Renault ZOE hatchback - Reliability & safety

Renault came 20th out of 29 manufacturers in our 2021 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, a five-place drop on 2020. Customers praised low running costs, refinement and handling, but were less impressed with seat comfort and storage space. Just over 16% of Renault owners reported a fault within the first 12 months of ownership, which is roughly average. ZOE owners have previously reported high levels of satisfaction.

Renault ZOE reliability

Making its debut in the Driver Power owner satisfaction survey in 2015, the ZOE placed fifth and went on to improve this to a remarkable second place out of 150 cars surveyed in 2016. In 2020, the ZOE came 37th out of 75 models, with transmission issues contributing to a higher than expected 23.5% of ZOE owners reporting a fault. The ZOE also won praise for its low day-to-day running costs, but owners felt that servicing costs were expensive.

Safety

Safety is a grey area now. When it was launched in 2013, the ZOE picked up the maximum five-star score from Euro NCAP, and performed well when assessed for adult and child occupant protection, while its safety assistance systems were also praised. However, the ZOE was retested in 2021 and its new zero-star safety rating was certainly a shock. It’s not clear why Renault has removed the car’s head airbags but these were highlighted in the side-impact crash test and seem to be the major reason why the ZOE has been scored so poorly.

In the face of near-constant technological advances when it comes to safety and driver assistance, Euro NCAP often changes the criteria required to score five stars. It’s strange that a car can go from the maximum safety rating to the worst possible one in just eight years. Among the must-have features are autonomous emergency braking and lane-departure warning; the former is standard and the latter is added to Iconic and GT Edition trims, so the ZOE isn’t unsafe in front impact collisions. The Iconic trim also adds parking sensors, lane-keeping assist, auto high beam and speed limit awareness.

Renault doesn’t only try to keep occupants safe – all models feature ‘Z.E Voice’, which generates a quiet yet noticeable sound to warn pedestrians of the ZOE’s presence.