Renault ZOE 2018 Review

Renault Australia's relationship with pure-electric vehicles mirrors the famous chicken-or-egg argument. What comes first? Battery-powered cars, or the infrastructure that powers them. It chose to wait for the latter but with the rising popularity of Tesla, the French car-maker has suddenly backtracked and woken up to the niche sales potential of a more affordable zero-emission small hatch – especially with the latest updated ZOE that boasts a decent 400km range. Read on to see whether we think it will be a gamble that will pay off.

Renault's ZOE is no spring chicken. It was first unveiled back in 2012, and we last caught up with the zero-emission hatch at its original launch in Europe in early 2013.

Part-developed in Australia, where it carried out thousands of kilometres in hot-weather testing, we came away impressed thinking it was only a matter of time before the ZOE would be sold Down Under.

More than half a decade later that time has come.

Frustratingly, not much has changed when it comes to both infrastructure – the charging points that make pure-electric cars viable – nor government-backed subsidies and grants that make them affordable compared to petrol, diesel and hybrid cars.

Meanwhile, in Europe the ZOE has become the most popular battery-powered car, outselling both the Nissan LEAF and Tesla Model S and Model X.

It's not known what exactly has changed Renault Australia's mind, but it's thought a deal to supply four pure-electric Renault Kangoo ZE vans to Australia Post might have finally opened the manufacturer-owned importer's eyes to the business potential of a zero-tailpipe emission vehicles.

Don’t expect to see a ZOE at your local Renault dealer because the car-maker Down Under has announced it will ignore private buyers altogether and target businesses and local government departments that are already enquiring about image-boosting zero-emission vehicles.

It's a shame, because now has never been a better time to buy a ZOE.

Refreshed late last year, the small battery hatch had a tech overhaul that eliminates what Renault says is the single barrier that's prevents most from switching to an electric car – range anxiety.

Upgrading the 22kWh lithium-ion battery to a more energy dense 41kWh battery cell, Renault says it has almost doubled the claimed NEDC range of 210km to more than 400km.

Better yet, the French car-maker says in real-world conditions the pure-electric hatch is fully capable of covering around 300km before it runs flat.

That, for most, will easily cover a decent daily commute and allow the little French hatch to be charged just once a day.

Speaking of charging, the French car-maker has its own solution to the lack of public recharging facilities.

As well as selling you a car, for an undisclosed amount Renault is also offering ZOE customers a powerful 7kW fast-charger that can fully charge the little Renault in around 7.5 hours -- although the car-maker says from zero charge to 80 per cent takes just over an hour.

Despite boosting the range, Renault hasn't been tempted to give its battery-power hatchback supercar levels of acceleration. The standard car (which is still being sold in Europe) has a 65kW/225Nm front-mounted electric motor that remains unchanged.

That means the ZOE can still hit 100km/h in the same 13.2 seconds, topping out a highly illegal (but disappointing-sounding) 135km/h.

Somewhat spritely
It might lack on-paper performance but, in reality, thanks to a single reduction gear transmission acceleration off the line feels far mightier than you might suggest.

In a busy European city like Paris, the instant torque delivery easily deals with even the angriest, most impatient French cab driver away from the lights.

Even at highway speeds the ZOE never feels like it struggles to keep up with traffic, although above 90km/h the way it picks up speed noticeably trails off.

Around town is, initially, an eerie experience since you're treated to a lack of engine noise only Rolls-Royce Phantom owners will be able to relate to.

It's not completely silent of course. There might be a complete lack of engine noise but with nothing to drown it out you begin to hear the tyres and suspension work away.

Things are even stranger at low speed when, for safety sake, the ZOE artificially generates a strange harmony that sounds lifted from distressing dystopian sci-fi movie.

The noise, that you really have to listen out for, is there to alert pedestrians and other road users in built-up urban areas that the near-silent pure-electric Renault approaching.

A bit left-field
It's only after you've acclimatised to the ZOE you start noticing its quirks.

Regenerative braking is ever present when you lift off the throttle but instead of despising it you begin to appreciate the way it helps you decelerate and claw back energy to boost the range.

Sitting slightly too high, the steering wheel is precise but lifeless and, behind the wheel, the ZOE feels its age.

The clear, but dated instrument panel feel's a generation old, while the R-Link infotainment is slow to react and lacks the clarity and precision of something from the Volkswagen Group.

The plastics used, too, can't match the Germans for perceived quality, but the ZOE gets a decent-sized boot and space for two tall passengers in the rear -- once you've managed to access the rear seats using the horrible postage-stamp-sized door-handles.

Find a challenging piece of road and the ZOE's handling is another surprise. Weighing in at 1480kg, the small Renault weighs almost a third more than the equivalent Clio but still manages to find surprising grip through corners.

It’s hard to resist the urge to push on, there's even some adjustability and fun to be had. Shame the ride doesn't seem quite as well resolved as the handling.

Like an old Japanese car, the ZOE has been burdened with stiff springs and soft damper that cause some crashiness over poor surfaces.

Not so fast
Due on sale here just before the end of this year, the ZOE’s biggest challenge won't be the way it drives or rides, nor its age – and we haven't even mentioned its oddball looks.

No, if you can convince your local Renault dealer to sell you one, the biggest hurdle will be its price.

Despite being billed as Australia's "most affordable" pure-electric car, the range will kick off at a hefty $42,470 and that will only include a three-year warranty, not the five-year cover other Renaults get.

At least batteries are included with the cars we get. We're not kidding. In other European markets, Renault cheekily charges up to $A170 per month to lease the lithium-ion cells but, then again, those lucky Euro buyers get big subsidies – as much as $A15,000 if you scrap a dirty old diesel in France.

Back Down Under, without any cash back, it will be difficult to justify the ZOE as anything more than a second car, especially if you like a long road trip. That makes this small electric hatch an expensive second car even with its ultra-low running costs.

Perhaps the final nail in the coffin for the long-delayed ZOE will be the arrival of the Tesla Model 3 that's rumoured (by Elon Musk himself) to be priced from under $45,000.

But if you can't wait for that car to arrive in 2019, at the earliest, Renault's pure-electric ZOE gives an enjoyable insight into the bright future of the automobile.

2018 Renault ZOE pricing and specifications:
Price: From $42,470
On sale: December (estimated)
Engine: Single electric motor
Output: 68kW/220Nm
Transmission: Reduction gear
Battery: 42kWh
Range: 400km (NEDC)
Safety rating: Five-star (EuroNCAP 2013)