MINI Electric vs Renault ZOE: safety and reliability

Renault and MINI have strong reputation for safety; both cars should prove reliable transport

MINI Cooper

Renault is known for making safe cars, so it’s not a huge surprise to find the ZOE packed with active safety equipment: autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance and traffic-sign recognition all feature on top-spec GT Line cars – but entry-level cars are sparser in this department.

In Level 2 trim tested here, the MINI comes as standard with the ‘Driving Assistant’ pack, which brings speed-limit and traffic-sign recognition, city collision mitigation and automatic high-beam headlights. Step up to Level 3 and adaptive LED headlights are added, along with some extra parking assistance.

Renault ZOE

Neither of these cars has been crash-tested by Euro NCAP yet, but there’s not too much to worry about: the MINI’s petrol-powered counterpart achieved a four-star rating in 2014, while the vast majority of Renault’s output consistently manages five-star ratings.

As far as reliability goes, it’s hard to predict if the MINI will be particularly prone to issues as it’s such a new model; the ZOE has a longer track record. MINI didn't fare as well as Renault in the 2020 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, with its 26th-place finish out of 30 brands a reflection of some owners’ frustrations, largely with practicality issues, but just 8% reported faults with their cars. Renault achieved a mid-table 15th-place finish in comparison, with a higher 18.7% of owners experiencing faults.

Most Popular

New electric cars coming in 2023 and beyond
Polestars under cover
News

New electric cars coming in 2023 and beyond

With electric cars making up an ever-increasing proportion of sales, the industry is working flat out to launch new models – here's what's on the way …
19 Sep 2023
Volvo EX30 electric SUV: prices, specs and ride review
Volvo EX30 Prototype - teaser
News

Volvo EX30 electric SUV: prices, specs and ride review

We ride shotgun in Volvo’s smallest electric car, which is set to undercut rivals like the Kia Niro EV
19 Sep 2023
"Everyone wins in the switch to EVs. We must hold our nerve on the 2030 ICE ban"
Comment - 2030 ICE ban
News

"Everyone wins in the switch to EVs. We must hold our nerve on the 2030 ICE ban"

DrivingElectric’s Tom Jervis thinks the government’s rollback on the 2030 petrol and diesel ban is a blunder that could kill EV consumer confidence
20 Sep 2023