The petite Renault Zoe has enjoyed reasonable success and is currently the third most popular electric car on sale in Britain. Its compact size and cute and stylish looks have all contributed to this, but now Renault is upping its game by introducing a new version with a claimed 250-mile range.
Unless you’re an avid Renault Zoe fan, you won’t notice anything different about this new version. The Renault diamond logo is now chrome, having lost its blue tint, but that’s it for exterior changes other than a few new colour options: Mars Red, Titanium Grey and Ytrium Grey expand the existing palette.

Renault has added a 'Signature Nav' model to the range, too, pitched at those seeking a more premium feel. It features smart leather upholstery and a BOSE audio system, along with 16-inch 'Grey Shadow’ wheels. Buyers can still choose from the entry level Expression Nav and mid-level Dynamique Nav specifications, although it’s worth pointing out that the new longer-range battery isn’t available on Expression Nav – that retains the original 22kWh unit.

And the big news is, of course, the introduction of a new 41kWh battery that has almost twice the storage capacity of the original battery, despite retaining the same dimensions. The result is an extended driving range of up to 250 miles according to the standardised NEDC cycle. In reality, Renault itself admits that users should expect 186 miles in summer, falling to 124 miles during winter. This still gives the Zoe a much-improved driving range and places it into the realm of realistic everyday commuting for many.

Buyers will have a choice of two versions of the new battery, the regular 'R90 Z.E. 40’ or the 'Q90 Z.E. 40’. The latter has a Quick Charge feature offering faster charging time, but has marginally less power and range. Using a 43kW charge point the Q90 can be charged to 80 per cent capacity in five minutes over the hour.

Driving the Renault Zoe continues to be an enjoyable experience. The seats are supportive and the driving position is usefully adjustable, offering reasonably good levels of visibility. By locating the battery in the floor of the car, the centre of gravity is low thus aiding handling. The steering is light, which makes it easy to manoeuvre and it is easy to place on the road, while the suspension soaks up most of the rough stuff without transmitting it through to the cabin.

It’s quiet too; even at motorway speeds passengers is well insulated from road and wind noise. One of the major positives of electric power, of course, is the instant torque. The Zoe has 166lb ft, from the moment you touch the accelerator, so, given its relatively compact size, it feels really nippy around town. Far quicker, in fact, than the 13.2-second dash to 62mph would suggest.

Top speed is a modest 84mph, making it one of the slowest on the market, but this car is about battery performance rather than outright pace. It has just one single ratio in its automatic transmission, so power delivery is smooth and linear, all of which results in what can be quite a relaxing driving experience.

The TFT instrument display is easy to read while the seven-inch R-Link infotainment system is more or less the same as that in the rest of the Renault range. The rear comfortably seats two adults and can accommodate three, but it gets 'cosy' at that point. The two rear outer seats and the front passenger seat feature ISOFIX points, though. At 338 litres, boot space is greater than the current Ford Fiesta or Vauxhall Corsa and can be increased further to 1,225 litres by folding the rear seats down.

Renault offers buyers the choice to buy the Zoe Z.E. 40 outright, starting at £23,445, while the Quick Charge version comes at a £750 premium. That price difference is the same should you choose to use Renault’s battery lease scheme. With that, the purchase price comes down to a starting point of £17,845 with a subsequent monthly lease depending on how many miles you drive annually.

Lease rates start from £59 for up to 4,500 miles, rising incrementally to £110 per month for an unlimited mileage package. Regardless of purchase plan, Renault includes a complimentary 7kW fast-charging wall-box with free home installation with every retail sale, which can fully charge the car in around 7 hours 25 minutes. The Renault Zoe Z.E. 40 is available to order now, with first deliveries beginning in January 2017.

THE FACTS

Renault Zoe R90 Z.E. 40 Signature Nav

Tested: synchronous electric motor with rotor coil, single-speed reduction gear bar, front-wheel drive

Price/on sale: £19,895 (after Plug-in Car Grant, plus monthly battery lease) as an R90 Z.E. 40 Signature Nav/now for deliveries in January 2017

Power/torque: 90bhp @ 3,000- to 11,300rpm/166lb ft @ 250- to 2,500rpm

Acceleration: 0-62mph in 13.5sec Top speed: 84mph

Driving range: 250 miles (NEDC- on 16-inch wheels)

CO2 emissions: 0g/km

VED band: A (£0 first year, £0 thereafter)

Verdict: Adds greatly to the Zoe’s appeal with increased driving range, but is still limited by its compact size compared with some rivals – although that’s a bonus for urban driving

Telegraph rating: Four out of five stars

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