Skip advert
Advertisement

Renault Twizy Cargo 2017 review

The Renault Twizy Cargo is a niche commercial vehicle that is good for short trips where a scooter isn't a viable alternative

Overall Auto Express rating

2.0

How we review cars
Find your Renault Twizy Cargo
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

The Twizy Cargo is the nichest of niche commercial vehicle choices. Electric vans are a specialist purchase in themselves, and the Twizy's small carrying capacity and electric drive mean it will only appeal to a very small sector of the market that needs a small, short-range vehicle. Still, it could be a great advert for your business, and the running costs are significantly lower than they are for any other kind of four-wheeled commercial vehicle. But would a maxi scooter suit your needs any better? After all, this would be able to fit through gaps even the Twizy couldn't.

Advertisement - Article continues below

There's nothing quite like the Renault Twizy in the new 'car' market. We use the 'car' tag advisedly, because the small electric city runabout is classified as a quadricycle - you only need a motorcycle licence to drive one - while its 50mph top speed and claimed 62-mile range mean it won't be going very far anyway.

But that hasn't stopped Renault from expanding the Twizy range to include a fully-fledged commercial version, the Twizy Cargo. While the Cargo is mechanically identical to the standard model, it has half the number of seats. Rather than having a passenger chair in tandem behind the driver's seat, there is a large load area, which is accessed via a door in the back of the Twizy.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

UX 300e

2021 Lexus

UX 300e

25,972 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £14,600
View UX 300e
CLA

2022 Mercedes

CLA

21,157 milesAutomaticPetrol1.3L

Cash £23,500
View CLA
Discovery Sport

2023 Land Rover

Discovery Sport

36,613 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L

Cash £27,500
View Discovery Sport
Sportage

2023 Kia

Sportage

55,816 milesAutomaticPetrol1.6L

Cash £19,500
View Sportage

Can an electric van work for your business

The load area is lockable, and there is 31 litres of space on offer. That might not sound like much, but the load area is large and uniform in area, with a square recess in the floor that's about the size of a 12-inch pizza box that will help stop items sliding around. Using the pizza box measurement, there's enough room in the load area to stack about 20 boxes before you reach the top of the load area, although there is a 75kg weight limit that applies to the boot, too.

You can stack the boot high with items, although you're limited slightly by the size of the boot opening, and the side-hinged door can be a fiddle if you've parked awkwardly: If you're tail-on to the kerb, then there's no problem, but if you've reversed hard against a wall, then you may only be able to access the boot from one side. Either way, having a full boot doesn't compromise rearward visibility, as the fully enclosed space is directly behind the driver, out of sight.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Twizy Cargo drives exactly like its two-seater counterpart, and it's a bit of a unique experience. The open-sided cockpit means you're exposed to the elements like a scooter - Renault does offer doors as an option, but then the cockpit still isn't fully enclosed. It's best to wrap up if you're driving in cold weather, because there's no heater, and the wind and rain can blow in around the windscreen, too.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Best small vans to buy now

Turn the key, and the Twizy beeps to let you know it's ready to go, then you press the 'D' on the dashboard to put it into gear, and you're away. There's no 'creep' from the automatic transmission like in a regular auto, so you have to give the throttle pedal a fair old stab to get the Twizy Cargo moving, but once you're on your way, the Twizy moves silently on electric drive. The steering is unassisted, so while the tight 6.8-metre turning circle is extremely useful (that's around five metres less than a Clio), it's best to get your steering done while you're still moving, rather than at a standstill.

The brakes don't have any servo assistance, either, so you need to give the pedal a decent shove to get the disc brakes working, too. The handbrake is a lever under the dashboard, and is the only thing that stops the Twizy from rolling off when stopped, because there is no Park mode for the push-button auto box, just Drive, Reverse and Neutral.

Advertisement - Article continues below

On the move, the Twizy Cargo isn't the most comfortable of vehicles. The suspension delivers a rock-hard ride, and the Twizy crashes into potholes and picks up every bump in the road - this isn't the kind of delivery vehicle you need if you're transporting pieces of fragile pottery, for example.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The handling is surprising, because the Twizy's tall, narrow body makes it look like it'll topple over at the slightest hint of a corner, but because the heavy lithium-ion battery and running gear is all mounted low down between the axles, the Twizy is alright in corners, and there's decent grip from the tyres.

If you can justify the Twizy's cargo capacity, the next stumbling point will be your ability to charge it up. It only comes with a three-pin mains plug - there's no hi-tech charging point options here - although the battery can be fully charged in three-and-a-half hours. That gives you a claimed range of 62 miles, although if you give yourself a workable range of 40 miles between charges, that should be reasonable. As there's no heater or any other electronics, then the battery range should remain pretty consistent.

The battery itself is leased on top of the £8,000 price of the Twizy Cargo itself. This can range from £45-£67 a month, depending on the deal you negotiate. In comparison, a scooter would easily manage 90mpg, and with a tank of fuel coming in at less than £20, you need to do the sums carefully to see if the Twizy's outlay will justify its costs.

Skip advert
Advertisement

More reviews

Senior test editor

Dean has been part of the Auto Express team for more than 20 years, and has worked across nearly all departments, starting on magazine production, then moving to road tests and reviews. He's our resident van expert, but covers everything from scooters and motorbikes to supercars and consumer products.

New & used car deals

Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £2,773 off RRP*Used from £15,876
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,271 off RRP*Used from £12,700
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £19,200Avg. savings £4,670 off RRP*Used from £16,745
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £15,255Avg. savings £1,966 off RRP*Used from £7,250
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Peugeot 208 GTi: electric hot hatch gets stunning looks and plenty of power
Peugeot E-208 GTi - reveal front

New Peugeot 208 GTi: electric hot hatch gets stunning looks and plenty of power

Hot Peugeot E-208 gets racier styling, 276bhp and does 0-62mph in just 5.7 seconds
News
13 Jun 2025
New BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort review: the best BYD yet
BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort - front

New BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort review: the best BYD yet

The new BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort is arguably the Chinese brand's most convincing model in its range
Road tests
11 Jun 2025
New entry-level Renault Symbioz is £3k cheaper than a Nissan Qashqai
Renault Symbioz hybrid - front angled

New entry-level Renault Symbioz is £3k cheaper than a Nissan Qashqai

The Renault Captur has also been fitted the new full-hybrid powertrain, which gets a bigger battery for more pure-electric driving
News
12 Jun 2025