Skip advert
Advertisement

Renault Twizy: First report

Want to be the centre of attention? The radical Twizy is the answer, as our man is finding out

If you’re thinking about shelling out on a supercar to turn some heads, forget it. Take my advice, save yourself several hundreds of thousands of pounds and go for a Renault Twizy instead.

It’s causing a blur of activity wherever it goes. What’s remarkable is that all the comments so far have been positive – and that certainly wasn’t the case when I had a Ferrari 458 Spider for the weekend a few weeks ago.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Whether I’m stopped in traffic, climbing out or even standing in its general vicinity, everyone has a question to ask. “How much does it cost?”, “is it electric?” and “how far can it go before running out?” are the most popular, but my favourite was the lady who pulled up alongside me at the lights and asked: “Did you build it yourself?”

For those who don’t know, the Twizy is the quirkiest member of Renault’s electric car family, which also includes the Fluence saloon and ZOE supermini. In fact, because of its tiny dimensions and 450kg kerbweight, it isn’t a car at all; it’s a quadricyle, so sidesteps normal crash regulations. Maybe it’s best to think of the Twizy as a safer alternative to a scooter, rather than a flimsy car.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Aventador

2021 Lamborghini

Aventador

3,500 milesAutomaticPetrol6.5L

Cash £289,995
View Aventador
XE

2017 Jaguar

XE

58,940 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £9,800
View XE
Mokka

2018 Vauxhall

Mokka

73,300 milesManualPetrol1.6L

Cash £6,500
View Mokka
Fiesta

2020 Ford

Fiesta

99,000 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £7,250
View Fiesta

Electric cars only really make sense for a tiny percentage of the population – which is why sales haven’t lived up to the hype. Luckily, I’m among that small percentage. With our office based in central London, there’s queueing traffic, the congestion charge and parking to deal with – areas in which the Twizy excels.

My commute from South London is a little over six miles, so the 40-mile range is more than enough. A full charge takes just threeand- a-half hours from a normal household socket, although I use the plugs in our underground car park to charge up while I’m working in the office.

My girlfriend might not agree, but I think the motorbike-style two-seater layout is a brilliant piece of packaging, and when you’re travelling alone there’s space for a big bag or two behind you. Two extra cubbies in the top of the dash, one lockable, and a series of stretchy nets dotted around the interior are useful, while the optional Bluetooth streams music or Internet radio from your phone, even if the roof-mounted speakers are a bit weak.

Downsides? Well the suspension feels unnecessarily firm, and when it rains, the lack of windows means the top half of your body gets a soaking. That said, the compromises so far are relatively few. If you spot me around town, don’t forget to come and say hello...

Our view

"The Twizy draws more attention than most six-figure supercars. But the ride is too firm, so you have to look out for potholes and speed bumps."Richard Ingram, Special contributor

Your view

"Congratulations to Renault for daring to be different.We need this type of vehicle to change our city traffic, and the appealing aspect of the Twizy is that it’s great fun to drive."CarsDefineUs via www.autoexpress.co.uk

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £37,230Avg. savings £3,710 off RRP*Used from £15,440
MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £26,995Avg. savings £7,541 off RRP*Used from £11,895
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £14,480Avg. savings £1,864 off RRP*Used from £6,700
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £19,690Avg. savings £4,685 off RRP*Used from £16,811
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range
MG IM5 - Goodwood front

New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range

The all-electric IM5 brings new technology and design to the MG line-up
News
10 Jul 2025
New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment
Xiaomi YU7 - front cornering

New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment

BMW or Mercedes would do anything to keep the new Xiaomi YU7 from sale in the UK and Europe, and this is why
Road tests
14 Jul 2025
The EV grant is back: Government's new £3,750 electric car discount in detail
Auto Express creative director Darren Wilson charging the Lexus RZ

The EV grant is back: Government's new £3,750 electric car discount in detail

The government has set out its plan to help reduce the cost of affordable EVs by introducing a new £3,750 grant for new EVs sold
News
15 Jul 2025