The French manufacturer put so much effort into the Renault Zoe electric car, and if we look at the European sales, it paid out. On the other hand, it never sold that well in Australia.
Some would say that the Australian market wasn't ready for electrification at the time, while others suggest that the hatchback was too simple and too small for the people Down Under.
In any case, the Australian adventure didn't last long. This model remained on offer for a couple of years only, unlike in Europe, where it is still quite popular, despite a decade-old design. What are the best and the worst things about Renault Zoe? We will try to offer you an answer in the following paragraphs.
The First Generation of Renault Zoe (2017-2020)
The history of the Renault Zoe started way before it arrived in the Australian market. The French manufacturer was one of the first companies to develop electric cars, presenting the first Zoe City Car Concept in 2005. It featured an interesting 3-seat layout, but the later version came with a completely different design.
They presented the next concept in 2009. That model set up the basis of the new car, with outlines that you can still find on the production version. Right the following year, we saw a concept car named Zoe Preview, indicating that the serial production was close.
True enough, the production model arrived in 2012, and since then, more than 100,000 have been sold in France alone, with global sales estimated at over 300,000.
Eventually, Renault Zoe Australia debuted in 2017.
Design
At the time, electric cars were in the early stage of development, and the new technology required high production cost.
To be able to compete with traditional (read: expensive) models, Renault engineers had to come up with an affordable electric car. It follows that they needed to make many compromises.
The new 5-door hatchback model came in a tiny package, and compromises were everywhere, particularly on the inside. The cabin design was characterised by cheap materials and a relatively short list of standard equipment.
Cheap design solutions were all over, even under the skin (like the rear drum brakes). Even today, that trend is present 10 years after Zoe's launch. At the front, this hatch comes with disc brakes.
It’s good to note that there’s nothing to complain regarding suspension. The front end features an independent McPherson setup, while the rear end comes with a torsion beam.
All these things positively affected the price, which left room for powertrain and batteries that were pretty respectable. The Renault Zoe Australia price was $31,800 in 2017.
Renault Zoe Dimensions
The Zoe was designed as a small city car, so its dimensions don’t come as a surprise. It measures just 2,588mm in wheelbase, while the total length goes around 4,084mm. It is 1,730mm wide and 1,562mm high. Such small dimensions provide a turning circle under 10.5 metres and barely clearing the ground at 145mm.
The Australian version, available with a 41-kWh battery pack only, weighs around 1,480kg.
Renault Zoe Dimensions
- Wheelbase: 2588mm
- Overall length: 4085mm
- Overall height: 1562mm
- Overall width: 1730mm
- Ground clearance unladen: 145mm
- Weight: 1480kg
- Turning circle: 10.56m
- Rear track: 1510mm
- Front track: 1511mm
Powertrain, Battery, and Performance
All Renault Zoe models for the Australian market came with the same setup. Of course, we are talking about the single electric motor at the front and front-wheel-drive layout.
The electric motor features a max output of 68 kilowatts and 220 Newton-metre of max torque. The electric motor comes coupled with a single-speed transmission, and such a setup is good enough to provide relatively decent performance.
Given the power-to-weight ratio, it's easy to conclude that the Renault Zoe electric car isn't a speed king. It needs around 13.5 seconds to hit 100 km/h, while the top speed goes up to 135 km/h. It seems good enough for a small city car that doesn't visit open roads too often.
The initial version of this small electric car had a really small 22-kWh battery pack. Of course, that wouldn’t work for the Australian version, which came after the update. This was a relatively bigger battery pack (41-kWh) for a much longer range.
The real-world Renault Zoe range goes around 300 kilometres. Another thing worth mentioning is that the new battery added just 15 kilograms to the kerb weight.
Renault Zoe Specs
- Powertrain: Single synchronous electric motor
- Max Power: 68 kW
- Max Torque: 220 Nm
- Transmission: 1-speed automatic
- Acceleration (0-100km/h): 13.5s
- Top Speed: 135 km/h
- Battery Capacity: 41 kWh
- Max Range: 300 km
Renault Zoe 2020 Update
In 2019, the French manufacturer updated the Zoe. The refresh brought many new things, starting with a significantly upgraded styling. The battery features a bigger capacity, 52 kWh, which increases the max Renault Zoe range to 395 kilometres, according to WLTP.
We also saw a new electric motor, with a max output of 100 kW. Unfortunately, the updated version wasn’t available for too long, as the Zoe was discontinued from the Australian market the same year.
Are Renault Zoes any good?
Although not particularly popular down under, the Zoe has been one of the most popular electric cars in Europe for a full decade. That's a clear indicator that Zoe has a lot of good things to offer, especially if you don't drive on the open road too much. It is an affordable electric car with good range, low running costs and decent performance, while its small dimensions make it perfect for city jams.
In terms of reliability, there are a few issues to keep in mind. The most common trouble with Zoe is transmission fault. Also, many customers feel that servicing costs are a little bit expensive.
Is the Renault Zoe available in Australia?
No, the Zoe is no longer available in Australia. It was introduced in 2017, but it never managed to mark some good sales numbers as it did in Europe, when it became a best-seller in many markets. The Australia sales numbers were constantly low, with just 63 units sold in 2020.
Therefore, the Renault Zoe for sale can only be found on the used car market.
How far does a Renault Zoe go on one charge?
The Australian model came after the battery upgrade, so all versions come with a 41-kWh battery pack, ensuring around 300 kilometres of the all-electric range. The 2020 update brought a bigger battery and the ability to make up to 395 kilometres on one charge, according to WLTP.
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