Is that a slang term . I speak a little Portuguese and not heard that in conversation and I looked it up on translation site and it came up with boceta not Kona?
Thank you for the huge mentions. Your correct it's a huge disappointment with what Renault have done, putting people's safety to a lesser standard than older ZOEs and higher risk of potential serious injury on side impact. The move over to the Kona is hopefully a short term and Renault will bring the GT5E to us with high flying 5 star NCAP. I would also like to say that the passion for ZOE is still there for many and just because my heart has been deflated on this occasion I needed to stand strong and protect my life and family's life with the thought of a potential side impact made us all feel uncomfortable driving the ZE50 anymore. Myself and RZOC are still fully supportive of the ZOE and my personal circumstances and actions where not forced by anyone else apart from mine and my families heart felt discussion.
As a motor trade professional, there aren't many motoring channels I watch without cringing. This is one and, not only do I not cringe, I really enjoy it and why TH-cam is killing TV as a channel wouldn't sign off on content like this, and it's exactly this kind of stuff (and presentation) that consumers actually want. Good job Jonny.
I have the exact same car, it’s mainly just for the two of us, we’re both 70 and my wife is called Hazel, it’s perfect for us, yes it has some minor faults, such as very little storage space, can’t adjust the seats up or down, and you need a pair of mole grips to adjust the seat’s recline feature, doors sound cheap when closing them and the roof body to door alignment is very poor quality, if you look very careful and compare drivers door with the passengers door one is slightly higher by 5mm. And my wife doesn’t like the fact you have to push the auto gear stick forward to go into reverse and backwards to go forwards, I think a left and right action would make better sense. But all round the performance is very good. I got it in June 2020 and now disappointed to hear about the Ncap rating, shame I can’t have the pillar airbags fitted retrospectively. if I was looking to buy a new EV today I would most likely go for the new Ora Cat larger battery option.
Ora cat seems really promising (apart from a few reports of motors/battery overheating going up hills), can’t wait for Jonny’s full review when he gets to drive it.
Well, I understand your wife's point of view, but it's usually done this way. In any P-R-N-D gearbox with a classic knob, you have to push forward to engage R and backwards to select D. So, I'm with Renault on this. On the other hand, the satellite knob for the radio and the cruise control button near the handbrake (at least in older models) really need to be given a thought, IMHO. The interior and adjustments quality is low, but not that bad compared to other Renault products and taking into consideration this is a reasonably priced EV. I think you made a good choice 😃👍
@@Robcomesana With all of the fundamental change involved in going to EV I think Forward to go forward makes much more sense, just like every boat I have ever used.
I have had a Zoe since October 2020 driven 13500miles mostly charged for free at local stores etc. The biggest advantage being the fact I can charge up to 22kw where as most cars can't. (With the type 2 charger)
Most people after NCAP tried to dismiss the rating including many friends… when I published my video with side by side airbag compassion they thought again about dismissing it. As my first ever EV and my number one selling car at work am upset Renault took a step back on safety
Yes, the airbag issue is bad but it has nothing to do with the NCAP rating change. NCAP have explicitly said that even without that change it would have got at most 1 star, probably still zero. Apart from that one item, the current Zoe is just as safe as the one which scored five stars originally, it's just that the test has changed dramatically.
Such an amazing statement you're making with this channel. It really took the baton from Fifth Gear. The complete transparency and honesty that hones in your reviews (including addressing the 0 EURONCAP result) really should be inspiring for other car "journos". The fact that such an amazing channel is taking forever to reach 1MM subs really is a statement on how infantile the interwebs are, where more mature and complex content gets ditched on the side. As stated by others Portuguese chaps (a nationality I had for 37 years since my birth, before going to more salubrious shores) the word Kona is a bit of a faff over there. So kudos for the bicycle company Kona for not changing their name.
Efficiency is so important with EVs (well hey with all cars to be honest) and it is often an overlooked stat with journos. Too many BEVs giving c. 2 miles/kWh and too many hybrids doing 30mpg or sub in real world! Shockingly bad in today’s world. Thanks Johnny for giving this real world efficiency data in your reviews. Valuable
Having had a massive accident last summer, when someone drove into us at high speed, I would never skimp on safety. Ironically, the fact we were driving a 5 star Renault undoubtedly saved my life.
Thank you Jonny for a great honest review 👍 I got my Zoe Q90 ze 40 new back in 2017 and I still love it. That was when the government grant was £4,500 and I got a excellent discount from the Renault dealer. Even the base model is smooth and quiet. When I was driving some smaller cheap petrol cars on the motorway I always could hear the engine noise and was always checking I was in the highest gear because of the noise. Once you drive Electric you won't go back.
A good, well-balanced review. Just a small point - in Eco mode the top speed is limited to 65mph, not 60 (though it can vary a bit either way depending on terrain). That seems insignificant, but is a huge advantage on motorways compared to the ZE40. You can keep up with the traffic, with heating on, and still get great economy. I’m more embarrassed than worried by the airbag removal - the range of safety features is impressive.
For £7k (ish) more than the GT line I have just bought a Kia E-Niro 4+ (£38k). I really wanted to like the Zoe, but reducing passenger safety for a cost saving is a massive red flag for me. I am more than happy I made the right decision, but it’s a shame because the Zoe is all the car I need size wise. With a bit of effort it could have been so much more.
Many thanks Anne. There is a lot to like about the Zoe. It is unassuming, but goes about its business v well. The range is also very impressive. Hope you enjoy yours.
We went from a Q90 40kw Zoe to an identical car to this one. Our first Zoe went 10% up in value in the 18 months we had it. The Zoe is a wonderful car with more room in the back than a Kona. I would buy another in a heartbeat. Finally I have driven over 2 million kilometers & have never popped an airbag!!
I like my ze40 2018 more than the current version. 17” wheels and metallic purple. All the airbags etc in place. The lowest I’ve ever got is 3.6miles kWh. Love monitoring the regen, fast when I want. Never tried eco, I use my right foot for that. Thanks for the thorough review K:)
Another great video, Jonny. We’ve been driving Zoe’s for six years, we’ve had one of each battery variant. We love it, but the cost cutting on what was a much, much more expensive ZE50 has left us pretty shocked. Renault’s response is poor and it’s that cavalier attitude to owner’s safety means we will almost certainly not buy another Renault. Loyal custom lost, to a save pennies on a vitally important bit of safety kit. Renault have treated their customers with contempt. Really sad about it, over the years I’ve persuaded a few folk to buy one too. Wouldn’t do that again.
@@watannen Do most people really care about dieselgate? I don't, you cant just endlessly set limits and hope the manufacturers can magic up some new tech that works to the new limit and still have a working car, it takes years of R&D and 100s of millions and you still may not find the answer to make it work.
@@watannen you will need to fall out with literally every manufacturer, they were all at it, just due to the size of the V.A.Group, they found it with them. Look now at mercedes benz, they are getting flack for it too. Dosnt stop there being many of the vag diesel cars on the road. I personally think, what vw done wasnt even that bad...genius actually. They are still probably the biggest players on the market regardless.
What a useful and honest review. The value of having lived with it for a long time is huge and enabled you to offer insights that aren’t normally available. Summed up my thoughts on contemplating whether to go for a Zoe. Based on this I would be really tempted to wait for an Ora Cat.
My Wife has had her Zoe ZE50 for just over a year she loves it. From time to time I like to borrow it when she lets me. We love the Zoe. It’s functional and friendly lovely little car. Suits our family needs done short and long journeys no problem especially love the ac 22kWh charging and the rapid charge capabilities. Thank you for all your amazing reviews Jonny. You’re awesome 😎
I had a Zoe ZE40 for three years, it was very cheap to run but oh so dull and I was always disappointed it was my car when I saw it parked. I test drove the ZE50, much better but the dealer wanted £17k on top of my car ( which was a rare battery owned model). I ended up buying an 8 year old SLK that I absolutely love despite much higher running costs.
serves the greedy dealer right! - M dealer couldnt even be bothered to let me drive their test car - 'come back when u are more serious' comment - so I went elsewhere and got a GT135 :) - which I love :)
Considered a Zoe but ended up going for the electric 500, which grabbed my heart more, and don’t regret it. Could be tempted by the electric Megane to replace the 500 and our ICE car, hope Renault ensure it gets full NCAP marks.
You don’t want all the high tech crap ncap needs for full marks though. Your better looking at the individual categories for crash protection. NCAP is just a joke these days.
First off, I've been daily-ing a Zoe for the last 3 years, started with the 1st gen 40kWh and moved up to the new one with the same spec as in the video. TL;DR : I would describe the Zoe in one word as "sufficient". If you care about any of the things that the Zoe lacks, then you would be better off with another car. If the Zoe is good enough for you, then it will be a great car and companion. The make or break condition is that you have a good enough shop that can take care of any issues that may make you bring the car to them. I watched the video and added my thoughts as I went along the topics. English isn't my first language so excuse any errors. The Zoe comes with 17" inch wheels in Germany. The Zoe has active cooling and heating of the battery. With the OBD2 I measured up to 3kW of heating of the battery. When it's cooled down it either uses the AC or just blows cold outside air on the pack. It never did overheat on me, even on long journey of around 1000km done exclusively on CCS. Degradation is also a non-issue on my car. ABRP shows via OBD connection a degradation of 8% in cold weather. Keep in mind that the BMS of the Zoe assumes higher degradation if the battery is cold, so I assume about 3% true degradation. People have gotten much worse values (20%) due to cold batteries. My 2020 Zoe does show heavy signs of corrosion on the rear discs. The car is one year old and has 19.000miles (30.300km). The old one had drums, and even after 30.000miles / 50.000km on my old one there were no signs of corrosion or issues. Renault declined to mend the brakes situation on my car, the dealer stated "it would pass inspection like this" and I "should use the handbrake to clean the discs". I told them I did that and the discs cannot be cleaned anymore. My efficiency is, over this distance is 18,2kWh/100km. Keep in mind that I do most of my driving outside of the city, due to the state of the world right now. The motor on the R135 is made by Renault. The Continental motor has the letter Q. The old Zoe, until 2016 afaik were sold with 22kWh batteries and Q and R motors. The first Zoes were only Q-motors, and they were called Q210 and the later R motors were sold as R240. The difference between R and Q motors is the efficiency and charging speed. The R motors are more efficient (15%) but the Q motor can charge with up to 43kW on AC plugs (64A 3 phase). R motors can charge only 22kW on AC. The Zoe is one of the only cars that measures by itself the earthing, it will not charge if there isn't a good earth. Other EVs rely on the EVSE or charging brick to do that, they will not measure by themselves the earthing of the charger. The SatNav is a interface for Carplay or Android Auto. I won't trust it bringing me over longer distances and I find it clumsy to use. The old one was much better. The ADAS are pretty useless, the lane assist pushes me into oncoming traffic on tight roads, leaving a big gap on the right side (continental europe). Renault said it was OK like this. Autonomous braking works but I reacted a tad quicker, I felt the pedal being pulled a bit beneath my foot. Automatic headlight dimming is slow to react and if the camera is dirty or fogged up it won't let you engage the brights, the lights will remain dipped until the fog/dirt is cleared. EuroNCAP result: I too will not keep my Zoe after my lease is over, I plan on returning the car because it's been sold to me as a "complete rework" and "better in every way". It's a nice car, but the safety of my friends and family is nicer. The interior is good, but bland. The old ones, especially the Bose Editions had more excitement, although worse materials which impacted visibility on sunny days. You needed to have polarised sunglasses in order to see past the reflection of the dash in the windscreen. I don't care about hard or soft plastics. The Zoe is indeed a "get the work job done" kind of car. It will get you everywhere you want and the range is sufficient. It lacks true fast charging, 50kW is more like up to 45kW and it keeps this rate up to 60% if the battery is warm enough, which it won't be when it rains and it's cold outside even after 200km of motorways and an attempt at fast charging somewhere in between. The performance on the 90PS is a bit lacking, the 110 PS and 135PS are good. Top speed is limited to 145kph on the new one, which isn't good enough for the Autobahn. I think 160kph would be ideal for that. Travel speed with a CCS equipped Zoe is best between 110 and 130kph. I drive it at 120kph. To calculate your travel time on longer journeys with CCS charging, you take the time displayed on google maps and add half of it on top. If you drive it at top speed you'll be even slower. Your medal for making it here: 🏅.
There's excellent PCP deals around at the moment, we traded in our Clio for a Zoe last year, same monthly PCP cost but much cheaper to run. Got a home charger and found it brilliant. Agree with Jonny's analysis of range, same as we have been getting in summer/winter. It is really efficient in the real world, which can show some other ev's to be lacking in this regard. It's not exciting, but it does its job very very well. A great introduction to EVs for us.
I am puzzled at this "we traded in our Clio for a Zoe last year, same monthly PCP cost" Now if I buy a Clio new it is £15k and a 3 year old one is getting £12k at the moment so the cost of it is £3k over 3 years. A Zoe new is £30k and at three years it is only worth £16k so cost £14k over 3 years. How can your monthly cost be the same? One lost £3k the other £14k the PCP needs to cover this.
@@MrPaulinbelper If you paying £200 monthly and no up front or final big payment then it would take you 12 years to pay off the £30k the Zoe costs. Something does not seem right with that, but good luck to you if that is what you have.
It's great that you talk about the structure and details of the battery...usually the visible parts of the car are mentioned..Thank you for telling the most important part..
Thank you for this video, most illuminating. The more I see about the ZOE, the more convinced I am that I want one when I finally retire and am not travelling vast distances to work.
I just bought a second hand 2020 model and I think it’s brilliant. I got an attractive price, which was important to me as someone with a limited budget but still wanting to make the switch to an EV. I heard about NCAP after I signed the deal. While it’s a real shame they cut corners like this, my previous 15 year old diesel car didn’t have any side airbags either, just like many of the old cars that are on the road today. I’m pretty sure it’s a safer car than the one I drove before.
Chops absolutely hammering the basics. Marvellous. Balance. Just goes to show the subjectivity. Wait... All your family is sick when in it... What the heck JS🤣
I got the same model Zoe at end of November 2021, used as a second car, principally suburban driving but occasionally longer journeys . Key reason I chose the car was the range, alternatives such as Mini or Honda could not do the 115 mile journey which is my longer journey in the winter with heating on, lights etc without a charge on the way. I must admit I like the higher driving position, although if buying again I would have had the optional heated seats etc ( would have been a longer wait for that spec). I have 22 Kw three phase charger at home so if I want a “ quick” charge at home, Zoe can do it.
Exactly the MINI & Honda battery driving range really is not practical even for local family use. We had a KIA SOUL EV 27kWh, range around 80miles, we were always putting it on charge, doable but not convenient and long journeys too inconvenient. ZE40 does 100mile motorway journey to South Wales with 40miles in reserve, that works for us
I ran a Twizy for a year in winter, had a Kangoo Van EV (52miles range) and a Prius PHEV for longer journeys. Now have a ZOE. • Heating - really important for how it effects range. The Kangoo EV would only do 30 miles if heating was used. Heated seats and steering wheel a plus but it is an option. Agree with Jonny - buy it as essential for winter. Q: Why is the heated steering wheel button low down on the right, out of view, and not next to the heated seat (where there is a blank button). • Range is very accurate. Sat Nav has an eco route setting so you can go further in an interesting direction you wouldn't normally choose. • Quality - paint options expensive, trim in boot shocking, my bonnet is misaligned and panel gap not regular. • Digital driver aids do work and encourage indicator use as the system does let you know if you quickly change lanes. Traffic camera recognition generally works but any fault with Google mapping will be translated in the car, i.e new road layout or speed changes. • The charge flap locks itself after pressing button on the dash. Walking round to the front with the key in your pocket assumes you have left the car and locks it. • App tells you basic info but is not a diagnostic tool or over-the-air updates. • Headroom in the back for taller people over 6ft would find it cramped.
Now THIS is a proper real world and honest long term test review👍👍 I don't have a EV or anything other than a 18yo car,because due to insane cartaxes on new vehicles here in The Netherlands i will never be able to affort anything newer than 10 yo. But i wanted to inform me regardless and this review was brilliant👌👌 Please keep up with the good work,sit👍
I tried so hard to like the Zoe when I started looking for an EV a couple of years ago, but the extremes Renault have gone to with the keeping it’s weight down and the driving position was a deal breaker, (along with the battery rental, which was still a thing then). Now, if I could put the efficiency of the Zoe in my (pinching my nose when I say it) Vauxhall Corsa e, wow, I’d be a happy person!
Automotive goodness as always Jonny and as close to appointment TH-cam as it gets. Considering how spot on Renault were safety wise with the Modus years ago, taking out proven safety tech is egregious on every level. What a shame as in every other way (especially range) it out performs the more modern competition.
Enjoyed the review, we’ve got an original 22kwh Zoe, 69k trouble free miles, apart from being finicky with some chargers for that earthing issue you mentioned. If we were looking to replace it, the zero rating would be a deal breaker for Mrs R
Great review, thank you. I'm sure somebody else will have contributed this, but you can operate the heating while charging in two ways: a) press the start button, then turn up the fan, or b) lock the door using the key fob (with you in it) and operate pre-conditioning using the app. I expect both only last ten minutes, but if you can't repeat the process, you can alternate between them (so far I've always used option 3 on cold day charging - sit in a cafe - but I appreciate that people haven't yet built cafes next to every charger).
The cabin of the Model 3 didn't impress me when I looked at one 2 years ago. Ill fitting trim parts..... and on the outside there were equally ill fitting body panels. My eNiro has none of those. Plus it has a far better warranty, and is far more practical (for me personally) than a Model 3 ever could be, due to having a hatchback, which the Model 3 hasn't.
We have a ZE 40 and whilst the 0 to 60 time of 13.5 seconds sounds painfully slow, in reality it is plenty nippy enough around town. Acceleration does trail off quite significantly above 40 mph but up until that point I would call it swift. Instant torque and no gears makes for totally seamless and useful acceleration around town.
Just completed 3 years with the ZE50 R135 GT Line and I completely agree with Jonny's assessment, the good and the bad. Overall I really like driving it, the cabin is well laid out, bar a couple of niggles, it is efficient and fast enough. I like the way it looks and the seats are surprisingly comfortable, and I am 6 feet 2 inches tall. The car feels a bit cheap and tinny in some aspects. I had mine from new and there was a body rattle from the tailgate which turned out to be defective welds, affecting a number of this third generation of cars. Odd on a car that's been around with the same body shell for a decade! Wouldn't get that on a German car. The dealer (John Banks in Cambridge) got little help from Renault at first but eventually fixed it. Nonetheless it's grown on me and it's very easy to live with. My previous was a BMW i3 Rex which felt way more upmarket but was much more expensive. The eccentricities on that car niggled though after a while and I wouldn't change back now. For range versus price there's been nothing to touch it until the MG4 arrived. That probably signals the end is nigh for the Zoe but for now it's a great EV.
More broadcast quality stuff Jonny, thank you. The Zoe is one of those 'enough' cars, isn't it? The kind of car most people could get on with, if they wanted to move from place to place, but not really to fall in love with. I like them though, an honest and fairly simple little car with great range. 5 stars to none *just* because Renault removed the side airbags? On the surface this seems to make zero (pun intended!) sense, from both Renaults' decision-making process, and Euro NCAP's testing. At almost 50, I've driven cars with barely any FLOOR (rust - yes, it really was that bad...), let alone active safety systems 🤣😂 - In over 30 years of driving I'm lucky to have never needed an airbag of any type, although I accept that I would have appreciated them in an accident, which I get is the point. Side airbags offer better protection in a particular type of accident, but only my current car (out of over 30 owned) has had them. I didn't lay awake at night fretting about driving to work the next morning, and I don't even think about where or how many airbags my car has. It wouldn't put me off buying one, ymmv of course.
I've been on board with the Renault Zoe ever since I saw the RS with the wide flared fenders years ago. I wish they'd put that into production. I love that orange sweater. Looks so comfy
I’ve got an 8 year old 22kwh Zoe. It’s still got 95% battery health, it’s not been without issues but absolutely none of them have been electrical. Motor and battery have been flawless. It’s been suspension issues for me, replaced all the springs and sometimes the arms. Also the rear drums have been a pain, glad it’s got discs at the back on the current model. I got a black one and travelled to Yorkshire to get the one I have. 1. Because it was black and makes it look quite mean all of a sudden, well, less old lady at least. 2. Because the battery is a leased battery, but it doesn’t have a lease. I’ve got this letter from Renault saying it has ‘an interest’ in the battery but no payments to be made. Basically if it goes wrong they will fix it but I don’t pay for the lease 👌🏼 I also got the dash changed, mine was cream and if it was a sunny day and you were driving between high buildings or trees then you couldn’t see out of the bloody window! Got it changed to black and Renault did it for free when it was 6 years old. It’s been a good second car but I can’t wait to change it. Probably for another i3. Bloody loved that car.
As always a great review Jonny. We have a 2015 Zoe, so the smaller battery and range, and has the 40kW rapid charging option. Minimal servicing costs, and battery SOH is 98%. At the moment it's perfect for us.
Traded up to a 2020 ZE50 4 months ago. A great move for us and benefiting from the extra range which we started to need, along with all the extra tech that comes with it. It's a great value vehicle on the 2nd hand market. Great to see your review again Jonny, as always, informative, down to earth and spot on.
We have had our new Zoe for close to 3 months now. It's mainly used as a motorway commuter as my girlfriend has a long drive to work. During this time we are getting roughly 260 kms range (161 miles). And that is in wintertime Sweden with a lot of 75 mph stints. I like that it's quiet and comfortable. It's fast enough to overtake and it feels powerful in town (110hp version). A friend has got a mustang mach e that I've tried. The Zoe is both quieter and has a much plusher ride. The worst part with the Zoe is as you said the driving position. Great for shorter people but not great for taller. I am 195 cm (6'5) tall and I would really like to lower the seat a bit. Which isn't possible. It does work, I have driven long without problems but it's a bit sad with an otherwise very comfortable car. I don't think you should be any taller than me though. It is a no bs car that gets you comfortably and cheaply from A to B and I would definitely recommend it if you are looking for a car like that.
I wonder how many Zoe owners have bought one with the idea that its still a 5 Star NCAP car. I'm sure Renault dealers don't put that in their sales pitch. "Oh yes by the way, this car has lost all of its NCAP stars, but hey, it now has plenty of Accidentology". However, when i buy a car, its the furthest thing from my mind as are most of these new driver aids like Lane departure etc, so maybe its not such a big thing. At least this Renault EV comes with doors as standard unlike its Twizzy Sibling :). A work colleague has a ZOE and she loves it. She had the original and then renewed it on lease a while back. Great vlog as always JS, and nice to see the long suffering Chops in this video. Keep up the good work.
The omission of curtain airbags for cost-cutting reasons in place of more electronic safety aids is a real kicker. You can have all the warning systems you want - but none of them are going to help you if you get T-boned at a junction. Having experienced the delights of a car ploughing into my driver's door when turning into a junction (they were overtaking the car behind me), I was quite grateful to the curtain airbags for doing what they're designed to do!
Thanks Jonny for putting this out, as a Zoe owner and an ish TH-camr I’ve loved the car but am very very unhappy with the choices Renault have made here on safety. I’d rather have an interior that looks like the old Zoe and not be dead. Although I understand style is more important to some.
The interior would be the same. The only difference is the removal of the upper portion of the side impact airbags in the seats, which is not noticeable visually.
@@rustyjoints4857 I think you miss read, my point was: what would you rather they spent the money on. A fantastic new interior to be dead in… or the same old interior from the 20/40 that was a bit dated but alive in.
Really had one of the Zoe’s on the shortlist for dipping my toe in the electric pond, and maybe one day the Renault 5 electric if it comes along. But dropping safety equipment from a car to cut costs is just such a deal breaker. If a company decides that’s something acceptable then that brand is seriously compromised. Shame really!
So, now I have now owned a Zoe ZE40 Iconic -2019 for about a week and I really really like it. The soul purpose of the car is to be my commuter car, which, as I have found, it excells at. As I see this episode again about a year after and with one week owner experience of the earlier ZE40, I realise there are very few reasons for me to have bought a ZE50 over the ZE40. I allready have grown acustomed to popping the charge port from the key fob - would feel wrong to to be able to - and apparently, my car is safer too, as it still got those side airbags (right?) It would be nice with rapid charge capability and more range, but since I only use up half the battery to and from work, which will be basically the only roads my Zoe is ever gonna see, it is no big deal not to have that. I still have the same opinion as I did in my first comment, from a year ago about the Zoe basics: an exellent every-day-no-show-off-non-SUV-kind of car. Mine is Foudre blue - I wonder if your wife would like that better than Celadon blue - in any case, I would never pick one in white (like the community workers have) or on grey scale colours (so boring!) - but if there were a yellow, green or orange shade to choose from, I might have picked one of those over blue. The Bose stereo (the reason I picked the car I picked) is magnificent! - I did keep my Modus for every other non-job-commuting journey, because I love that car to bits. The Zoe is comfortable and not sporty, which is good for commuting and the Modus is fun, agile and spacious which is perfect for weekend adventures.
I bought a 2.5 year old Zoë last summer. It is a First Edition model and has already driven 20,000 kilometers. The Zoë works very well, is very comfortable, quiet and fast enough for daily traffic. I have 3 adult children and then the back seat is on the tight side. A car ride of 1 hour is doable. I think the build quality is bad. After 65,000 kilometers, the interior and the front suspension creak. When driving over thresholds, the tailgate creaks and if you close the door a little too hard, it will not lock. The navigation system sometimes shows signs; for example, the set language spontaneously switches to French. Nevertheless, I am very satisfied with it. Drove to Italy via Germany and Switzerland during the holiday and drove 5,000 kilometers in 3 weeks!
Well, I have been sitting on the fence over this car for a couple of years, but you've convinced me to buy anything BUT a Renault Zoe. Among the many disadvantages, the boot area probably kills it for me. We need to carry a folding electric wheelchair with us and trying to haul it out of what appears to be 'the bottom of a well' and over that high rear bumper area (even though the chair is one of the lightest you can buy) is a definite no-no. Many thanks for saving me a lot of time and effort.
I have the Zoe 40 from 2017. Overall really happy with it. Was really annoyed by the entertainment system with the old tomtom nav. But after 1.5 years of owning it I finally figured out it actually has Android Auto. 😂
I have the ZE 40 2018 and agree that the r link system for the Tom Tom nav is not up to scratch. But how did you find Android Auto on your 2017 model which I can't get on my 2018? Overall, I'm happy with it though. I like the Pod point 22 kW AC chargers which are faster than 7kW home ones and FREE!
Great review Johnny I agree with pretty much everything you said and the Zoe is a car that I know I will miss when we switch away. We are on our fourth since 2017. You can get the parcel shelf out easily … from the boot … push up at the back from underneath the shelf, then back into the car over the headrests, then twist 90 degrees and pull out towards you 🙂
Great and fair review as always. I am afraid I just could not put my family in a car with such a poor NCAP result when others achieve 5 stars. Would rather pay more for a five star Zoe than save on a zero star one.
I suspect that it is via a software update since this video came out but it is now possible to open the charge port using the remote (click unlock twice) and it is also possible to run the heating while charging.
Re. motion sickness: I used to get this in the i3. Not anymore though, so might want to give these things a try: - Jack seats up a bit higher than you normally would. - Increase cabin fan speed to improve the airflow. EVs tend to tune climate control for efficiency, which may mean you're not getting as much fresh air by default. - Learn to use regenerative braking more smoothly: feather your foot gradually off the pedal rather than lifting it straight off. I'm not sure which of those worked, or if I (and passengers) just got used to the car, but there's no more travel sickness now.
I bought my 2014 Renault Zoe pre-reg in 2015 when nobody wanted a car with a 70 mile range. It has been an amazing car in all that time. I can even still eke out 100 miles from it on a warm day driving like a nun on her way to church. The battery has not faded since I bought it. After nearly 7 years of ownership I’m still in awe of its usability. I can pre-warm it from the key fob or set it to be warm at a given time the night before, so frosty mornings are easy-peasy. It is the easiest car in the world to live with. Auto lights/wipers/locking/no gears/no clutch/proper handbrake/reversing camera/loads of airbags, to name but a few. I really like the look of the new Zoe, but Johnny’s bang on, they’ve cut corners too far and cheapened it., other than the front cabin, which is a big improvement. Too many models have no reversing camera for example. He’s right that the pre-facelift ZE 40 is probably the best model to go for.
Lacking charisma! I am all for that! Old lady's car! I am all for that! Your review has me thinking this is probably the best sensible sized EV at the moment! Johny, you just sold me the Zoe EV! Brilliant. Soft suspension, even better. My two favourite cars [that I owned] were the Rover 2000 Single Carb [P4 1969], and Renault 12 [1973]. Both slightly roly-poly ... Both brilliant for rural daily use and the occasional long run. Thanks for highlighting a car that is not getting enough attention. Best wishes from sixty year old George in Herefordshire. [Herefordshire is not the fastest moving county in the UK!]. PS: I have no interest in Euro NCap. Drive properly and you can go a lifetime without. crashing. So far so good here, though I have been rear-ended three times.
Thanks for an interesting review. I have some information to add here. 1 The motor/engine in the R135 which you have driven isn't a Continental one but a Renault one - built in Flins, France. It's the models Q210 and Q90 who had the Continental motor/engine. All the R-models, R240, R90, R110 and R135 have all gotten Renault motor/engine. As you said a lot of parts are German. A car of today is mix of parts from several suppliers. 2 The hight seating position I was explained when I was introduced to the Zoe ages ago at the Renault centre in Oslo (I worked for a Renault dealership at the time) is due to the construction of the aircooling of the battery, just under the seats the battery is higher in the front which makes it impossible to have a height regulations system. The seat in itself is instead mounted such it slides down the further you go back, so it's at its highest as far towards the steering wheel you come. That's the explanation I got. 3 The Euro-NCAP disaster is not only due to the simpler sideairbag but the fact that the tested car didn't have any electronic driver safety system. It seems that Renault sells a very stripped/bare version somewhere in Europe (I don't know where) that doesn't have anything else then ABS/ESP. According to the Euro-NCAP rules now - a car without these systems cannot get any stars at all!! I have searched but I cannot find if this means that this combination made it. If Euro-NCAP had tested the version we have in Sweden/Norway the result could/would have been different. The versions you have in the UK - are they lacking electronic safety-systems?? 4 Another very good thing about the Zoe is it's rust protection! It's very much better than other cars, it's among the best in the market. The Vauxhall Corsa-e on the other hand has receieved very poor notes fot it's rust protection here in Sweden. See www.vibilagare.se (search for rost).. I have driven about 120 000 miles in my three Zoe, Q210, R90 and now a R135 (the same old lady.s color as the one in the test). I am very pleased with the cars, but I do think Renault would explain thoroughly about the sideairbag! We've even driven the R90 (without the rapidcharge) from Oslo to southern Germany, to Paris and back to Oslo over Sweden.
Great video Jonny.i brought my Zoe R135 Gt line in July 2020.had a few issues,preheat wouldn’t work,need a new module,works perfectly now.going back in tomorrow for rear camera not always working & no sound on audio,until I reset the system,so many times now it’s beyond a joke.I’m sorry too say I won’t be having another one & the lack of no stars on the ncap rating
I wanted this car as an additional run around for the family but £30 k is too much, even for a satisfying simple soup. Another thoughtful video. Thanks for taking us through it Jonny!
Being car sick is awful, those who don't get it wouldn't understand. Would 100% be a dealbreaker for me, I think more car reviewers should mention it. As to the review Jonny it's great as always, I think you've become the best in the business.
I had my zoe for a year, some zoe lifehacks: - get it in black - remove the false floor of the trunk: gets you an extra 200(?) liters of storage space - use Tronity connected to ABRP on carplay works like a charm, makes the zoe navigate like a tesla - find city charging sports that support 22kw, recharge your battery in 2,5 hours while you have lunch. Most EV only support 11kw
ZOE is an amazingly competent AND roomy family car that can be used as the families ONLY car, I know we have done so. The ZE40 summer range of around 175 miles is probably the lowest range that works for a family car balancing convenience and driving range with purchase cost. The ZOE performance is way up there amongst the best for cars of this size AND we think it is Stylish & a timeless design.
Wanted an ID3 for ages. Test drove it, got back into my zoe and smiled. I've had my loan zoe for three months from Onto and done 5k miles. It's flawed, but it just had character which the ID3 did not. My feet are always cold (I just can't get heat into that part of the car), the charging is regularly down to 25Kw and as Jonny points out, WTH with the heater not working properly when charging, I have to use the Renault Zoe app to do a 5 minute preheat; but I charge on a 3 pin domestic plug, use the car every day and it just makes me happy despite these grievances. Every time I put it hard into a bend and feel the front end break loose a little, I don't think safety features, I think I'm 17 again!
I agree, I had one as a courtesy car for a day and was quite impressed. The dealership was 40 miles away so it was used on the motorway overtaking at motorway speeds, it also feels fast from low speeds up to 60mph. My only complaint is the way it looks and the name ZOE.
We've had a ZE50 for nearly 18 months now - it's a good little car, let down by some little stupid things. 50kW charging is not enough in 2022, it's just not fast enough. 5 years ago... maybe. 100kW minimum like the e-208 would be good. Having said that 22kW AC is nice as a lot of them are still free. It's reasonably efficient at 60mph on a long run (I've seen nearly 5 miles/kWh in the summer) but anything over that the range drops dramatically, but as it charges so slowly it can actually be quicker to drive slower. Rear leg room is pretty poor but then again there's only 2 of us so doesn't really matter. Boot is big enough (it's our only car) but it doesn't come with a false boot floor to hide the included type 2 as standard, that's another £150. It also doesn't come with a 3 pin to type 2 cable either - another £200. Removing airbags due to cost is unforgivable though. I like our Zoe a lot but our next car won't be a Zoe on this alone - I can live with the other niggles but that's not acceptable.
We’ve had our ZE50 GT Line for 18 months and enjoyed your review. Very balanced and reflects my experience and thoughts on the car perfectly. We don’t quite get the range you do but suspect we do lots more short trips (school runs and station runs). We get 150 miles in deepest winter and 200 in mid summer.
Very fair review. I have a ZE50 on a lease and agree with pretty much everything you have said. I have it in grey and its just under a year old (7000 miles) its been great really. I am not a fan of the Euro NCAP issues and if I was getting one now I would probably give it a miss due to that. The seating position comments are spot on. You do sit really high, it is great to see what is going on but I do miss sitting lower. I don't have a CCS model and I have never needed it. It is used as a commuter car and does about 180 miles at 70mph in summer, a bit less in winter. I think now if you are looking at a Zoe they are too much money, they were a lot less before the chip shortage (for obvious reasons) so I would say wait for the Megane which looks to be a lot better or for the Renault 5 in a couple years time. The main issue I've had with this car is Renault themselves. The dealer network when it was serviced were rubbish, I asked them to look to see if it needed updates etc. and they didn't have any EV technicians plus its got this weird touch screen issue where I have to manually turn on data sharing every time it starts up. Renault themselves don't seem to understand the issue after 2 months of email conversations. I think ditching R Link for Android automotive was a good move by Renault and it seems to be a lot better in the Megane.
For 2 people it works well. Always liked Johnny's reviews. It is our only car and the more I drive it the better I like it. Agree with comments about the parcel shelf. Never tried the rapid charge yet . It charges well from my Zappi. Found the sat nav instructions strange at first because for major junctions you get 3 verbal warnings, I was used to just 2 using Google. Would have preferred a flatter boot when the seats are folded down, I am used to the Honda Jazz. It is a bit claustrophobic in the back because of the all in one seat and headrest in front. I got glacier white as the no extra cost option, avoid having the tyres 'dressed' as it sprays discoloured patches onto the white paint.
Haven't watched the full video yet, but had to pause and comment... as a Portuguese I was not expecting the profound knowledge of the Portuguese language eloquently demonstrated here Johnny, well done Sir!!😁 P.S.:love the chanel since the "perverted" beginnings! Keep on!
Great overview of the new Zoe 👌 i too find the lack of seat height adjustment a huge oversight , and removing airbags is just bonkers, it will be interesting to see if this affects future values. I understand Renault are going to fit the side airbags again from March this year , which in the future , used buyers wil ask " is this a 2021 MY zoe with or without side airbags?" , as well as "has it got CCS rapid charging ?" Renault have never made the options and trim levels easy to understand on the Zoe ( and im a dealer !) Still sensitive on earthing I see , this is a zoe 'thing' since its launch ! Great video as always Jonny, good to see Mrs S too 😀 👍
Talking about heating. My wife has discovered that the best setting for her is to have the fan on one, then to manually set the blower dial to the screen. This gives a nice amount of heat quite quickly.
It’s a nice and nippy to boot. I rented one for a week and took it up to Betsy-y-coed in Wales. Well impressed. I still think the eGolf is better though, but wish it had the Zoe’s range. I turned off the lane assist which was driving me nuts as it was constantly overriding my cornering abilities and second guessing me. After that I wellied it through the Welsh countryside and had a ball with it. It handles pretty well. Do a six month review of the Mini Cooper S EV. I saw one parked up in Waitrose Cirencester the other day. Looks the business and will surely go like the the clappers.
I've got a very similar Zoe on a lease, did my first 3000 miles without home charging with very few issues. Really do quite like it, but I'm not so keen on the crash test results though.....
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As a portuguese, the Hyunday Kona reference had me in tears 😂😂 spot on 😅
Absolutely, I can confirm the Hyunday Kona is indeed the Hyunday Cunt 2:40 😁Unfortunately, they changed the name to Kauai in Portugal 😑
Tens 5 anos??
@@hugoferreira4512 Oh... a paediatric neurosurgeon among our midst.
Absolutely
Is that a slang term . I speak a little Portuguese and not heard that in conversation and I looked it up on translation site and it came up with boceta not Kona?
Thank you for the huge mentions.
Your correct it's a huge disappointment with what Renault have done, putting people's safety to a lesser standard than older ZOEs and higher risk of potential serious injury on side impact.
The move over to the Kona is hopefully a short term and Renault will bring the GT5E to us with high flying 5 star NCAP.
I would also like to say that the passion for ZOE is still there for many and just because my heart has been deflated on this occasion I needed to stand strong and protect my life and family's life with the thought of a potential side impact made us all feel uncomfortable driving the ZE50 anymore.
Myself and RZOC are still fully supportive of the ZOE and my personal circumstances and actions where not forced by anyone else apart from mine and my families heart felt discussion.
Johnny is my new favourite car reviewer. No silly antics he just just tells you how it is. Well done Johnny 👏👍
As a motor trade professional, there aren't many motoring channels I watch without cringing. This is one and, not only do I not cringe, I really enjoy it and why TH-cam is killing TV as a channel wouldn't sign off on content like this, and it's exactly this kind of stuff (and presentation) that consumers actually want. Good job Jonny.
I have the exact same car, it’s mainly just for the two of us, we’re both 70 and my wife is called Hazel, it’s perfect for us, yes it has some minor faults, such as very little storage space, can’t adjust the seats up or down, and you need a pair of mole grips to adjust the seat’s recline feature, doors sound cheap when closing them and the roof body to door alignment is very poor quality, if you look very careful and compare drivers door with the passengers door one is slightly higher by 5mm. And my wife doesn’t like the fact you have to push the auto gear stick forward to go into reverse and backwards to go forwards, I think a left and right action would make better sense. But all round the performance is very good. I got it in June 2020 and now disappointed to hear about the Ncap rating, shame I can’t have the pillar airbags fitted retrospectively. if I was looking to buy a new EV today I would most likely go for the new Ora Cat larger battery option.
Ora cat seems really promising (apart from a few reports of motors/battery overheating going up hills), can’t wait for Jonny’s full review when he gets to drive it.
Well, I understand your wife's point of view, but it's usually done this way. In any P-R-N-D gearbox with a classic knob, you have to push forward to engage R and backwards to select D. So, I'm with Renault on this. On the other hand, the satellite knob for the radio and the cruise control button near the handbrake (at least in older models) really need to be given a thought, IMHO. The interior and adjustments quality is low, but not that bad compared to other Renault products and taking into consideration this is a reasonably priced EV. I think you made a good choice 😃👍
@@Robcomesana With all of the fundamental change involved in going to EV I think Forward to go forward makes much more sense, just like every boat I have ever used.
I must admit if the Ora Cat was available when I purchased my Zoe in November 2021 I would have seriously considered it.
@@peterjones6640 the design of Ora Cat is lightyears better but hm the efficiency is üretty terrible. Check out eg Nyland and others.
I have had a Zoe since October 2020 driven 13500miles mostly charged for free at local stores etc. The biggest advantage being the fact I can charge up to 22kw where as most cars can't. (With the type 2 charger)
Most people after NCAP tried to dismiss the rating including many friends… when I published my video with side by side airbag compassion they thought again about dismissing it. As my first ever EV and my number one selling car at work am upset Renault took a step back on safety
So at this point it is highly not recommended to go for this car? I'm looking at a used 2020 model.
@@kead6636 it's not 'a dangerous car' just a bit less safe than competition, still worth it IMO
Yes, the airbag issue is bad but it has nothing to do with the NCAP rating change. NCAP have explicitly said that even without that change it would have got at most 1 star, probably still zero.
Apart from that one item, the current Zoe is just as safe as the one which scored five stars originally, it's just that the test has changed dramatically.
Which is the safest in the range?
Such an amazing statement you're making with this channel. It really took the baton from Fifth Gear. The complete transparency and honesty that hones in your reviews (including addressing the 0 EURONCAP result) really should be inspiring for other car "journos". The fact that such an amazing channel is taking forever to reach 1MM subs really is a statement on how infantile the interwebs are, where more mature and complex content gets ditched on the side.
As stated by others Portuguese chaps (a nationality I had for 37 years since my birth, before going to more salubrious shores) the word Kona is a bit of a faff over there. So kudos for the bicycle company Kona for not changing their name.
Efficiency is so important with EVs (well hey with all cars to be honest) and it is often an overlooked stat with journos. Too many BEVs giving c. 2 miles/kWh and too many hybrids doing 30mpg or sub in real world! Shockingly bad in today’s world. Thanks Johnny for giving this real world efficiency data in your reviews. Valuable
So true
Having had a massive accident last summer, when someone drove into us at high speed, I would never skimp on safety. Ironically, the fact we were driving a 5 star Renault undoubtedly saved my life.
Laguna?
Thank you Jonny for a great honest review 👍
I got my Zoe Q90 ze 40 new back in 2017 and I still love it.
That was when the government grant was £4,500 and I got a excellent discount from the Renault dealer.
Even the base model is smooth and quiet.
When I was driving some smaller cheap petrol cars on the motorway I always could hear the engine noise and was always checking I was in the highest gear because of the noise.
Once you drive Electric you won't go back.
A good, well-balanced review. Just a small point - in Eco mode the top speed is limited to 65mph, not 60 (though it can vary a bit either way depending on terrain). That seems insignificant, but is a huge advantage on motorways compared to the ZE40. You can keep up with the traffic, with heating on, and still get great economy. I’m more embarrassed than worried by the airbag removal - the range of safety features is impressive.
For £7k (ish) more than the GT line I have just bought a Kia E-Niro 4+ (£38k). I really wanted to like the Zoe, but reducing passenger safety for a cost saving is a massive red flag for me. I am more than happy I made the right decision, but it’s a shame because the Zoe is all the car I need size wise. With a bit of effort it could have been so much more.
I bought a 3 month old low low mileage 4+ for £1,000 more than that ZOE, obviously no comparison, well happy
I get my Zoe tomorrow! I just found your video and loved it. You are so fond of this car, it is a pleasure to listen to.
Many thanks Anne. There is a lot to like about the Zoe. It is unassuming, but goes about its business v well. The range is also very impressive. Hope you enjoy yours.
We went from a Q90 40kw Zoe to an identical car to this one. Our first Zoe went 10% up in value in the 18 months we had it. The Zoe is a wonderful car with more room in the back than a Kona. I would buy another in a heartbeat. Finally I have driven over 2 million kilometers & have never popped an airbag!!
It’s no surprise that Jonny has 350,000 subscribers! Great, work as always…
👊🏽
I like my ze40 2018 more than the current version. 17” wheels and metallic purple. All the airbags etc in place. The lowest I’ve ever got is 3.6miles kWh. Love monitoring the regen, fast when I want. Never tried eco, I use my right foot for that. Thanks for the thorough review K:)
Another great video, Jonny. We’ve been driving Zoe’s for six years, we’ve had one of each battery variant. We love it, but the cost cutting on what was a much, much more expensive ZE50 has left us pretty shocked. Renault’s response is poor and it’s that cavalier attitude to owner’s safety means we will almost certainly not buy another Renault. Loyal custom lost, to a save pennies on a vitally important bit of safety kit. Renault have treated their customers with contempt. Really sad about it, over the years I’ve persuaded a few folk to buy one too. Wouldn’t do that again.
@@watannen Do most people really care about dieselgate? I don't, you cant just endlessly set limits and hope the manufacturers can magic up some new tech that works to the new limit and still have a working car, it takes years of R&D and 100s of millions and you still may not find the answer to make it work.
@@watannen you will need to fall out with literally every manufacturer, they were all at it, just due to the size of the V.A.Group, they found it with them. Look now at mercedes benz, they are getting flack for it too. Dosnt stop there being many of the vag diesel cars on the road. I personally think, what vw done wasnt even that bad...genius actually. They are still probably the biggest players on the market regardless.
What a useful and honest review. The value of having lived with it for a long time is huge and enabled you to offer insights that aren’t normally available. Summed up my thoughts on contemplating whether to go for a Zoe. Based on this I would be really tempted to wait for an Ora Cat.
My Wife has had her Zoe ZE50 for just over a year she loves it. From time to time I like to borrow it when she lets me. We love the Zoe. It’s functional and friendly lovely little car. Suits our family needs done short and long journeys no problem especially love the ac 22kWh charging and the rapid charge capabilities. Thank you for all your amazing reviews Jonny. You’re awesome 😎
I had a Zoe ZE40 for three years, it was very cheap to run but oh so dull and I was always disappointed it was my car when I saw it parked. I test drove the ZE50, much better but the dealer wanted £17k on top of my car ( which was a rare battery owned model). I ended up buying an 8 year old SLK that I absolutely love despite much higher running costs.
serves the greedy dealer right! - M dealer couldnt even be bothered to let me drive their test car - 'come back when u are more serious' comment - so I went elsewhere and got a GT135 :) - which I love :)
Love the colour co-ordination of the Zoe with your trainers Jonny.
Considered a Zoe but ended up going for the electric 500, which grabbed my heart more, and don’t regret it. Could be tempted by the electric Megane to replace the 500 and our ICE car, hope Renault ensure it gets full NCAP marks.
You don’t want all the high tech crap ncap needs for full marks though. Your better looking at the individual categories for crash protection. NCAP is just a joke these days.
First off, I've been daily-ing a Zoe for the last 3 years, started with the 1st gen 40kWh and moved up to the new one with the same spec as in the video.
TL;DR : I would describe the Zoe in one word as "sufficient". If you care about any of the things that the Zoe lacks, then you would be better off with another car. If the Zoe is good enough for you, then it will be a great car and companion. The make or break condition is that you have a good enough shop that can take care of any issues that may make you bring the car to them.
I watched the video and added my thoughts as I went along the topics. English isn't my first language so excuse any errors.
The Zoe comes with 17" inch wheels in Germany.
The Zoe has active cooling and heating of the battery. With the OBD2 I measured up to 3kW of heating of the battery. When it's cooled down it either uses the AC or just blows cold outside air on the pack. It never did overheat on me, even on long journey of around 1000km done exclusively on CCS.
Degradation is also a non-issue on my car. ABRP shows via OBD connection a degradation of 8% in cold weather. Keep in mind that the BMS of the Zoe assumes higher degradation if the battery is cold, so I assume about 3% true degradation. People have gotten much worse values (20%) due to cold batteries.
My 2020 Zoe does show heavy signs of corrosion on the rear discs. The car is one year old and has 19.000miles (30.300km). The old one had drums, and even after 30.000miles / 50.000km on my old one there were no signs of corrosion or issues. Renault declined to mend the brakes situation on my car, the dealer stated "it would pass inspection like this" and I "should use the handbrake to clean the discs". I told them I did that and the discs cannot be cleaned anymore.
My efficiency is, over this distance is 18,2kWh/100km. Keep in mind that I do most of my driving outside of the city, due to the state of the world right now.
The motor on the R135 is made by Renault. The Continental motor has the letter Q. The old Zoe, until 2016 afaik were sold with 22kWh batteries and Q and R motors. The first Zoes were only Q-motors, and they were called Q210 and the later R motors were sold as R240. The difference between R and Q motors is the efficiency and charging speed. The R motors are more efficient (15%) but the Q motor can charge with up to 43kW on AC plugs (64A 3 phase). R motors can charge only 22kW on AC.
The Zoe is one of the only cars that measures by itself the earthing, it will not charge if there isn't a good earth. Other EVs rely on the EVSE or charging brick to do that, they will not measure by themselves the earthing of the charger.
The SatNav is a interface for Carplay or Android Auto. I won't trust it bringing me over longer distances and I find it clumsy to use. The old one was much better.
The ADAS are pretty useless, the lane assist pushes me into oncoming traffic on tight roads, leaving a big gap on the right side (continental europe). Renault said it was OK like this. Autonomous braking works but I reacted a tad quicker, I felt the pedal being pulled a bit beneath my foot. Automatic headlight dimming is slow to react and if the camera is dirty or fogged up it won't let you engage the brights, the lights will remain dipped until the fog/dirt is cleared.
EuroNCAP result: I too will not keep my Zoe after my lease is over, I plan on returning the car because it's been sold to me as a "complete rework" and "better in every way". It's a nice car, but the safety of my friends and family is nicer.
The interior is good, but bland. The old ones, especially the Bose Editions had more excitement, although worse materials which impacted visibility on sunny days. You needed to have polarised sunglasses in order to see past the reflection of the dash in the windscreen. I don't care about hard or soft plastics.
The Zoe is indeed a "get the work job done" kind of car. It will get you everywhere you want and the range is sufficient. It lacks true fast charging, 50kW is more like up to 45kW and it keeps this rate up to 60% if the battery is warm enough, which it won't be when it rains and it's cold outside even after 200km of motorways and an attempt at fast charging somewhere in between. The performance on the 90PS is a bit lacking, the 110 PS and 135PS are good. Top speed is limited to 145kph on the new one, which isn't good enough for the Autobahn. I think 160kph would be ideal for that.
Travel speed with a CCS equipped Zoe is best between 110 and 130kph. I drive it at 120kph. To calculate your travel time on longer journeys with CCS charging, you take the time displayed on google maps and add half of it on top. If you drive it at top speed you'll be even slower.
Your medal for making it here: 🏅.
impressive English old chap :)
There's excellent PCP deals around at the moment, we traded in our Clio for a Zoe last year, same monthly PCP cost but much cheaper to run. Got a home charger and found it brilliant. Agree with Jonny's analysis of range, same as we have been getting in summer/winter. It is really efficient in the real world, which can show some other ev's to be lacking in this regard. It's not exciting, but it does its job very very well. A great introduction to EVs for us.
I am puzzled at this
"we traded in our Clio for a Zoe last year, same monthly PCP cost"
Now if I buy a Clio new it is £15k and a 3 year old one is getting £12k at the moment so the cost of it is £3k over 3 years.
A Zoe new is £30k and at three years it is only worth £16k so cost £14k over 3 years.
How can your monthly cost be the same? One lost £3k the other £14k the PCP needs to cover this.
@@grolfe3210 the payment for the Clio was £200/month, we're paying £200/month for Zoe. It was a no brainer to go for the Zoe.
@@grolfe3210 I guess we got a great deal from the Renault dealer.
@@MrPaulinbelper If you paying £200 monthly and no up front or final big payment then it would take you 12 years to pay off the £30k the Zoe costs.
Something does not seem right with that, but good luck to you if that is what you have.
We've just purchased a secondhand non battery lease 22kW 2015 model as a second EV local runaround. My name is not Hazel. Really pleased with it.
It's great that you talk about the structure and details of the battery...usually the visible parts of the car are mentioned..Thank you for telling the most important part..
Thanks Jonny, throwing in the occasional review of an 'every person' EV is very much appreciated.
Thank you for this video, most illuminating. The more I see about the ZOE, the more convinced I am that I want one when I finally retire and am not travelling vast distances to work.
As a recovering Renault owner, I know tha parcel shelf all too well. It was the same in my Twingo and it only responds to violence.
I just bought a second hand 2020 model and I think it’s brilliant. I got an attractive price, which was important to me as someone with a limited budget but still wanting to make the switch to an EV. I heard about NCAP after I signed the deal. While it’s a real shame they cut corners like this, my previous 15 year old diesel car didn’t have any side airbags either, just like many of the old cars that are on the road today. I’m pretty sure it’s a safer car than the one I drove before.
The new Zoe does have side driver and passenger thorax airbags.
@@christinemorris9633 no? They removed it , as mentioned by Johnny?
There are no curtain airbags but there are driver and passenger side airbags, there is a tab on the seat that says airbag.
Chops absolutely hammering the basics. Marvellous. Balance. Just goes to show the subjectivity. Wait... All your family is sick when in it... What the heck JS🤣
I got the same model Zoe at end of November 2021, used as a second car, principally suburban driving but occasionally longer journeys . Key reason I chose the car was the range, alternatives such as Mini or Honda could not do the 115 mile journey which is my longer journey in the winter with heating on, lights etc without a charge on the way. I must admit I like the higher driving position, although if buying again I would have had the optional heated seats etc ( would have been a longer wait for that spec). I have 22 Kw three phase charger at home so if I want a “ quick” charge at home, Zoe can do it.
Exactly the MINI & Honda battery driving range really is not practical even for local family use. We had a KIA SOUL EV 27kWh, range around 80miles, we were always putting it on charge, doable but not convenient and long journeys too inconvenient. ZE40 does 100mile motorway journey to South Wales with 40miles in reserve, that works for us
I ran a Twizy for a year in winter, had a Kangoo Van EV (52miles range) and a Prius PHEV for longer journeys. Now have a ZOE.
• Heating - really important for how it effects range. The Kangoo EV would only do 30 miles if heating was used. Heated seats and steering wheel a plus but it is an option. Agree with Jonny - buy it as essential for winter. Q: Why is the heated steering wheel button low down on the right, out of view, and not next to the heated seat (where there is a blank button).
• Range is very accurate. Sat Nav has an eco route setting so you can go further in an interesting direction you wouldn't normally choose.
• Quality - paint options expensive, trim in boot shocking, my bonnet is misaligned and panel gap not regular.
• Digital driver aids do work and encourage indicator use as the system does let you know if you quickly change lanes. Traffic camera recognition generally works but any fault with Google mapping will be translated in the car, i.e new road layout or speed changes.
• The charge flap locks itself after pressing button on the dash. Walking round to the front with the key in your pocket assumes you have left the car and locks it.
• App tells you basic info but is not a diagnostic tool or over-the-air updates.
• Headroom in the back for taller people over 6ft would find it cramped.
Now THIS is a proper real world and honest long term test review👍👍
I don't have a EV or anything other than a 18yo car,because due to insane cartaxes on new vehicles here in The Netherlands i will never be able to affort anything newer than 10 yo. But i wanted to inform me regardless and this review was brilliant👌👌
Please keep up with the good work,sit👍
I tried so hard to like the Zoe when I started looking for an EV a couple of years ago, but the extremes Renault have gone to with the keeping it’s weight down and the driving position was a deal breaker, (along with the battery rental, which was still a thing then).
Now, if I could put the efficiency of the Zoe in my (pinching my nose when I say it) Vauxhall Corsa e, wow, I’d be a happy person!
Automotive goodness as always Jonny and as close to appointment TH-cam as it gets. Considering how spot on Renault were safety wise with the Modus years ago, taking out proven safety tech is egregious on every level. What a shame as in every other way (especially range) it out performs the more modern competition.
Brilliant thanks Jonny and Chops, very indepth and matter of fact at the same time. This is why we love TLBS playlists so much...🎩
Enjoyed the review, we’ve got an original 22kwh Zoe, 69k trouble free miles, apart from being finicky with some chargers for that earthing issue you mentioned. If we were looking to replace it, the zero rating would be a deal breaker for Mrs R
Great review, thank you. I'm sure somebody else will have contributed this, but you can operate the heating while charging in two ways: a) press the start button, then turn up the fan, or b) lock the door using the key fob (with you in it) and operate pre-conditioning using the app. I expect both only last ten minutes, but if you can't repeat the process, you can alternate between them (so far I've always used option 3 on cold day charging - sit in a cafe - but I appreciate that people haven't yet built cafes next to every charger).
Shock, someone prefers the cabin of another car over a Model 3. Love the efficiency of the Zoe, really impressed with the numbers you quoted.
The cabin of the Model 3 didn't impress me when I looked at one 2 years ago. Ill fitting trim parts..... and on the outside there were equally ill fitting body panels. My eNiro has none of those. Plus it has a far better warranty, and is far more practical (for me personally) than a Model 3 ever could be, due to having a hatchback, which the Model 3 hasn't.
We have a ZE 40 and whilst the 0 to 60 time of 13.5 seconds sounds painfully slow, in reality it is plenty nippy enough around town. Acceleration does trail off quite significantly above 40 mph but up until that point I would call it swift. Instant torque and no gears makes for totally seamless and useful acceleration around town.
Just completed 3 years with the ZE50 R135 GT Line and I completely agree with Jonny's assessment, the good and the bad. Overall I really like driving it, the cabin is well laid out, bar a couple of niggles, it is efficient and fast enough. I like the way it looks and the seats are surprisingly comfortable, and I am 6 feet 2 inches tall. The car feels a bit cheap and tinny in some aspects. I had mine from new and there was a body rattle from the tailgate which turned out to be defective welds, affecting a number of this third generation of cars. Odd on a car that's been around with the same body shell for a decade! Wouldn't get that on a German car. The dealer (John Banks in Cambridge) got little help from Renault at first but eventually fixed it. Nonetheless it's grown on me and it's very easy to live with. My previous was a BMW i3 Rex which felt way more upmarket but was much more expensive. The eccentricities on that car niggled though after a while and I wouldn't change back now. For range versus price there's been nothing to touch it until the MG4 arrived. That probably signals the end is nigh for the Zoe but for now it's a great EV.
Lovely Color. Not that boring grayscale that everyone seems to want.
More broadcast quality stuff Jonny, thank you. The Zoe is one of those 'enough' cars, isn't it? The kind of car most people could get on with, if they wanted to move from place to place, but not really to fall in love with. I like them though, an honest and fairly simple little car with great range.
5 stars to none *just* because Renault removed the side airbags? On the surface this seems to make zero (pun intended!) sense, from both Renaults' decision-making process, and Euro NCAP's testing. At almost 50, I've driven cars with barely any FLOOR (rust - yes, it really was that bad...), let alone active safety systems 🤣😂 - In over 30 years of driving I'm lucky to have never needed an airbag of any type, although I accept that I would have appreciated them in an accident, which I get is the point. Side airbags offer better protection in a particular type of accident, but only my current car (out of over 30 owned) has had them. I didn't lay awake at night fretting about driving to work the next morning, and I don't even think about where or how many airbags my car has. It wouldn't put me off buying one, ymmv of course.
I've been on board with the Renault Zoe ever since I saw the RS with the wide flared fenders years ago. I wish they'd put that into production.
I love that orange sweater. Looks so comfy
I’ve got an 8 year old 22kwh Zoe. It’s still got 95% battery health, it’s not been without issues but absolutely none of them have been electrical. Motor and battery have been flawless. It’s been suspension issues for me, replaced all the springs and sometimes the arms. Also the rear drums have been a pain, glad it’s got discs at the back on the current model. I got a black one and travelled to Yorkshire to get the one I have. 1. Because it was black and makes it look quite mean all of a sudden, well, less old lady at least. 2. Because the battery is a leased battery, but it doesn’t have a lease. I’ve got this letter from Renault saying it has ‘an interest’ in the battery but no payments to be made. Basically if it goes wrong they will fix it but I don’t pay for the lease 👌🏼 I also got the dash changed, mine was cream and if it was a sunny day and you were driving between high buildings or trees then you couldn’t see out of the bloody window! Got it changed to black and Renault did it for free when it was 6 years old. It’s been a good second car but I can’t wait to change it. Probably for another i3. Bloody loved that car.
Further proof that this is one of the best channels for quality and entertaining car reviews
As always a great review Jonny. We have a 2015 Zoe, so the smaller battery and range, and has the 40kW rapid charging option. Minimal servicing costs, and battery SOH is 98%. At the moment it's perfect for us.
Traded up to a 2020 ZE50 4 months ago. A great move for us and benefiting from the extra range which we started to need, along with all the extra tech that comes with it. It's a great value vehicle on the 2nd hand market. Great to see your review again Jonny, as always, informative, down to earth and spot on.
We have had our new Zoe for close to 3 months now. It's mainly used as a motorway commuter as my girlfriend has a long drive to work. During this time we are getting roughly 260 kms range (161 miles). And that is in wintertime Sweden with a lot of 75 mph stints. I like that it's quiet and comfortable. It's fast enough to overtake and it feels powerful in town (110hp version). A friend has got a mustang mach e that I've tried. The Zoe is both quieter and has a much plusher ride. The worst part with the Zoe is as you said the driving position. Great for shorter people but not great for taller. I am 195 cm (6'5) tall and I would really like to lower the seat a bit. Which isn't possible. It does work, I have driven long without problems but it's a bit sad with an otherwise very comfortable car. I don't think you should be any taller than me though.
It is a no bs car that gets you comfortably and cheaply from A to B and I would definitely recommend it if you are looking for a car like that.
I wonder how many Zoe owners have bought one with the idea that its still a 5 Star NCAP car. I'm sure Renault dealers don't put that in their sales pitch. "Oh yes by the way, this car has lost all of its NCAP stars, but hey, it now has plenty of Accidentology". However, when i buy a car, its the furthest thing from my mind as are most of these new driver aids like Lane departure etc, so maybe its not such a big thing. At least this Renault EV comes with doors as standard unlike its Twizzy Sibling :). A work colleague has a ZOE and she loves it. She had the original and then renewed it on lease a while back.
Great vlog as always JS, and nice to see the long suffering Chops in this video. Keep up the good work.
The omission of curtain airbags for cost-cutting reasons in place of more electronic safety aids is a real kicker. You can have all the warning systems you want - but none of them are going to help you if you get T-boned at a junction. Having experienced the delights of a car ploughing into my driver's door when turning into a junction (they were overtaking the car behind me), I was quite grateful to the curtain airbags for doing what they're designed to do!
Thanks for the Kona reference. I just saw one of those on sale here in Portugal, and still cracks me up.
great look from the better half Jonny at 18.16 :-)
Thanks Jonny for putting this out, as a Zoe owner and an ish TH-camr I’ve loved the car but am very very unhappy with the choices Renault have made here on safety. I’d rather have an interior that looks like the old Zoe and not be dead. Although I understand style is more important to some.
The interior would be the same. The only difference is the removal of the upper portion of the side impact airbags in the seats, which is not noticeable visually.
@@rustyjoints4857 I think you miss read, my point was: what would you rather they spent the money on. A fantastic new interior to be dead in… or the same old interior from the 20/40 that was a bit dated but alive in.
@@eviain To be fair, anyone who buys a Zoe for the looks probably already has brain damage so that was probably Renault's logic.
@@maxmeier532 thanks I bought two
Really had one of the Zoe’s on the shortlist for dipping my toe in the electric pond, and maybe one day the Renault 5 electric if it comes along. But dropping safety equipment from a car to cut costs is just such a deal breaker. If a company decides that’s something acceptable then that brand is seriously compromised. Shame really!
I have only relatively recently discovered The Late Brake Show, I think it's the best car channel on the TH-cam, well done Jonny et all.
So, now I have now owned a Zoe ZE40 Iconic -2019 for about a week and I really really like it. The soul purpose of the car is to be my commuter car, which, as I have found, it excells at. As I see this episode again about a year after and with one week owner experience of the earlier ZE40, I realise there are very few reasons for me to have bought a ZE50 over the ZE40. I allready have grown acustomed to popping the charge port from the key fob - would feel wrong to to be able to - and apparently, my car is safer too, as it still got those side airbags (right?) It would be nice with rapid charge capability and more range, but since I only use up half the battery to and from work, which will be basically the only roads my Zoe is ever gonna see, it is no big deal not to have that. I still have the same opinion as I did in my first comment, from a year ago about the Zoe basics: an exellent every-day-no-show-off-non-SUV-kind of car. Mine is Foudre blue - I wonder if your wife would like that better than Celadon blue - in any case, I would never pick one in white (like the community workers have) or on grey scale colours (so boring!) - but if there were a yellow, green or orange shade to choose from, I might have picked one of those over blue. The Bose stereo (the reason I picked the car I picked) is magnificent! - I did keep my Modus for every other non-job-commuting journey, because I love that car to bits. The Zoe is comfortable and not sporty, which is good for commuting and the Modus is fun, agile and spacious which is perfect for weekend adventures.
Really enjoyed the review Jonny, nice to see Chops give her opinion!.
I bought a 2.5 year old Zoë last summer. It is a First Edition model and has already driven 20,000 kilometers. The Zoë works very well, is very comfortable, quiet and fast enough for daily traffic. I have 3 adult children and then the back seat is on the tight side. A car ride of 1 hour is doable. I think the build quality is bad. After 65,000 kilometers, the interior and the front suspension creak. When driving over thresholds, the tailgate creaks and if you close the door a little too hard, it will not lock. The navigation system sometimes shows signs; for example, the set language spontaneously switches to French. Nevertheless, I am very satisfied with it. Drove to Italy via Germany and Switzerland during the holiday and drove 5,000 kilometers in 3 weeks!
Well, I have been sitting on the fence over this car for a couple of years, but you've convinced me to buy anything BUT a Renault Zoe. Among the many disadvantages, the boot area probably kills it for me. We need to carry a folding electric wheelchair with us and trying to haul it out of what appears to be 'the bottom of a well' and over that high rear bumper area (even though the chair is one of the lightest you can buy) is a definite no-no.
Many thanks for saving me a lot of time and effort.
I have the Zoe 40 from 2017. Overall really happy with it. Was really annoyed by the entertainment system with the old tomtom nav. But after 1.5 years of owning it I finally figured out it actually has Android Auto. 😂
I have the ZE 40 2018 and agree that the r link system for the Tom Tom nav is not up to scratch. But how did you find Android Auto on your 2017 model which I can't get on my 2018? Overall, I'm happy with it though. I like the Pod point 22 kW AC chargers which are faster than 7kW home ones and FREE!
Great review Johnny I agree with pretty much everything you said and the Zoe is a car that I know I will miss when we switch away. We are on our fourth since 2017. You can get the parcel shelf out easily … from the boot … push up at the back from underneath the shelf, then back into the car over the headrests, then twist 90 degrees and pull out towards you 🙂
Thanks Jonathan!
Great and fair review as always. I am afraid I just could not put my family in a car with such a poor NCAP result when others achieve 5 stars. Would rather pay more for a five star Zoe than save on a zero star one.
Brilliant summary, Jonny. Enhanced as ever by the equally brilliant Chops. Presentation off the scale.
Love your car reviews Jonny, covers all questions consumers have, it's like watching Chris Goffey on old old Top Gear 👍
I suspect that it is via a software update since this video came out but it is now possible to open the charge port using the remote (click unlock twice) and it is also possible to run the heating while charging.
Re. motion sickness: I used to get this in the i3. Not anymore though, so might want to give these things a try:
- Jack seats up a bit higher than you normally would.
- Increase cabin fan speed to improve the airflow. EVs tend to tune climate control for efficiency, which may mean you're not getting as much fresh air by default.
- Learn to use regenerative braking more smoothly: feather your foot gradually off the pedal rather than lifting it straight off.
I'm not sure which of those worked, or if I (and passengers) just got used to the car, but there's no more travel sickness now.
But the seats in the Zoe can't be raised........there is no adjustment.
I bought my 2014 Renault Zoe pre-reg in 2015 when nobody wanted a car with a 70 mile range. It has been an amazing car in all that time. I can even still eke out 100 miles from it on a warm day driving like a nun on her way to church. The battery has not faded since I bought it. After nearly 7 years of ownership I’m still in awe of its usability. I can pre-warm it from the key fob or set it to be warm at a given time the night before, so frosty mornings are easy-peasy. It is the easiest car in the world to live with. Auto lights/wipers/locking/no gears/no clutch/proper handbrake/reversing camera/loads of airbags, to name but a few. I really like the look of the new Zoe, but Johnny’s bang on, they’ve cut corners too far and cheapened it., other than the front cabin, which is a big improvement. Too many models have no reversing camera for example. He’s right that the pre-facelift ZE 40 is probably the best model to go for.
Lacking charisma! I am all for that! Old lady's car! I am all for that!
Your review has me thinking this is probably the best sensible sized EV at the moment!
Johny, you just sold me the Zoe EV! Brilliant. Soft suspension, even better. My two favourite cars [that I owned] were the Rover 2000 Single Carb [P4 1969], and Renault 12 [1973]. Both slightly roly-poly ... Both brilliant for rural daily use and the occasional long run.
Thanks for highlighting a car that is not getting enough attention.
Best wishes from sixty year old George in Herefordshire. [Herefordshire is not the fastest moving county in the UK!].
PS: I have no interest in Euro NCap. Drive properly and you can go a lifetime without. crashing. So far so good here, though I have been rear-ended three times.
Thanks for an interesting review. I have some information to add here.
1 The motor/engine in the R135 which you have driven isn't a Continental one but a Renault one - built in Flins, France. It's the models Q210 and Q90 who had the Continental motor/engine. All the R-models, R240, R90, R110 and R135 have all gotten Renault motor/engine. As you said a lot of parts are German. A car of today is mix of parts from several suppliers.
2 The hight seating position I was explained when I was introduced to the Zoe ages ago at the Renault centre in Oslo (I worked for a Renault dealership at the time) is due to the construction of the aircooling of the battery, just under the seats the battery is higher in the front which makes it impossible to have a height regulations system. The seat in itself is instead mounted such it slides down the further you go back, so it's at its highest as far towards the steering wheel you come. That's the explanation I got.
3 The Euro-NCAP disaster is not only due to the simpler sideairbag but the fact that the tested car didn't have any electronic driver safety system. It seems that Renault sells a very stripped/bare version somewhere in Europe (I don't know where) that doesn't have anything else then ABS/ESP. According to the Euro-NCAP rules now - a car without these systems cannot get any stars at all!! I have searched but I cannot find if this means that this combination made it. If Euro-NCAP had tested the version we have in Sweden/Norway the result could/would have been different. The versions you have in the UK - are they lacking electronic safety-systems??
4 Another very good thing about the Zoe is it's rust protection! It's very much better than other cars, it's among the best in the market. The Vauxhall Corsa-e on the other hand has receieved very poor notes fot it's rust protection here in Sweden. See www.vibilagare.se (search for rost)..
I have driven about 120 000 miles in my three Zoe, Q210, R90 and now a R135 (the same old lady.s color as the one in the test). I am very pleased with the cars, but I do think Renault would explain thoroughly about the sideairbag!
We've even driven the R90 (without the rapidcharge) from Oslo to southern Germany, to Paris and back to Oslo over Sweden.
The Zoe wants a good earth (
We have a Zoe 135GT & a VW ID3, I agree with your range comments about the Zoe as we find it goes neck & neck with ID3. Its a lovely car to drive.
Great video Jonny.i brought my Zoe R135 Gt line in July 2020.had a few issues,preheat wouldn’t work,need a new module,works perfectly now.going back in tomorrow for rear camera not always working & no sound on audio,until I reset the system,so many times now it’s beyond a joke.I’m sorry too say I won’t be having another one & the lack of no stars on the ncap rating
I wanted this car as an additional run around for the family but £30 k is too much, even for a satisfying simple soup. Another thoughtful video. Thanks for taking us through it Jonny!
Many thanks
And yes, I wish said soup was lower in price.
@@TheLateBrakeShow Looks like the porn interlopers are at it again Jonny
I love my Zoe. Great vídeo Johnny, thanks.
Being car sick is awful, those who don't get it wouldn't understand. Would 100% be a dealbreaker for me, I think more car reviewers should mention it.
As to the review Jonny it's great as always, I think you've become the best in the business.
I had my zoe for a year, some zoe lifehacks:
- get it in black
- remove the false floor of the trunk: gets you an extra 200(?) liters of storage space
- use Tronity connected to ABRP on carplay works like a charm, makes the zoe navigate like a tesla
- find city charging sports that support 22kw, recharge your battery in 2,5 hours while you have lunch. Most EV only support 11kw
Why in black?
The first and so far only electric car I've ever been in was Renault Zoe, amazing how quiet electric cars are.
ZOE is an amazingly competent AND roomy family car that can be used as the families ONLY car, I know we have done so. The ZE40 summer range of around 175 miles is probably the lowest range that works for a family car balancing convenience and driving range with purchase cost. The ZOE performance is way up there amongst the best for cars of this size AND we think it is Stylish & a timeless design.
Wanted an ID3 for ages. Test drove it, got back into my zoe and smiled. I've had my loan zoe for three months from Onto and done 5k miles. It's flawed, but it just had character which the ID3 did not. My feet are always cold (I just can't get heat into that part of the car), the charging is regularly down to 25Kw and as Jonny points out, WTH with the heater not working properly when charging, I have to use the Renault Zoe app to do a 5 minute preheat; but I charge on a 3 pin domestic plug, use the car every day and it just makes me happy despite these grievances. Every time I put it hard into a bend and feel the front end break loose a little, I don't think safety features, I think I'm 17 again!
I agree, I had one as a courtesy car for a day and was quite impressed. The dealership was 40 miles away so it was used on the motorway overtaking at motorway speeds, it also feels fast from low speeds up to 60mph. My only complaint is the way it looks and the name ZOE.
would have preferred the Clio shell - Zoe is a little twee, but great size for very minor scenic roads
We've had a ZE50 for nearly 18 months now - it's a good little car, let down by some little stupid things.
50kW charging is not enough in 2022, it's just not fast enough. 5 years ago... maybe. 100kW minimum like the e-208 would be good. Having said that 22kW AC is nice as a lot of them are still free. It's reasonably efficient at 60mph on a long run (I've seen nearly 5 miles/kWh in the summer) but anything over that the range drops dramatically, but as it charges so slowly it can actually be quicker to drive slower.
Rear leg room is pretty poor but then again there's only 2 of us so doesn't really matter.
Boot is big enough (it's our only car) but it doesn't come with a false boot floor to hide the included type 2 as standard, that's another £150. It also doesn't come with a 3 pin to type 2 cable either - another £200.
Removing airbags due to cost is unforgivable though. I like our Zoe a lot but our next car won't be a Zoe on this alone - I can live with the other niggles but that's not acceptable.
I took one up Hardknott Pass on a warm day. What a great little hill climber
I have been driving a 63 reg Zoe for six and a half years now and still love it. I would not buy the new one since the NCAP rating.
We’ve had our ZE50 GT Line for 18 months and enjoyed your review. Very balanced and reflects my experience and thoughts on the car perfectly. We don’t quite get the range you do but suspect we do lots more short trips (school runs and station runs). We get 150 miles in deepest winter and 200 in mid summer.
Cheers for the feedback David.
Agree, range takes a hammering below 10c ambient - can dip to 135.... Summer can reach 225
Cant wait for true 220 winter and summer 300 :)
Very fair review. I have a ZE50 on a lease and agree with pretty much everything you have said. I have it in grey and its just under a year old (7000 miles) its been great really. I am not a fan of the Euro NCAP issues and if I was getting one now I would probably give it a miss due to that. The seating position comments are spot on. You do sit really high, it is great to see what is going on but I do miss sitting lower. I don't have a CCS model and I have never needed it. It is used as a commuter car and does about 180 miles at 70mph in summer, a bit less in winter. I think now if you are looking at a Zoe they are too much money, they were a lot less before the chip shortage (for obvious reasons) so I would say wait for the Megane which looks to be a lot better or for the Renault 5 in a couple years time. The main issue I've had with this car is Renault themselves. The dealer network when it was serviced were rubbish, I asked them to look to see if it needed updates etc. and they didn't have any EV technicians plus its got this weird touch screen issue where I have to manually turn on data sharing every time it starts up. Renault themselves don't seem to understand the issue after 2 months of email conversations. I think ditching R Link for Android automotive was a good move by Renault and it seems to be a lot better in the Megane.
Long time fan of Johnny. I personally come for the EV reviews but the content is top notch.
For 2 people it works well. Always liked Johnny's reviews. It is our only car and the more I drive it the better I like it. Agree with comments about the parcel shelf. Never tried the rapid charge yet . It charges well from my Zappi. Found the sat nav instructions strange at first because for major junctions you get 3 verbal warnings, I was used to just 2 using Google. Would have preferred a flatter boot when the seats are folded down, I am used to the Honda Jazz. It is a bit claustrophobic in the back because of the all in one seat and headrest in front. I got glacier white as the no extra cost option, avoid having the tyres 'dressed' as it sprays discoloured patches onto the white paint.
You can unlock the charger flap, press unlock twice on the remote
Haven't watched the full video yet, but had to pause and comment... as a Portuguese I was not expecting the profound knowledge of the Portuguese language eloquently demonstrated here Johnny, well done Sir!!😁
P.S.:love the chanel since the "perverted" beginnings! Keep on!
Great overview of the new Zoe 👌 i too find the lack of seat height adjustment a huge oversight , and removing airbags is just bonkers, it will be interesting to see if this affects future values.
I understand Renault are going to fit the side airbags again from March this year , which in the future , used buyers wil ask " is this a 2021 MY zoe with or without side airbags?" , as well as "has it got CCS rapid charging ?"
Renault have never made the options and trim levels easy to understand on the Zoe ( and im a dealer !)
Still sensitive on earthing I see , this is a zoe 'thing' since its launch !
Great video as always Jonny, good to see Mrs S too 😀 👍
It’s always good when you read things with interest
Brilliant presentation, warmed us up through the great performance then introduced NCAP.
Talking about heating. My wife has discovered that the best setting for her is to have the fan on one, then to manually set the blower dial to the screen. This gives a nice amount of heat quite quickly.
I love the radio control stalk on Renaults, it falls to hand so easily once familiar with it
It’s a nice and nippy to boot. I rented one for a week and took it up to Betsy-y-coed in Wales. Well impressed. I still think the eGolf is better though, but wish it had the Zoe’s range. I turned off the lane assist which was driving me nuts as it was constantly overriding my cornering abilities and second guessing me. After that I wellied it through the Welsh countryside and had a ball with it. It handles pretty well. Do a six month review of the Mini Cooper S EV. I saw one parked up in Waitrose Cirencester the other day. Looks the business and will surely go like the the clappers.
What a great review, thought I knew my stuff but learned so many new things due the the excellent research. Thanks Jonny.
A brilliant and fully honest comprehensive review. Thank you
I've got a very similar Zoe on a lease, did my first 3000 miles without home charging with very few issues. Really do quite like it, but I'm not so keen on the crash test results though.....
Should be ok if you don't go through red lights :p