Used Renault Zoe cars for sale

Used Renault Zoe pros and cons

Is a used Renault Zoe a good car?

The Renault Zoe is a small electric car, one which offers a useful one-charge range, and it’s a good rival to the likes of the Peugeot e-208, Mini Electric, and Vauxhall Corsa-e.

The Zoe was actually one of the first modern electric cars on sale, hitting the market as far back as 2012. That early Zoe had only a tiny range, though — just 130 miles and that’s on the old NEDC official test, which is pretty well removed from reality. If you fancy a Zoe, you’re much better off going for the post-2019 updated model, which looks a little sharper (nice LED lights front and rear) and which comes with a 52kWh battery which can take you for up to 240 miles on one charge. 

The newer Zoe and the older Zoe can be told apart, incidentally, by the brake lights — the original model had a weird blue tint to the lenses. It’s a fairly handsome little car, but a bit overshadowed by its replacement, the uber-cool retro-look Renault R5 E-Tech. 

Inside, the Zoe gets an all-digital dashboard layout with neat instruments and a fairly good touchscreen. Renault kept the software on that screen pretty well up to date, but earlier versions can, unsurprisingly, be a bit fiddly to use. Some of the materials were actually made from recycled plastic, giving you even more kudos at the local Greenpeace meeting. Sadly, recycled or not, some of the Zoe’s cabin plastics are pretty cheap and squeaky. 

Up front, the Zoe is comfortable, with typically good Renault seats, although it’s a little narrow across the shoulders. In the back, it’s much worse, with space for adults in the back seats genuinely limited. Forget getting three people in the back seat if they’re much more than primary school age. The boot is surprisingly big, though, at 338 litres. 

Around town, the Zoe feels spectacularly nippy. It may only have 135hp from its electric motor (cheaper versions stuck with an older 110hp motor) but it zips through heavy traffic with almost-silent ease. There’s a good view out, and the steering’s light so it’s easy to slip into a parking space. 

The Zoe’s good when it comes to charging, too. Overnight charging at home takes only eight hours, while the Zoe can handle up to 22kW of AC power, so if you’re plugged into a kerbside charging point you can potentially do an empty-to-full charge in only three hours. Fast-charging at DC public chargers is a little less impressive, as you’re limited to 50kW power, but it’s OK. It’s worth remembering, though, that basic models only got fast DC charging as an option, so always go for the highest-spec Zoe you can find. 

Once you’re charged up, that claimed 239 mile range isn’t unrealistic if you’re driving around town or on country roads — and the Zoe’s inherently small size makes those roads more fun than you might think — but on motorways it’s more of a chore as there’s lots of wind noise and tyre noise, and the higher motorway speeds drain the battery much faster, limiting your range to more like 180 miles. 

The Zoe’s safety credentials also aren’t as good as those of other Renaults. Although the Zoe scored well on the Euro NCAP test the first time out in 2012, when it was retested in 2019, it was given a no-star score due to a lack of the up to date electronic safety aids. 

That probably shouldn’t put you off though, as the Renault Zoe is a handily-sized and very affordable small electric car, with useful range and a decent driving experience. Make sure you take a look at our used Renault Zoe deals.

What to look for when buying a used Renault Zoe

Early Zoes were sold with a battery leasing offer, which kept the optical purchase price of the car low, but meant you had to pay extra every month for the battery. This slightly odd arrangement ended when the Zoe was updated in 2019, but it was popular before that, so make sure if you’re looking at an older Zoe that the battery lease has been bought out. 

As with any electric car, you’ll also want to make sure you get an independent battery health check, as — especially with older battery designs such as this — repeated fast-charging can damage the cells and reduce useable range. That said, any Zoe built from 2018 onwards can still be under its original eight-year, 100,000 mile battery warranty, which gives some reassurance. 

The Zoe has been recalled a few times, for brake issues, as well as problems with the rear seat not locking properly into position after being folded, incorrect accelerator pedals, gearbox problems, and even one to try and reduce dashboard reflections in the windscreen. 

Common issues with the Zoe include a 12-volt battery (critical for the car’s electrical system, and for things like seat heating and door locks) can drain itself without warning, and problems with the air conditioning. 

The Zoe didn’t place in the most recent Driver Power Top 50 Cars To Own survey, while Renault as a brand finished in a lowly 28th place out of 32 when it came to customer satisfaction. 24% of owners reported problems with their cars, but that was softened slightly by cheaper servicing and repair costs. 

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