The Renault Twizy has split opinion with its stripped-back interior and pod-like styling, but one thing’s for sure: it’s unique. So far, we’ve only driven it on smooth tarmac in Ibiza, but now it’s time for its real test – on potholed city roads in the UK.
Our test car is a top-spec Technic model, which adds ‘luxuries’ such as 13-inch alloys and carbon-look plastic on the roof and dash. The scissor doors are an extra £545, but are a must- have option for keeping your feet dry. Whichever way you look at it, this is a back-to-basics machine.
Video: Watch our video of the Renault Twizy
As there are no windows, a jacket and gloves are advised when the sun’s not shining, but the windscreen and roof will keep you dry in the rain. The rear passenger sits pillion-style with their legs wrapped snugly around the driver, while the central driving position and narrow track mean the Twizy feels more like a moped to drive than a car.
Although there’s only 17bhp available, the surge away from the lights from 0-30mph is strong enough to stay with the traffic. A top speed of 50mph is plenty if you only drive it around town, as Renault intended.
Batteries stashed under the floor for a low centre of gravity and steering that’s uncorrupted by electrical assistance mean the Twizy is huge fun to drive. You can’t shoot up the middle of traffic jams like a scooter, but gaps in city traffic seem to open up to help shave a few minutes off each journey.
The first time you hit a bump, though, you’d be forgiven for thinking someone had forgotten to fit the suspension. Every scar in the surface sends a thump through the base of your seat.
The pay-off is that the Twizy corners with remarkable poise. If you don’t like attention, this isn’t the car for you. Park it up and within seconds people are swarming all over it with their camera phones, while in traffic jams cab drivers wind down their windows for a chat.
Renault will have to hope this positive feeling towards the Twizy translates into sales, because when you consider you can buy an entry-level VW up! for similar money, the sums don’t really add up.
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Good grief! AE's traditional VWphilia is not over the top for once. Setting aside the traditional EV problems of the effect cold weather has upon vehicle range, just consider the problems a user will face.
A house in leafy suburbia is a must to enable the vehicle to be re-charged securely. Even if a town parking space is equipped with a charging point, the cable itself will be vulnerable to every passing chav, drunken or otherwise. Parking outside an urban terrace would mean a mains voltage cable across the footway which is probably illegal and certainly a trip hazard. So the urban user, the category most likely to wish to use this vehicle, is the one least likely to be able to do so.
the little runabout it can be or should have been. There's a better one waiting on the sidelines: newisetta.com
The roof and windscreen may protect you from rain but will do little to defend the interior from the ravages of vandals and drunks intent upon seeing who can pee furthest. As aeolus said, this is a city car for people who don't live in a city - and does it have room to carry a week's shopping?
Nice idea, poor execution (or is that electrocution?)
I can assure you this is not the future of mobility, its little more then a stylish golf cart!
I have had the pleasure of a spin in a Twizy and it was fun but I can't imagine anyone parting with that much money for something so deeply impractical?...
Ps. Why must every article have some reference to VW? The bias towards the VW group is becoming ridiculous!
If this little runabout would have carried a Ford, Vauxhall or VW badge, it would have been hailed as the greatest thing since sliced bread.
As someone who has ordered a Twizy Colour and put his money where his mouth is i am well placed to comment on why.
Bought by a company as a fun vehicle for a director
Suburban house which can be quipped with outside charge point
100% corporation tax deductable in year 1
No company car tax for user
Low costs for something totally new which will turn heads
Its funny reading all the comments. Although Renault has positioned this with David Guetta and as a fun city car it may be that more buyers than Renautl things will be bored suburban families age range 35 to 60 who want a fun 2nd or 3rd car which is different.
I run a Jaguar XJR 4.2 which does 17mpg and the Twizy will be used for trips to the shops, the gym, taking kids to places in easy reach and with the objective of keeping the Jag mileage a little lower, being more socially acceptable, and using less fossil fuels. Apart from that, when I went for a test drive in the Twizy ALL the comments made to me by passers by were positive, cars stopped and chatted and everyone wanted to know more.
This car will not be for everyone but deserves a much more positive set of comments than are here on this blog at the moment!
Quod erat demonstrandum!
I'm sorry FutureCarEV but your comments completely confirms that this was a realistic review, because all this car is really REALLY good for is a "fun city runabout for people with a huge wad". In all seriousness it's a one person vehicle (especially if you're going shopping, because the second person has to be a fit young contortionist with no dreams of any sort of comfort. Secondly, in British weather it is pretty much only suitable a) if you have the £545 "optional extra" doors fitted (are you kidding me?). b) even then since there are no windows between the months of April (but not this year) and September... if you're lucky.
I'll eat my hat if you're nipping down to the gym in it on a snowy day in January. All of which means it just IS NOT practical unless you have money to burn.
I can really understand why renault has done this, this is right to challenge the way a car should be. We are trying to make battery power fit into normal car looks etc...its not going to work. Make the car as light as possible and price wise accesable as possible. Brilliant renault well done. Fitting windows would help but i guess power to keep those clear would involve heat etc, and in a small cabin you would use more power just clearing the windscreen....its more bike than car but is far better than the half cooked hybrid rubbish around at the moment. £7k isnt alot for a car or a bike nowadays, most idiots buy new and loose 30% by just driving a new car!! practical id say yes, nearly. But a brilliant move. Makes owning an M5 a little less guilt free.
I'm sorry but I can see absolutely no point to this contraption at all. Rom for one and someone who doesnt mind being in agony as a passenger, no protection from the elements (in Europe? are they serious) needs charging by a plug, when most people don;t have driveways, garages or even live at ground level. And it's ludcicrously priced too... This is an insane waste of Renault's resources which they might be better placed spending on some decent designers and more reliable parts suppliers for their hopelessly shoddy and unforgiveably ugly abysmal car range...
"£7k isnt alot for a car or a bike nowadays, most idiots buy new and loose 30% by just driving a new car"
Yes, you can get a perfectly reliable 4 or 5 seat citycar that will do 60mpg, cost peanuts to insure, will protect you from wind and rain and will save your life in an accident - or you can get this hovermower for the same money. And how much value do you think this will lose when you've just paid £7k for it? Given the fact I know of no-one who could charge this thing much less have the balls to leave it on the street for anyone to do with it what they please I can;t see how many will make it to the used market to find out how much they will lose.
so is the solution hybrids that are £25k offer no real mpg advantage. New ideas and catergories have to start somewhere, think its great - if i could extend the range and have it as a company car at 45p per mile i'll take it. current average speed over 90 hrs driving is 36mph.....no city car would do 60 mpg in the city, its proven...just with all things happening in the car market someone challenge thought and bringing it to market is a great idea. Current stupid surge in sales of crappy suv's started with one maker trying something....audi releasing another dull, s3, fiat try new things, ford come up with the same old tripe, anyway ..who parks on the street, do people still do that nowadays ;) ps at least with this car it will all stop when the electrics fail as with most french cars in about 5 years... ;)
Of course people living in cramped cities park in the street! It was a colleague that has to do this who pointed out that an EV can never be practical for her because of the charging difficulty.
This vehicle is the heir apparent to the Sinclair C5, drivers of which were described as "wallies in a grey bath chair"! As with the C5 the Twizy will appeal to those imperviious to reality.
Irony - it may catch on....
Just spent the night in a quiet and idyllic North Devon village. Down the hill came one of these, the first I had actually seem. In the traquil surroundings what a racket it made. The noise was comparable to that made by a quiet diesel or average petrol car. What a contraption!
Great car.. cool design ... but with no side windows etc,rediculously stupid.
We have rain in the UK , Renault- rain, rain and more rain!
£45 battery charge/lease ludicrous and defeats the object of cheap electric driving
I suppose if you were selling cars in Alaska, they wouldn't have a heater!