Home › Renault › Renault Zoe 2018

Renault Zoe 2018 review

Hatchback Electric

Renault Zoe 2018 — front three-quarter view

Overview

The 2018 Renault Zoe is the ZE40 era of Britain's best-selling electric supermini — the facelifted car with the 41kWh battery that finally gave the Zoe a real-world range you could plan around. Two purchase schemes existed in 2018, and this is the key detail on every used listing: 'i' models (i-Expression Nav, i-Dynamique Nav, i-Signature Nav) had the battery INCLUDED, while non-'i' models came with a battery LEASE. Our core spec is the R110 ZE40 in i-Dynamique Nav trim at £28,520 new — the same car as a battery-lease Dynamique Nav cost £21,920 plus £59–£110 a month in battery hire. An 'i' in the title is worth real money.

The R110 motor, new for summer 2018, produces 80kW (107bhp — Renault marketed it as 109) and 225Nm, covering 0–62mph in 11.4 seconds with an 84mph top speed. The ZE40 pack is 44.1kWh gross with 41kWh usable, officially rated at 250 miles on the NEDC test — a fantasy figure, because Renault's own press release admitted 124 miles in extreme winter cold. The honest numbers: around 186 miles in summer, about 155 miles real-world mixed, 124 in a bad winter. Charging is AC only through the Type 2 port — there is NO DC fast charging on this generation, a correction worth making because some sites wrongly claim CCS. The standard Chameleon charger runs at up to 22kW (0–80% in about an hour and 40 minutes); the Q90 'Quick Charge' variant manages 43kW AC for 0–80% in roughly 65 minutes.

As a used buy the maths still works: the 22kW AC charger drinks happily from any three-phase post, a heat pump is standard on every Zoe as part of the Range OptimiZEr system, services are 12 months or 18,000 miles at roughly £79 for a minor and £160 for a major, and Renault was throwing in a free 7kW home wallbox with every 2018 sale. But the charging system is the Zoe's documented weak spot: the 'Battery Charging Impossible' dash warning usually means a failed internal Battery Charge Box, and UK owner reports recur with charging-flap protocol errors, water ingress at the charge port, PEB power-electronics motor faults and the standard flat-12V weakness. Only EV-trained Renault dealers can service the car, and front wheel-arch liners have been known to rub brake hoses. Warranty on a 2018 car was 4 years/100,000 miles, with the owned battery covered for 8 years/100,000 miles down to 66% of original capacity.

Here is the heresy: the much-mocked battery lease was arguably the smart play. An owned battery's 8-year warranty only triggered at 66% capacity — you could lose a third of your range and Renault would shrug — while the lease promised a replacement at around 75% and bundled 24/7 roadside assistance. You were paying for someone else to worry about degradation, in an era when nobody knew how fast these batteries would age. The real scandal was the 250-mile NEDC figure on the brochure next to Renault's own 124-mile winter admission. That fantasy got the Zoe onto shortlists; the reality sent a few buyers straight back to the dealership. Buy an 'i' car with a clean charging history and a full Renault service record, and this remains Britain's cheapest cheerful EV runabout.

UK price from: £28,520

Specifications

Electric motor	R110, 80 kW, front-wheel drive
Power	107 bhp (109 PS marketed)
Torque	225 Nm
0-62 mph	11.4 seconds
Top speed	84 mph
Drive	Front-wheel drive
Range (NEDC)	250 miles (NEDC); ~155 miles real-world
Battery	44.1 kWh gross (41 kWh usable)
AC charging	22 kW max (Type 2); 0–80% in ~1h40; no DC charging
Boot space	338 litres (1,225 litres seats folded)
Kerb weight	1,575 kg (R110)
Insurance group	18 (i-Dynamique Nav R110)
Euro NCAP	5 stars (2013 test)
Warranty	4 years / 100,000 miles; battery 8 years / 100,000 miles

Features

R110 electric motor: 80kW (107bhp), 225Nm, 0–62mph in 11.4 seconds
ZE40 battery: 44.1kWh gross (41kWh usable); 250 miles NEDC, ~155 real-world
'i' models = battery owned outright; lease models = £59–£110/month battery hire
22kW AC charging max (Type 2); Q90 Quick Charge variant: 43kW AC — no DC charging
Heat pump standard on every Zoe (Range OptimiZEr system)
338-litre boot (1,225 litres seats folded); 1,575kg kerb weight
5-star Euro NCAP (2013 test, still valid in 2018)
8-year/100,000-mile battery capacity warranty (owned batteries, ≥66%)

Common parts & prices

Part	Price (GBP)	Notes
Front brake pads (set)	£24.99	Catalogue-verified £21–£28 (ex VAT); regen extends pad life
Front brake discs (pair)	£68.99	Catalogue-verified ~£68 (ex VAT)
Wiper blade	£9.99	Catalogue-verified ~£9
Door mirror glass	£18.99	Catalogue-verified ~£18
Minor service (12mo/18k mi)	£79.99	Renault fixed-style pricing; major ~£160
Pads + discs per axle (fitted)	£349.99	Typical UK fitted-job range £200–£500

Prices are typical UK aftermarket/OEM guide prices and may vary by supplier.

Pros

One of Britain's cheapest used EVs — city-runabout bargain
'i' battery-owned cars have no monthly battery fee hanging over them
Heat pump standard; cheap servicing (£79 minor / £160 major)
22kW AC charging suits three-phase posts and cheap home tariffs
Owned-battery warranty runs 8 years / 100,000 miles

Cons

Battery lease cars carry £59–£110/month forever — check the scheme before buying
Charging system is the weak spot: 'Battery Charging Impossible' faults
NO DC fast charging — long trips need planning around AC posts
84mph top speed and ~124 winter miles limit its horizons

Frequently asked questions

Battery lease or battery owned — which Zoe should I buy?

In 2018 Renault sold the same car two ways: 'i' models (e.g. i-Dynamique Nav, £28,520) had the battery included, while non-'i' models (Dynamique Nav, £21,920) carried a battery lease of £59–£110 a month depending on mileage. An 'i' car has no monthly fee and is the simpler used buy; a lease car can still be cheap overall but the hire transfers to you. Check the advert and the paperwork carefully.

What is the real-world range of the 2018 Zoe ZE40?

The brochure claimed 250 miles on the NEDC test — treat that as fantasy. Renault's own press material admitted 186 miles in summer and 124 miles in extreme winter cold; independent testing lands around 155 miles mixed. Expect the low end of that in a British winter with the heater on.

Does the 2018 Zoe have rapid charging?

Not DC rapid charging — this generation Zoe charges on AC only through its Type 2 port, and some sites wrongly claim CCS compatibility. Standard R90/R110 cars take up to 22kW AC (0–80% in about an hour and 40 minutes); the Q90 'Quick Charge' variant takes up to 43kW AC for 0–80% in roughly 65 minutes.

What goes wrong on the 2018 Zoe?

The charging system is the documented weak spot: the 'Battery Charging Impossible' dash warning usually means a failed internal Battery Charge Box, plus charging-flap protocol errors and water ingress at the charge port. Also reported: PEB power-electronics motor faults, flat 12V batteries causing spurious dash errors, broken heaters, and wheel-arch liners rubbing brake hoses. Only EV-trained Renault dealers can service the car.

What does the Zoe battery warranty cover?

On a 2018 car sold new, the base vehicle and electric powertrain were covered for 4 years/100,000 miles, and an OWNED battery for 8 years/100,000 miles down to 66% of original capacity. A leased battery is covered for the duration of the lease contract instead, with replacement promised at around 75% capacity.