[Test Drive] Perfect as a Second Car or for Singles... Cost-Effective Electric Car 'Renault Zoe'

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] Although Tesla is often regarded as the epitome of electric vehicles, in the most active European market, another car is more popular. It is Renault's 'ZOE'. ZOE maintained its position as the number one in the European market by selling 37,540 units in the first half of this year alone. Why is it so popular? Upon meeting the ZOE in person, it was not only the unique European sensibility but also the accessible price range and practical size that made it a model that could become the standard for electric vehicle popularization. We experienced the top European electric car ZOE by driving it from Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Jung-gu, Seoul, to Bukak Skyway Palgakjeong in Jongno-gu.

▲ Practical and full of European sensibility in design

The first time I saw the ZOE in person, it reminded me of Korea’s compact cars like Kia Morning and Chevrolet Spark. This feeling was stronger due to its typical European small 'hatchback' shape (a vehicle without a separate trunk and passenger compartment). However, the actual dimensions are quite different. With a length of 3595mm, width of 1595mm, height of 1485mm, and wheelbase of 2400mm, it is noticeably larger than the Morning or Spark. It is slightly smaller than the i30, a compact hatchback.

ZOE is sold with the 'Rojangju' emblem. Vehicles sold from Renault Samsung’s factory in Busan use the 'Eye of the Typhoon' emblem. In other words, ZOE is an imported car. This is especially noticeable in the design, which is overall sleek yet rounded, giving it a unique sensibility.

On the other hand, the interior is much simpler compared to the exterior. The console board is small, and there is only one cup holder on the centerline. It is a typical European car that is plain but practical.

▲ Driving feel like an internal combustion engine... Battery charging while driving adds another layer of fun

Starting the engine and pressing the accelerator, it smoothly accelerates. There is no feeling of sluggishness at all. One of the biggest advantages of electric vehicles is the absence of engine noise. The driving quietness was so good that the sounds of other vehicles on the road were rather distracting.

When leaving the city and entering Bukaksan Mountain, it offered a different sensation. It smoothly passed speed bumps, and even when accelerating and decelerating repeatedly on uphill roads, there was no difficulty at all. The handling stability was particularly impressive, thanks to the battery placement under the chassis, which lowers the center of gravity. When taking the winding corners of Bukaksan Mountain, it felt like driving an internal combustion engine car rather than an electric vehicle.

After passing Bukaksan Palgakjeong, I switched to B mode on the downhill. This mode uses a regenerative braking system to generate electricity and charge the battery during deceleration or stopping. The driving feel changes slightly in B mode. While pressing the accelerator pedal feels the same, releasing the pedal gives a sensation as if the brake pedal is lightly pressed. Once accustomed, it was possible to drive using only the accelerator pedal without using the brake pedal. During a 20 km drive in B mode, only 16 km worth of electricity was used. This was despite running the air conditioner at full power on a hot day.

▲ Perfect as a second car or for singles

Summarizing the impression of meeting the ZOE, it seems ideal as a second car for families. It is perfect for driving two children to and from school, commuting alone, or grocery shopping on weekends.

Although the driving range is about 300 km, it is sufficient for school runs or commuting. Additionally, the trunk space is relatively large at 338 liters for its class, making grocery shopping convenient. These advantages also make it attractive as a first car for singles.

The price is also an advantage. ZOE is priced at 39.95 million KRW for the Zen, 42.45 million KRW for the Intens Eco, and 43.95 million KRW for the Intens. With national subsidies from the Ministry of Environment and additional local government subsidies, it can be purchased for as low as 28.09 million KRW in Seoul and 27.59 million KRW in Jeju. The highest electric vehicle subsidy is in Chungcheongnam-do, where the price can be as low as 22.59 million KRW. Considering that the average first car purchase price for Korean consumers (as of 2017) is 28.01 million KRW or similar, or even lower, the likelihood of second car buyers and singles choosing the ZOE is expected to increase.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.