Renault logo on the front of the car. The plug is ideally located for ease of use. You can drive straight to the charger with the front of the car in front of you, so there’s no need to turn the car around.

Public charging stations range in price from completely free charging points to charging stations costing more than €0.40 per kWh.

At the consumption figures of the test drive and a price of €0.20 per kWh, the electricity cost is around €4/100 km.

Recycled materials inside

The Zoe is ecological in terms of electricity consumption, and the interior of the car also takes environmental values into account. In the Zen and Intens trim levels, the dashboard fabric and seat upholstery are made from recycled seat belts and plastic bottles, among other materials.

Inside, the Zoe is compact, especially in the rear compartment. There are seats for five, but fitting three adults in the back requires some adjustment on longer journeys. In the front, there’s a reasonable amount of space.

Exterior visibility is mostly good, except for a blind spot on the right-hand side. The thick B-pillar and seat get badly in the way of the field of vision. A blind spot warning in the mirror warns of an adjacent car, but cyclists and walkers need to be more alert.

Depending on the trim level, a 7- or 9.3-inch vertically mounted touchscreen is attached to the dashboard.

The touchscreen is not the easiest to use and takes some getting used to.

The Zen and Intens trim levels give you a wireless charging pad for the phone in the centre console, and the Intens trim level adds a choice of Bose audio options.

Easy to drive

The Zoe is an effortless and easy car to drive in the city, thanks to its compact size and enhanced controls. The steering is light and the brake pedal even feels over-stepped and sensitive at first.

The stability control systems do their job well on slush, ice and snow. Thanks to the electric motor, the throttle response is immediate and the ride is decisive even at motorway speeds.

The Zoe starts at €29 390, with the Life trim level, and comes with everything you need, without much in the way of comfort or ‘extras’.

In the next Zen trim level, at €30,990, the car’s equipment list is upgraded with alloy wheels, lane departure warning and reversing radar, among other things.

At the top of the range is the Intens trim level, where for €32 990 the car is loaded with almost all available equipment, including navigation, reversing camera and active parking assist.

The electric motor in the Intens-equipped Zoe is upgraded from 109 hp in the Life and Zen trim levels to 136 hp.

The €2,000 electric car purchase grant is available on all Zoe models currently on sale.