New Renault ZOE 2019: specs, prices and on-sale date

Renault has confirmed pricing and specification for its ZOE supermini ahead of first deliveries in January 2020. Contrary to previous announcements, the electric supermini will not be offered in the UK with battery leasing for an entry price of £18,670. Only full ownership will be offered here, with prices starting at £25,670, rising to £28,620 for the top-of-the-range model

Renault says the move has come as a result of strong predicted residual values for the new ZOE, which has allowed it to offer competitive Personal Contract Plan (PCP) finance rates on the car. It's offering 0% interest deals, with a representative example requiring a £2,995 customer deposit and 25 monthly payments of £269. There's an optional final payment of £15,657 if you want to own the car at the end of the two years.

The revised ZOE is available in three trim levels. The entry-level Play comes with a 107hp R110 electric motor, Apple CarPlay, DAB radio, LED lights, a hands-free key card, automatic wipers and lights and a 7kWh fast-charging home wallbox, with installation.

Move up to the Iconic model for an additional £1,500 and you get a seven-inch display with sat nav, wireless phone charging, climate control, parking sensors, electric rear windows and bigger alloy wheels. Iconic also gives you the option of more powerful 134hp R135 electric motor, with 0-62mph in 9.5 seconds and a top speed of 87mph.

Renault claims this version will get the car from 50-75mph in 7.1 seconds – 2.2 seconds quicker than the R110. This motor costs an additional £450 and is standard on the highest-spec trim level, GT Line, which adds a larger infotainment screen, diamond-cut alloy wheels, a rear parking camera, blind-spot warning and synthetic leather and recycled upholstery.

A bigger battery gives the new ZOE a 32% boost in range over the old model, returning 245 miles on a single charge. The new ZOE will be compatible with Type 2 charging cables at rates of up to 22kW, with 50kW charging ability provided by a CCS cable. Respectively, this should translate into 78 miles of range in an hour, or 90 miles of range in 30 minutes.

A full charge from a 7kW home wallbox will take nine hours and 25 minutes. Meanwhile, a new ‘B Mode’ boosts the strength of the regenerative braking system, allowing singe-pedal driving in a similar fashion to Nissan’s e-Pedal system.

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New Renault ZOE design

The new Renault ZOE arrives with a fresh exterior design for 2019: it sports a bolder, sharper look, with a wider front bumper featuring vents for better airflow. Chrome inserts can be found in the grille and around the foglights, while the Renault badge doubles as the cap for the charging port.

According to the manufacturer, the standard LED headlights provide 75% more light than equivalent halogen units, with the lights themselves surrounded by C-shaped daytime running lights. At the rear, bigger LED tail-lights also feature indicators that sweep outwards from the centre.

There'll be 15, 16 and 17-inch alloy wheels available, with three new metallic-paint options taking the total number of colours available up to nine.

Interior

The ZOE’s interior was revealed earlier this year, with a 9.3-inch infotainment screen and a 10-inch digital instrument display behind the steering wheel. The design represents a huge overhaul, with a completely new dashboard featuring soft-touch fabrics.

LED interior lighting is standard across the range, while the Iconic trim will boast upholstery made completely from recycled materials. The centre console has also been reworked, with a new gear selector replacing the old mechanical lever and the manual handbrake making way for an electronic one.

The company’s EASY LINK multimedia system is included, allowing drivers to check the status of local charging stations in real time. Smartphone connectivity in the shape of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is included, with wireless charging on the higher-spec cars.

Rear passengers benefit from a pair of USB ports for charging electronic devices. Several active safety systems are also promised, including emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring and automatic high-beam headlights.

Renault claims the larger 52kWh battery fits into the same physical space as the old 40kWh unit, preserving interior space and practicality.