Compact EV playing the long game

Renault’s electric supermini brings big-car range but at a price, writes Matt Allan

There’s an advert on TV now that shows four friends having a great time as they glide around in a Renault Zoe. The tagline is “room for everyone”.

Now, unless everyone is a contortionist, I’ve got an issue with that. The Zoe has many qualities but spaciousness is not one of them. Like most superminis you’ll fit two average sized adults and a couple of small kids into the Zoe but four adults will struggle.

If I was Renault, I’d be making more of the fact that this is a compact EV that offers the kind of range usually reserved for far larger vehicles - up to 238 miles on a charge.

There’s an argument that if you’re using an EV for short urban journeys, you don’t need a huge range but that forgets the millions of people who can’t charge at home. For those in flats or terraced houses, a range of 240+ miles means far fewer trips to public charging stations.

It also means that drivers who cover larger distances but don’t need a big vehicle can have a compact EV capable of long drives.

The Zoe was once the only option when it came to smaller EVs but now it finds itself surrounded by rivals ranging from the Fiat 500 and Honda e to the Vauxhall Corsa E and Peugeot e-208. Yet it still outperforms all of them in terms of range.

That plays into the Renault’s favour when it comes to range anxiety but the downside is that the 52kWh battery means it’s priced closer to the Corsa and 208 while feeling more like the cheaper Mini or Fiat in terms of size and practicality.

Straddling the middle ground gives the Zoe some advantages. For a start, it feels as nimble and responsive as you’d want from a city car. It’s compact enough to dart confidently around the urban jungle, backed by the instant zip from its 132bhp motor.

But it rides better than most city cars and feels more confident on open roads where good body control and impressive refinement mean it feels like its larger rivals.

Interior space is tight compared with those larger rivals and passengers feel slightly perched. The seats are, however, comfortable and visibility is good.

The Zoe’s cabin features decent quality plastics and looks and feels modern but it lacks the premium feel or styling that will attract buyers to the likes of the Mini and Fiat 500.

Our test car is a top-of-therange GT Line which starts at £32,095, comes packed with equipment and offers the more powerful of two motor options. Cheaper versions start from £27,595 and come with a 108bhp motor but the same 52kWh battery.

There’s a lot to like about the Zoe, from its effortless electric drive and decent refinement to the way it feels suited to city driving while offering class-leading range. But that’s also its stumbling block. The extra power and range mean it costs more than true city cars but it feels less spacious and practical than B-segment rivals.