Renault ZOE (2013-2019) reliability & safety
The Renault ZOE achieved good crash-test results in 2013, but the lack of autonomous emergency city braking is quite poor
| Euro NCAP rating | Adult protection rating | Child protection rating | Safety assist rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 stars (2013) | 89% | 80% | 85% |
Renault ZOE reliability & problems
The Renault ZOE managed an impressive fifth place in the 2015 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey – two years after the car was launched – and it went on to improve this to second place out of 150 cars tested in 2016. It’s a commendable showing by any standard.
This could be a bit misleading, though, since it placed so highly thanks to a third-place ranking for running costs and second place for ease of driving. Owners were less impressed by the ZOE’s reliability. It came 106th in that category, with a build-quality result of 80th. So while the electric motor itself should be very reliable and will keep you moving, there’s a chance that other bits and pieces might fall off occasionally.
Safety
The ZOE achieved the maximum five-star Euro NCAP rating when it was crash-tested back in 2013, but since then technology has moved on, particularly in terms of driver aids. A lot of rivals now have autonomous emergency braking (AEB) as standard or as an option, so it’s a shame the Renault doesn’t. There’s also no space-saver spare wheel – not even as an option.
Still, the ZOE does get four airbags, a passenger airbag disconnect switch, parking sensors as standard even on the cheapest model, and ISOFIX fittings on the two outer rear seats.
