Renault Zoe ZE50 real world 6 month review. Perfect EV commuter or crash test nightmare?

Jonny Smith's Renault Zoe ZE50 6 month real world review. Is this the perfect EV commuter or crash test nightmare? Despite being launched 10 years ago, the Zoe has changed a lot beneath its similar looking skin. The humble 5-door hatch often gets overlooked, perhaps because of its early adopter status or lack of luxurious badge, but Jonny found there's a lot to appreciate in a simply, unassuming 245-mile range EV.
There is, however, the small question of its recent Euro NCap crash test exam result of 0/5. This sounds worse than it is, but neverthless Renault's cost cutting of certain safety features in exchange for other tech.
Jonny has driven an electric car regularly for almost 8 years. In 6 months Jonny drove over 6,500 from summer to winter, and tries to delve deeply into the likes, dislikes and facts about the car which will make way for the all-new Renault 5 electric next year.
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Current Renault Offers:
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UK Zoe Sales results
2020 - 6384
2021 - 5778
Zoe sales Europe
2020 - 99,261 (no.1)
2021 - awaiting results in Feb
Renault's official NCAP statement:
Renault takes note of the results published by EuroNCAP following specific tests on ZOE E-TECH Electric according to its new protocol implemented in 2020.
First of all, Renault reaffirms that ZOE E-TECH Electric is a safe vehicle, which complies with all regulatory safety standards. These standards are constantly evolving and are becoming more stringent in all domains, especially in safety. Renault therefore continually improves its offer in order to comply with the regulations applicable where its vehicles are sold.
ZOE was launched in 2013 and received 5 stars with EuroNCAP protocol at that time. The EuroNCAP protocol has since 2013 undergone 5 changes. With the same equipment, a model can lose up to 2 stars in each protocol change.
The evolution of the current Zoe was decided in 2017 adapting the passive safety equipment to real accidentology and updating the car with state of the art ADAS equipment such as Advanced Emergency Braking with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection, Lane Departure Alert and Lane Keeping Assist, using a radar and a camera.
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Filmed and edited by: Matty Graham @ Pixel Click pixel-click.com
Edited by: Phil Vaughn Pritchard www.philvfilms.com/
Thumbnail by: Matt Tarrant www.matttarrantdesign.com
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Jonny Smith
Creative content maker, car presenter & car pervert for hire since '98
Website: www.carpervert.com
Instagram: / jonnycarpervert
Twitter: / carpervert
CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
2:52 Spec as tested
3:30 Prices and specs
3:48 BOOT SPACE
5:25 BATTERY PACK SPECS
7:22 WHEELS, TYRES & BRAKES
10:38 EFFICIENCY
11:48 FRENCH CAR ELECTRICS
13:17 COST CUTTING
17:10 JONNY'S WIFE
19:00 REGEN BRAKING
19:45 RIDE AND HANDLING
22:29 EURO NCAP CRASH TEST
23:43 RENAULT'S STATEMENT
24:48 CABIN
28:36 LIVING WITH IT FOR 6 MONTHS
29:11 JONNY'S VERDICT
#renaultzoecrashtest #renaultzoereview #realworldevreview #thelatebrakeshow

[@brunomferreira]

As a portuguese, the Hyunday Kona reference had me in tears 😂😂 spot on 😅

[@POVTours]

Absolutely, I can confirm the Hyunday Kona is indeed the Hyunday Cunt 2:40 😁Unfortunately, they changed the name to Kauai in Portugal 😑

[@hugoferreira4512]

Tens 5 anos??

[@panaceiasuberes6464]

@@hugoferreira4512 Oh... a paediatric neurosurgeon among our midst.

[@GentilsGarage]

Absolutely

[@davidpowell3396]

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?

[@bibliotek42]

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.

[@alandavies1054]

Johnny is my new favourite car reviewer. No silly antics he just just tells you how it is. Well done Johnny 👏👍

[@malcolmbennett4325]

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.

[@DrMatthewhannah]

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.

[@Robcomesana]

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 😃👍

[@philspencelayh5464]

@@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.

[@peterjones6640]

I must admit if the Ora Cat was available when I purchased my Zoe in November 2021 I would have seriously considered it.

[@tesla-spectre]

@@peterjones6640 the design of Ora Cat is lightyears better but hm the efficiency is üretty terrible. Check out eg Nyland and others.

[@petesplaneta9340]

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.

[@panaceiasuberes6464]

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.

[@keithreynolds]

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:)

[@RenaultZoeZEOwnersClub]

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.

[@David_Parr]

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.

[@cjp6527]

Brilliant thanks Jonny and Chops, very indepth and matter of fact at the same time. This is why we love TLBS playlists so much...🎩

[@mccarthymccarthy1]

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

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

So true

[@johncutler7651]

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.

[@richardmatthews6325]

Love your car reviews Jonny, covers all questions consumers have, it's like watching Chris Goffey on old old Top Gear 👍

[@paulcoles3265]

Automotive goodness as always Jonny and as close to appointment KZbin 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.

[@annesauleau6649]

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.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

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.

[@slipmat7262]

Love the colour co-ordination of the Zoe with your trainers Jonny.

[@thesandero2454]

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👍

[@JohnDunkley]

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)

[@HowardLeVert]

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.

[@Cloverleaf7642]

Brilliant summary, Jonny. Enhanced as ever by the equally brilliant Chops. Presentation off the scale.

[@furkanbaser]

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..

[@ninjarobotmonk3y]

What a lovely review. Thanks for taking the time to create, edit, and share.

[@luisrucha2916]

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!

[@gileshalliwell3591]

It’s no surprise that Jonny has 350,000 subscribers! Great, work as always…

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

👊🏽

[@stevewaghorn2029]

Really enjoyed the review Jonny, nice to see Chops give her opinion!.

[@gabprof]

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).

[@NicolasRaimo]

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

[@kead6636]

So at this point it is highly not recommended to go for this car? I'm looking at a used 2020 model.

[@SustainableGal]

@@kead6636 it's not 'a dangerous car' just a bit less safe than competition, still worth it IMO

[@johnwinters4201]

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.

[@carlosgarcialalicata]

Which is the safest in the range?

[@ChristopherRowlands]

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

[@luzindro]

Thanks for the Kona reference. I just saw one of those on sale here in Portugal, and still cracks me up.

[@daveg56]

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.

[@daveg56]

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.

[@hughesy606]

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 KZbin 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.

[@noelhuggett8745]

Seeing more and more of these around my area now. It's well worth a consideration, nice little package and a nice real world review Jonny. Slightly disappointed there wasn't a Squirrel moment, I'm sure there will be plenty of other opportunities. 😁

[@Robjohnson123]

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.

[@ruaraidhmcdonald-walker9524]

Great review Jonny. Pretty much everything covered there!!! Hehe, colour and volume discussion was funny

[@alistairlambert3275]

What a great review, thought I knew my stuff but learned so many new things due the the excellent research. Thanks Jonny.

[@georgejohnson1498]

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.

[@barneyomulligan9739]

Thanks Jonny, throwing in the occasional review of an 'every person' EV is very much appreciated.

[@seanredfern9691]

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

[@MikeDWinter]

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.

[@That1ufo]

@@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.

[@markhood6654]

@@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.

[@ewadge]

Long time fan of Johnny. I personally come for the EV reviews but the content is top notch.

[@ktw6888]

Brilliant show, again! I am kind of looking forward to hear your take on the Ora Cat when it is officially available in the UK.

[@richardchapman5623]

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 😎

[@robevand1144]

I have only relatively recently discovered The Late Brake Show, I think it's the best car channel on the KZbin, well done Jonny et all.

[@devonbikefilms]

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.

[@richardhaywoodh]

I bought a 3 month old low low mileage 4+ for £1,000 more than that ZOE, obviously no comparison, well happy

[@TCL_Dasler]

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🤣

[@PaulSmith-jr1qe]

Hi Jonny , good review as always, the one thing that got my attention was when you said you had a Soul I thought the Soul was in fact your own vehicle and wondered why there was no follow up videos, pity I was looking forward to those.

[@JonathanPriceUK]

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 🙂

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Thanks Jonathan!

[@NickTruelsen]

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.

[@GF-ep1pf]

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.

[@rod-bits-and-pieces]

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.

[@yt_Ajay_]

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

[@peterjones6640]

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.

[@richardhaywoodh]

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

[@davidbillberg2203]

Really nice review! Thanks Jonny! I have driven the old Zoe quite a lot, but not the new one.

[@JonathanPorterfield]

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 😀 👍

[@killa6588]

I love my Zoe. Great vídeo Johnny, thanks.

[@peterriggall8409]

Absolutely honest comprehensive review as usual from Jonny. 👍

[@benmarshall3931]

Sick trainers bro. Love your work on every ep. X

[@otakarhavla3807]

One of the best review I have seen. Why your kid feels sick on the back seat? I think it would be the same in any super mini car. Also I like the way you talk. Especially your pronunciation which is really easy to listen. Well done! I am a new subscriber.

[@lorenzo6053]

What an amazing and objective review. Thank you for being so thorough. 👍

[@nigelblake5679]

Great review Jonny, looks like a great entry level EV. I am astounded that Renault didn't check to see what the NCAP requirements were with regard to side airbags. I've owned a Clio and a Megane in the past which had very good NCAP ratings so I assumed the safety aspect was in the Renault DNA like Volvo. No doubt some heads rolled for this mistake at the factory....

[@hughoneill5173]

A brilliant and fully honest comprehensive review. Thank you

[@kiteless1]

Appreciate the “real world” review as always, most miss things like the key change (which also lost the preheat button!) and no heat when charging. Did seriously look at these in the autumn as I don’t want a SUV styled thing - in the end a Leaf e+ was a better deal and with the EuroNCAP test it feels like I dodged a bullet there.

[@marcob1729]

Further proof that this is one of the best channels for quality and entertaining car reviews

[@wilkoone9155]

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!!

[@MrPaulinbelper]

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.

[@grolfe3210]

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]

@@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.

[@MrPaulinbelper]

@@grolfe3210 I guess we got a great deal from the Renault dealer.

[@grolfe3210]

@@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.

[@garyhalkon8749]

Watching this and thinking it looks like a good replacement for my current 8 year old VW Polo. Great in depth episode, find all your episodes highly educational and entertaining. Looking forward to the next one.

[@badgersalesman5595]

Mate without malice. A mountain bike would be a good replacement for any VW let alone a polo ( worked for them for most of my life )

[@David_Parr]

I traded in my 4 year old 1.4 Polo and found for me the driving position in the Zoe was better

[@mabr82]

Great real world review here. Especially the bit about travel sickness.

[@johntisbury]

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.

[@RogerNewsham]

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.

[@WestfieldFreshAir]

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.

[@Brian-om2hh]

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.

[@davidsaunders4450]

Great vid. Delighted to have insight from Chops but "cost cutted", Jonny???

[@Ro32da72]

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.

[@simoncoe7872]

Really great review as always, we are booked in for next week for a test drive. Really having second thoughts now regarding the N-cap rating. Keep up the fantastic reviews 👍

[@redpillnibbler4423]

Reasons not to buy one is outweighed by 100 reasons to buy one (same with most cars) If you like the look of it test drive and buy it (or another make)

[@sngs9565]

Thank you, Jonny! Great review!

[@RustyBonnet]

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.

[@DrMatthewhannah]

Lovely review Jonny, I've missed you. Might need to watch more of your non-EV stuff

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Welcome back Matthew.

[@mceajc]

Yes, a simple, capable, practical electric vehicle. I like it. Thanks for a wonderful review.

[@MurrayC]

Your new house looks great, the vineyard is a great addition 🙂

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Do you know something we don't?!

[@shiresmeet]

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.

[@nickporter4279]

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.

[@Brian-om2hh]

But the seats in the Zoe can't be raised........there is no adjustment.

[@bennygustafsson9580]

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.

[@garybrazier7608]

Great review Love our Zoe tend to use it more than our Range Rover cheap to run great to use in town and on longer runs with the Zoe’s longer range.

[@robsmith1a]

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.

[@davidstuart4915]

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 :)

[@IvoTrausch]

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.

[@_Makanko_]

Very nicely done. I must say as a small utilitary vehicle for shopping and school runs it seems like a great car. The ncap debacle is very off-putting as well as the limited charging speed in the lesser trims. Thanks for this thorough review and thanks to Renault (or whomever, I didn't catch that) for providing a long term loaner.

[@ArnfinnSorensen]

I have a same colour Zoe (Edition One with Bose sound, otherwise similar), I like it´s efficiency and range and I think it is quick enough and easy to drive. I have driven it from Oslo to Bergen many times without problems on one fast charge enroute. My main objections: 1. not possible to preheat via remote or when charging. 2. No adptive cruise control. Sounds like luxury, but after a fracture my right leg gets cramps from having to work the «gas» pedal all the time in traffic. I really like the blue color, and I am not an old lady (but admittedly an old man). 3. The maps on board are outdated. But apart from that, I like the friendliness of the car. And beeing raised in my dad´s VW Beetles in the sixties, I wonder what safety score they would have got. Can it have minus values??? Thanks for a very nice presentation!

[@thenextelectriccar6529]

Excellent review The lack of seat height adjustment, as well as the removal of airbags, is a significant omission, Jonny. Hyundai Kona appears to be a magical vehicle.

[@nilyoung81]

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!

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Many thanks And yes, I wish said soup was lower in price.

[@barrydavies998]

@@TheLateBrakeShow Looks like the porn interlopers are at it again Jonny

[@paulsuddes1144]

Very thorough , thanks

[@AndySnap]

What an excellent review (as always from JS...). It seems the Zoe is such a good car in essence, very good looking to my eyes too, but Renault seem to have shot themselves in the le pied with cost cutting. Surely just centime pinching on a long production run model, which I believe has sold very well in it's market segment. Much as I like really the subtle looks of the Zoe, for £27-30k, I'd be looking at other EV competitors that are not basically 10 years old...

[@knowledgebyte]

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.

[@Lot76CARS]

Jonny, love your honest review despite this probably being a long term Renault UK demo. Very balanced review, lots to like but recent cost cutting and the NCAP publicity won’t have helped.

[@Marginal391]

Thank you for the great presentation 🙂

[@joegonzalez5128]

great look from the better half Jonny at 18.16 :-)

[@wilkoone9155]

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.

[@vandit83]

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.

[@ndc5544p]

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: 🏅.

[@davidstuart4915]

impressive English old chap :)

[@eviain]

Thanks Jonny for putting this out, as a Zoe owner and an ish KZbinr 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.

[@rustyjoints4857]

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.

[@eviain]

@@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.

[@maxmeier532]

@@eviain To be fair, anyone who buys a Zoe for the looks probably already has brain damage so that was probably Renault's logic.

[@eviain]

@@maxmeier532 thanks I bought two

[@tomhbird]

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!

[@downhilldick]

Great review! Thanks :-)

[@DrMatthewhannah]

No adaptive cruise control in the Zoe! Love that feature in the eGolf, so Zoe has never been on my radar as a replacement when the lease is up, but my friend has just got one and seems very happy with it.