2017 Renault ZOE: full prices, specs and battery details

The new 2017 Renault ZOE electric supermini is now on sale across Renault’s UK dealer network. The latest version of the car, which was shown at the Paris Motor Show last year is now available with a high-output battery for an increased range.

That means the top of the range Renault ZOE Z.E.40 is capable of travelling up to 250 miles. It is available alongside the standard version, which has an official range of 149 miles.

With the introduction of the new 41kWh, Renault claims the ZOE Z.E.40 has the longest driving range of any mainstream all-electric vehicle. That extra range comes at a price though, with prices ranging from £17,845 to more than £20,600 if you choose to lease the battery – buy it outright and prices increase by between £5,000 and £6,000.

The £13,995 22kWh version (£18,995 if you purchase the battery) is still available for buyers on a budget, although choosing this restricts you to the entry-level Expression Nav trim.

Renault’s Z.E. Connect smartphone app allows you to monitor your car’s charging level remotely, while the Z.E. Interactive app allows you to remotely charge and schedule charges to take advantage of off-peak electricity tariffs and warm the car’s interior before setting off. Dynamique Nav models come with a year’s free subscription.

Renault ZOE 2017 trim levels & equipment

If you don’t mind having the 22kW battery, it’s available in the entry-level Expression Nav version of the ZOE, which costs £13,995 if you lease the battery and around £18,995 to buy outright.

For a supermini, it’s still well equipped, with Renault’s seven-inch R-Link 2 infotainment setup, which includes Bluetooth and sat nav, along with cruise control, air-conditioning and heated door mirrors.

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The Dynamique Nav version sits in the middle of the range, with prices from just under £17,845 (£23,445 with the battery pack), adding the ‘Z.E. Interactive’ app, which can monitor your car from your smartphone, computer or tablet, allowing you to control charging sessions remotely and even cool the car down or warm it up before a journey.

The top-spec £19,895 (£25,495 if you buy the batteries) Signature Nav trim level is brand new. It adds leather upholstery, heated front seats, an upgraded BOSE stereo and a reversing camera. This model also gets a different design of 16-inch alloy wheels as well as lumbar adjustment for the driver’s seat.

Battery specs and prices

The new ZOE Z.E.40’s battery can hold almost twice as much energy as the previous one, despite not taking up any extra space or weighing significantly more. Previously, the ZOE used a 22kWh battery – although this is still available - while the new one can store up to 41kWh of electricity. Power and performance are the same regardless of battery. The 89bhp electric motor allows a 0-62mph time of 13.5 seconds and an 84mph top speed.

Although Renault claims a 250-mile maximum range for the high-output ZOE, it says the ‘real-world’ figure is closer to 186 miles, due to variations in the environment, road conditions and how the car is driven. The range could even be as low as 124 miles if driven in “extreme cold”. Charging time hasn’t changed either, with the new car still taking half an hour to add 50 miles of range. Using a fast charger can speed this up, however.

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Every new ZOE comes with a wall box charger with free home installation, that can charge the battery from flat to 100% in between three and four hours.

The new battery comes in two guises – R90 and Q90. The former offers that maximum range of 250 miles, while the slightly cheaper Q90 has a maximum range of 230 miles but takes significantly less time to charge (see table below).

Renault is one of the few car makers to offer a battery leasing scheme. While it keeps the car purchase price low, buyers need to consider if the monthly cost of leasing a battery makes sense. In a petrol or diesel car, you won’t pay for fuel you don’t use; lease the battery and it’ll cost you the same whether you use the car or not.

On the flip side, leasing a battery means it’ll be replaced when needed. Buying one outright could mean having to pay for an expensive replacement should it develop a fault once the warranty has expired. Renault will cover the battery for five years or 60,000 miles, and will replace it if the capacity drops below 70%.

Price & on-sale date

On sale now, the 2017 Renault ZOE is priced from £13,995 to £20,645 (with battery leasing and after the Government’s plug-in grant). Buy the batteries and the car will cost from £18,995 to £26,245 after the grant.