Being beguilingly pretty has been of tremendous benefit to the Zoe. However, Renault was clever enough at the outset to indulge in a judicious separation of battery costs from a normal list price offering. With the new model, the French company places a value of £7,000 on the leased battery pack, whether in standard 80kW or the higher power 100kW forms. As such, it creates a two-tier pre-discount pricing strategy, with the new Zoe’s list price starting with a leased battery at £18,670, or an all-in price of £25,670. Monthly lease rates are mileage dependent and range from around £60 (4,500 miles) to £110 (unlimited).
While this may present a small degree of confusion for some potential customers, its aim is to provide a degree of retail price transparency, to keep prices affordable and to remove some buyers’ concerns about battery longevity. Purchased outright, there are no mileage limitations and the pack is still covered by an eight years/100,000 miles warranty. Renault provides a free 7kWh fast wall-charger for domestic use, which enables a full recharge within 10 hours, for a range of up to 190 miles (WLTP figure) for the 80kW (R110) power unit. The punchier 100kW pack (R135) can cover 245 miles on a full charge.
Putting the enhanced performance into perspective, the standard Zoe will cover the benchmark 0-60mph in a zippy 11.1s, while the more potent version manages it in 9.2s, although the top speeds are posted at 84mph and 87mph respectively. Three trim levels are available, Play, Iconic and GT Line, with the higher power unit available only in the latter pair and the R110 unit available in the first pair. However, the Zoe is very well equipped as standard and includes full LED lighting, air-con and the large format touchscreen across the line-up (7.0-inch standard; 9.3-inch optional). While 15.0-inch diameter wheels (with trims) are standard, both Iconic and GT Line benefit from the addition of attractive 16.0-inch alloys.
The new Zoe has been thoroughly revamped inside, with the most notable aspect being the seat fabric produced from recycled materials. On the GT Line version, the upmarket ‘leather’ and cloth combination is produced similarly. Using a special carding technique, without melting or chemical reconstruction, the industry-first process uses old seatbelts and recycled plastics in what is known as ‘short-loop’ manufacturing, thus reducing emissions by around 60%.
By replacing the former handbrake with an electronic switch, extra space has been released within the centre console, which now allows wireless phone charging (on Iconic and GT Line trims). Naturally, infotainment has been expanded, as have connectivity options and the customary suite of driver aids and automated functions. The MY Renault app can be used to create greater user convenience and also monitor charge conditions of the car. As a practical route to EV ownership, the Zoe remains unbeatable.
