Renault Zoe Dynamique Nav R90 ZE 40

Overall rating

The Renault Zoe has been on sale in the UK since 2013 and, along with the comical little Twizy, makes up the French manufacturer's electric vehicle offering. Facelifted for the 2017 model year, the Zoe benefits from a new 250-mile battery, as well as a more luxurious top level trim – dubbed Signature Nav.

Of all the electric vehicles currently on the market, the Zoe is one of the prettiest. In fact, it's better looking than a large number of traditional superminis, too. Unfortunately, while Renault might have done a great job as far as the car's exterior design is concerned, the cabin doesn't quite live up to the same standard, and feels rather dull – if well put together.

Our test car was fitted with the new top-of-the-range ZE40 battery that promises a range of 250 miles on the NEDC cycle. This isn't exactly representative of the real world range though, as our test vehicle promised 130 miles from a full charge. However, that is more than enough for an average week of commuting to the office.

As far as performance is concerned, the Zoe can complete the sprint from 0-60mph in 13.3 seconds and has a top speed of just 84mph. While this isn't really ideal if you have to face a stint on the motorway, the instant torque means you won't be holding anyone up while driving around town.

The Zoe also does well in the practicality stakes. Although it might not be the ideal car for adults over long journeys, it will easily dispatch the school run, and its 338-litre boot will swallow backpacks and shopping bags with ease.

Our verdict on the Renault Zoe Dynamique Nav R90 ZE 40

There is certainly a lot to like about the Renault Zoe. It looks good, won't cost a ridiculous amount of money to run, and has more than enough space for children. As a secondary family vehicle and urban runabout, the Zoe makes a great deal of sense.

Costs

Although prices for the Zoe start at the £14,245 mark, this figure doesn't include the mandatory monthly battery hire fee. This ranges from £49 per month for the 22kWh battery to £59 per month for the top-flight Z.E. 40 battery. While this might seem like an unfair expense, compared with monthly fuel bills it isn't too unreasonable.

Space and practicality

Although the Renault Zoe does offer five seats, squeezing five adult-sized passengers into the car would be a rather uncomfortable affair. Two adults will find the back seats comfortable enough over short journeys, however the upright seating position will start to grate before long. Children shouldn't have too much cause for complaint, however. As far as boot space is concerned, the Zoe offers 338 litres of room – which is certainly comparable with the majority of superminis on the market.

Controls and display

As Renault has given the Zoe a rather basic interior, you never have to look too hard to find whatever control you're looking for. The dash houses only a handful of controls, with the infotainment system and air conditioning being the only features present here. The touchscreen, while on the small side, is easy enough to read, as is the narrow digital readout that replaces the traditional instrument binnacle.

Comfort

For trundling around town, the Renault Zoe won't leave you in any amount of discomfort. The seats are fairly soft and supportive, and the lack of a traditional internal combustion engine means the cabin is relatively quiet and relaxing when travelling at lower speeds. The suspension does err on the firm side of things, however, which means that larger imperfections in the road surface can send a jolt through the cabin.

Car security

Thanks to automatic central locking, keeping intruders out of the Zoe shouldn't be too much of a problem. As it also doesn't carry quite the same levels of badge prestige as some of the more upmarket cars, it shouldn't attract too much attention when parked in the street.

Car safety

When the Zoe was crash tested by Euro NCAP back in 2013, it was awarded the full five-star rating. This included scores of 89 per cent for adult occupant protection, 80 per cent for child occupant protection and 66 per cent for pedestrian protection. This facelifted version features a range of safety equipment, including six airbags, electronic stability control and ISOFIX car seat fittings to name but a few.

Driver appeal

Despite the Zoe's rather sporty looks, don't expect any blistering performance. The electric motor develops a puny 91bhp and 220Nm of torque, which translates to a 0-60mph sprint time of 13.3 seconds and a top speed of just 84mph. Around the city, this is more than enough to get you from A to B comfortably, but out on the motorway the Zoe is lacking as far as punch is concerned.

Family car appeal

The Renault Zoe makes a very compelling case for itself as a secondary family vehicle. It's spacious enough to ferry children to and from school, and has more than enough luggage capacity for the weekly shop. As an urban runabout, it's hard to fault – particularly as you won't have to pay for petrol. That said, a traditional primary family vehicle will likely still be a necessity, especially if you're planning on taking any long trips together.

First car appeal

There is a lot to be said for owning a Zoe as a first car. Prices start at £14,245 for the basic Expression Nav model, you won't have to pay for fuel and thanks to its light steering and small proportions it's incredibly easy to drive. The only potential deal-breaker is the monthly battery hire fee of £49 – but then again, chances are you'd end up paying more for a month's fuel in a traditional combustion-powered car.

Quality and image

To our eyes, the Renault Zoe is certainly one of the more attractive electric vehicles currently on the market. There's something distinctly chic about its design, and it gives the impression that it would look right at home on the trendier streets of Paris. However, the same can't quite be said of the interior, which does feel rather low-rent and drab. Still, it's a comfortable place to be, and it does give the impression of being well built, too.

Accessibility

While the Renault Zoe is a small car, its five-door layout makes getting in and out not too much of an issue. It sits at a reasonable height too, meaning you don't have to lower yourself down too far when climbing aboard.

Stereo and ICE (In car entertainment)

Our mid-range Dynamique Nav test car came fitted with Renault's seven-inch R-Link touchscreen infotainment system as standard. This includes features such as satellite navigation, DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity. The system is fairly basic, and not quite as good as those offered by other manufacturers, though it's easy enough to use and navigate. There's no high-end stereo system offered in Dynamique Nav models, but top-flight Signature Nav cars benefit from premium Bose speakers as standard.

Colours and trim

The Renault Zoe is quite a pretty, eye-catching little car. Renault offers its EV supermini in a selection of fairly understated colours, with the majority of the range consisting of whites, dark greys and blacks. The most interesting shades available on the Zoe are Zircon Blue and the Mars Red colour that our test vehicle was painted. There are three trim levels available to UK customers – Expression Nav, Dynamique Nav and Signature Nav.

Parking

Thanks to the Zoe's miniature proportions, even learner drivers shouldn't have too much trouble when the time to park up inevitably comes around. Thanks to a rather tall driving position, you have a good view out of the car, and rear parking sensors will warn you if you're coming too close to any unseen obstacles. Our test vehicle was fitted with an optional £250 rear parking camera – a standard feature on Signature Nav cars – which made manoeuvring the Zoe into tight spaces that much easier.

Spare wheel

Emergency tyre repair kit supplied as standard.

Range information

Battery options: 22kW ; ZE40.

Alternative cars

• Hyundai Ioniq Larger vehicle with a more spacious and well-appointed interior.
• Nissan Leaf Incredibly popular, but not as pretty.
• BMW i3 Brilliant futuristic styling, but fairly pricey.
• Volkswagen e-Up! Also on the expensive side, isn't as practical either.