With a wave of affordably priced Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) launching in Malaysia, all eyes are certainly on the dreamers and the big-eyed felines. However, there is one pioneer from an established marque that was given an update not so long ago that many people have somehow overlooked – the 2023 Renault Zoe.

Indeed, the Renault Zoe along with the Nissan Leaf are among the first mass-produced EVs from a mainstream carmaker. While the Leaf received a second generation in 2017 and an update which was introduced in Malaysia back in March, the Zoe remained in the same generation since its introduction in 2012.

Local EV fans might recognise the Zoe as the hatchback that was first introduced here by Malaysia’s first EV car-sharing programme, COMOS which was introduced here in May 2015. Eventually, TC Euro Cars would launch the pre-facelift Zoe for buyers in Malaysia nearly a year later.

But this aubergine-coloured Zoe is the latest version which was launched in May and TC Euro Cars offers two variants – the entry R110 starts from RM 165,000 and the R135 which was provided for the review is priced from RM 179,000.

Also read: New 2023 Renault Zoe launched in Malaysia - First shipment sold out, from RM 165k, 395 km, 50 kW DC charging

Those prices might sound high for a B-segment EV considering the larger Nissan Leaf starts from RM 168,888 or the Chinese rivals that are priced way less. However, there are some nifty tricks up its sleeve that make it a winner in our hearts. Not convinced? Allow us to explain.

Also read: RM 7k cheaper than before, new 2023 Nissan Leaf facelift launched in Malaysia

Design – So simple it works

The French are known to go full-on excentrique when it comes to the design of their cars and the Zoe is surprisingly more normal for a French hatchback. Then again, Renault has become a lot more conservative in design compared to Peugeot or Citroen since design head Patrick le Quément who designed the busty second-gen Megane left the French diamond brand.

Also read: 8 famous car designers and their ugliest creations

Though the model was first introduced in 2012, the Zoe’s design didn’t age like spoiled cheese. In fact, there’s something charming about the squishy-looking electric hatchback. It didn’t need to try as hard as some of its Chinese EV counterparts like the one with an obvious furry connotation and that’s le charm of the French.

Also read: Thais love cute cars, there are over 7,300 units of Ora Good Cat on their roads, GWM's best-seller

The purple colour – officially called Violet Blueberry – might make the Zoe look a little bit like an eggplant on wheels but again, that’s le caractère like the hidden rear door handles. Exterior-wise, it’s chic and just feels at home at our shooting location in Putrajaya as much as in Paris. With fewer aggro drivers around the roundabouts.

Inside though, it’s less of an oddball and feels very normal. That is until you feel the plastics and try to connect with its 6-figure price. The dashboard and door cards are made of hard plastic; it feels like a European rental car that you would probably ding around cobblestoned roads before throwing the keys back to the counter.

However, the Zoe is in essence an affordable European city car and was also the best-selling EV in the Old Continent before Tesla officially arrived. While EVs in Malaysia are tax-free for the time being (until 2025), the French import (CBU) is still priced higher than its Chinese rivals.

Also read: Malaysia doesn't allow import of battery EVs priced below RM 100k, how true is this?

For instance, the driver’s seat does not have height adjustment, a strange omission that you don’t see on many modern cars. On the other hand, the steering wheel comes telescopic adjustment so it’s a case of 'win some, lose some', I guess?

Also read: Dear car makers, telescopic steering adjustment should be standard on all cars

Yet with some of the faults given its price, I couldn't help but not be too harsh on the Zoe. It has a groovy-looking roof lining design that resembles some kind of circuit board and there is the infotainment stalk behind the steering wheel that you can easily get the hang of. The French charm of the Zoe grows on you like a whimsical film starring Audrey Tautou.

Despite the lack of height adjustment, the Zoe’s seats are pretty supportive and for a car designed to be driven around the city, it’s more than adequate in terms of comfort. The driving visibility is also great with the slightly tall design giving plenty of breathing space to look out at the surroundings.

The dash layout is also ergonomic and while some might complain about the 7-inch screen being too small, operating it is easy. The infotainment system also supports wireless Apple CarPlay which makes it a winner in terms of driver convenience.

Also read: The W223 Mercedes-Benz S-Class’ giant touchscreen is a bad sign of things to come

The controls and the knob to adjust the air-conditioning or the infotainment are well within reach and the monochromatic display on those knobs is clear. There’s no fancy rotating screen or a rotary knob for a gear shifter and sometimes, being simple is just the breath of fresh air needed especially in an EV.

Also read: Review: BYD Atto 3 - Not without its pains, but it's probably the most complete EV SUV for RM 170k

Driving impressions – Like an electric go-kart

While the Zoe is essentially made to be a city runabout, take it out on the highway which is where most Malaysian drivers would spend on a commute and the French EV turns from a gentle poodle to a hyperactive one.

The R135 variant that we have for the review is powered by a front axle-mounted electric motor making 135 PS and 245 Nm. Like any EV, the torque is instantaneous but, on the Zoe, it feels a little bit more eager.

Put your foot down to overtake a car and the Zoe just zooms by with the electric motor whirring outside like the Jetsons’ spaceship. Sadly, it is not offered in the same shade of green as the classic animated spacecraft.

In our 0-100 km/h test, the Zoe did it in 9.05 seconds which is faster than Renault’s claimed time of 9.5 seconds! In fact, the EV has the potential to really be as fun as an electric go-kart and it’s an experience you would rarely get in the Chinese EVs that are within the Zoe’s price range.

Being built as a proper city car, the Zoe has a direct steering input and makes the hatchback easy to manoeuvre. It also makes the car light on its feet when trying to avoid sudden obstacles or even when making a tight turn.

The Zoe is also comfortable with a suspension set-up that feels very pliant though this comfort is mostly felt in front. Thanks to the 52-kWh battery’s position that is closer to the rear axle, those at the back might feel a bit of discomfort which brings us to the next part of the review.

Livability – If it works in Paris...

The French are stereotypically known to be among the worst drivers in the world. Reckless and aggressive, a typical French-owned car tends to be filled with battle scars if they’re not burned to the ground whenever there’s a protest or on New Year’s Eve.

Well, in Malaysia where the drivers can get aggressive but at least the ritual of car burning is frowned upon, the Zoe is an ace around the urban streets. High visibility and small size are immediate good points to shower on this French EV.

Parking is also very easy with a clear reverse camera and parking sensors all around though the latter can get overly sensitive at times. Even though it’s a small car that’s easy to drive, the top-of-the-range Zoe comes with Easy Park Assist which lets the car do the parking for you in parallel or reverse parking.

As exciting as that sounds, the feature is quite rudimentary as it relies mainly on the surrounding sensors. Sometimes, the system takes its time in searching for the spot even if you’re in a position ready to park. It’s more of a hassle rather than a convenience and parking on your own feels more seamless.

As mentioned previously, the Zoe’s rear occupants would feel a more pronounced discomfort than up front though comfort is really pretty decent for a short drive around the city. However, it is cramped with little legroom and headroom and squeezing five grown adults in the small hatchback does make it look like a clown car.

Funnily enough, even with 5 occupants on board, the Zoe still zooms about and we came out of the car laughing as much as the curious onlooker seeing grown adults popping out of a curious-looking hatchback.

We took out the decibel meter to measure the Zoe’s cabin noise and at 110 km/h, our device read 69 dB. Most of the noise comes from the outside wind noise but it’s not too intrusive at the very least.

Under the WLTP cycle, the Zoe R135 has a range of 386 km and from our review, the range seems plausible. As for energy consumption, after driving for around 120 km, we recorded an average of 16.33 kWh/100 km.

While the updated Zoe comes with DC fast charging support of up to 50 kW, we only recharged our review unit via a 22-kW AC charging station. Charging from 65% to 100% takes about an hour which might sound like a long time to those who are still vocally against EVs but it’s fairly impressive.

If you're willing to charge up to 80%, the charging time would be significantly shorter since all EVs would throttle down the charging speed beyond 80%.

So, in theory, you could recharge the Zoe every week or so if you’re planning to use it for a daily commute in the city. Granted, the Zoe will be a tough sell to convince anyone that it’s a subtly brilliant EV in some ways against its more affordable and feature-packed Chinese rivals.

Price – The bitter pill to swallow

There are two variants of the Zoe offered in Malaysia with the base R110 starting from more than RM 160k and features-wise, it’s pretty basic. Besides a less powerful electric motor (110 PS/225 Nm), it has fabric seats, manual-folding side mirrors, reverse sensors, and only 2 colours – black or solid white.

Still, the LED headlights, 10-inch colour driver screen, 7-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 6 speakers, automatic climate control, and 4 airbags come as standard.

Those sound a bit too little in terms of features for a car with a starting price of RM 165k. Without a doubt, the likes of the BYD Dolphin which start from around RM 100k offer a lot more value and sense to those who are looking to get an EV. Similar can be said of the Ora Good Cat with the top-of-the-range Ultra going for around the same price (RM 169,800)

Also read: From RM 100k, BYD Dolphin launched in Malaysia, up to 204 PS/310 Nm, 427 km range

Still, the Zoe is also reaching the end of its lifecycle and will be replaced by the reborn Renault 5 EV which will be launched in Europe in 2024.

Also read: Renault: Prediction of cheaper EV batteries were wrong, calls high-end models environmental nonsense

Still, all of these don't mean you should look away from the Zoe as it is also available via leasing. This would be an attractive deal for those who just want to experience the EV lifestyle without the hassle of paying for maintenance or battery replacement for up to 3 years. Besides, BYD also charges extra for maintenance packages in its two models.

Conclusion

The Renault Zoe is proof that even an old machine is capable of being as good as its newer rivals. The French EV might be approaching its end of life but with these latest updates and a surprisingly quick charging time, the pioneer is still showing that it’s raring to go further.

The Zoe is also probably the most fun EV to drive in its segment while being very comfortable - traits that won over some of us at the WapCar office. Even if the Dolphin and Good Cat offer more features for less, the Zoe has one thing that should entice those looking for an EV.

Also read: Euro NCAP raises concern on 2021 Renault Zoe's 0-star score

The Renault Zoe is available via Renault Subscription with 3 plans offered starting from RM 2,999 per month for the top-of-the-range Zoe R135. The monthly fee is inclusive of insurance, regular servicing fees, and a Type 2 AC cable.

Hence, you don't have to worry about the low resale value of EVs or even battery replacement costs as maintenance is covered. So, give this French EV a shot as it offers plenty of surprises.