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Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons

Used Renault Zoe I (2012-2024, facelifted in 2019): the buying guide

City car · 2012–2024 · Electric

✓ 29 sources cited · updated on 13 October 2026

Good choice, check first
Reliability
4.0/5
Estimated monthly cost
€269/month
Indicative prices
€6,000 – €19,000

3 known faults

Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo 1 of 5

Renault Zoe I (2012-2024, facelifted in 2019), front three-quarter view

Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons

Verdict

Good choice, check first

Electric city car with a 338 L boot, available with 22, 41 and then 52 kWh batteries. Before buying, check whether the battery is leased or included, test AC charging (the on-board charger is fragile on the first versions) and listen to the reduction gear. Rated 5 stars by Euro NCAP in 2013, it no longer gets any stars in the 2021 test, partly because the head-protecting airbag was removed.

Reliability
4.0/5
Indicative prices
€6,000 – €19,000
Monthly cost
€269
Euro NCAP
0/5

Which version to choose

Versions to favour: Zoe R110 108 ch (ZE50 52 kWh), Zoe R135 135 ch (ZE50 52 kWh).

  • Zoe Q210 / R240 88 ch (22 kWh)

    Electric · Automatic · 88 hp · Crit'Air green

    22 kWh battery, 88 hp and 220 Nm. NEDC range of 210 km for the Q210 (AC charging up to 43 kW) and 240 km for the R240 (Fiches-auto).

  • Zoe Q90 88 ch (41 kWh)

    Electric · Automatic · 88 hp · Crit'Air green

    41 kWh battery, 88 hp and 220 Nm. Motor assembled by Continental accepting AC charging at 43 kW (ByMyCar). WLTP range of 300 km (Fiches-auto).

  • Zoe R90 92 ch (41 kWh)

    Electric · Automatic · 92 hp · Crit'Air green

    41 kWh battery (37 kWh usable according to EVKX), 92 hp. Renault motor limited to 22 kW AC charging but more efficient (ByMyCar). WLTP range of 317 km (Fiches-auto).

  • Zoe R110 108 ch (41 kWh)

    Electric · Automatic · 108 hp · Crit'Air green

    41 kWh battery, 108 hp and 225 Nm, 0 to 100 km/h in 11.4 s; AC charging up to 22 kW (Fiches-auto).

  • Zoe R110 108 ch (ZE50 52 kWh)

    ✓ Recommended

    Electric · Automatic · 108 hp · 17.2 kWh/100 km · Crit'Air green

    Zoe facelifted in 2019: 52 kWh battery, 108 hp and 225 Nm. WLTP range of 395 km, AC charging 22 kW and optional DC fast charging at 50 kW (Fiches-auto).

  • Zoe R135 135 ch (ZE50 52 kWh)

    ✓ Recommended

    Electric · Automatic · 135 hp · Crit'Air green

    Zoe facelifted in 2019: 52 kWh battery, 135 hp and 245 Nm, 0 to 100 km/h in 9.5 s. WLTP range of 386 km according to Fiches-auto; DC fast charging at 50 kW optional.

Market prices

€6,000 – €19,000

Indicative range: 2013 to 2024, yearly medians of 238 online listings collected by iAutos (years with at least 3 listings).

Collected on 20 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.

Known faults

On-board charger "Chameleon" failure (AC charging impossible)

Severity 2/3 · Costly

The AC charging system ("Chameleon" charger) can display errors and then refuse to charge. The EV Clinic workshop receives more than ten Zoe R240 and Q210 a month that no longer charge on an AC wallbox: the fault can affect several components (BCB module, EMC filter, rotor winding), hence costly repairs. One owner received a quote of 7,400 euros on an eight-year-old Zoe; Car Verif reports repairs of 3,000 to 4,000 euros on a small sample.

Versions
Zoe Q210 / R240 88 ch (22 kWh)
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Noisy or faulty reduction gear

Severity 2/3 · Costly

The reduction gear (single gear ratio between motor and wheels) is reported as a weak point: a whine or gear noise that varies with speed, sometimes up to replacement. Owners describe a reduction gear replaced twice, with more than 2,000 euros left to them outside warranty. A noise may also come from the motor bearings: a precise diagnosis is needed.

Versions
Zoe Q210 / R240 88 ch (22 kWh), Zoe Q90 88 ch (41 kWh), Zoe R90 92 ch (41 kWh), Zoe R110 108 ch (41 kWh)
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Parking lock axle breakage (recall)

Manufacturer recall

The axle of the parking lock (P position) in the reduction gear can break on some Zoes, and the car can then roll if the parking brake is not applied. Renault launched recalls to replace this part; they mainly concern Zoes built between July 2015 and April 2017 according to What Car?.

Fixed free of charge by a dealer and not counted in the reliability score: ask for proof the work was done (invoice, or a VIN check at a dealer).

Versions
Zoe Q210 / R240 88 ch (22 kWh), Zoe Q90 88 ch (41 kWh), Zoe R90 92 ch (41 kWh), Zoe R110 108 ch (41 kWh)
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

All faults by version and mileage →

Manufacturer recalls

See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “Renault Zoe”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.

Real monthly cost

Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated

Monthly cost by item
Electricity€38
Insurance€82
Maintenance€29
Depreciation€120
Total per month€269

⚠ Estimates to treat with caution

  • Maintenance: published servicing price plus an estimated allowance for tyres and brakes.
  • Maintenance: budget of a closely related model.
  • Depreciation estimated at 12% of the median price a year, as no year-by-year valuation is usable.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
Electricity€38

Zoe R110 108 ch (ZE50 52 kWh) version: combined consumption of 17.2 kWh/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 0.194 €/kWh, for 1,000 km a month.

17.2 × 1.15 × 0.194 € × 10 = €38

Electricity price: EDF regulated Base tariff, home charging (as of 7 October 2026).

Insurance€82

Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.

Maintenance€29

Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.

Depreciation€120

Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the valuation gap between two years, per month.

Inspection checklist

Things to check

  • Leased or bought battery: ask for the battery status. If it is leased, the contract must be transferred to the buyer's name with DIAC (Renault) and monthly payments made, or the battery bought out.
  • Demand a state-of-health (SOH) certificate for the traction battery and the service invoices.
  • Test AC charging on a wallbox, and if possible on the installation planned at home: do not sign without this test.
  • If the charger has been replaced, ask for the corresponding invoice.
  • Listen to the reduction gear under acceleration, deceleration and at low speed: a whine or rumble is a warning sign.
  • For a Zoe built between 2015 and 2017, have a Renault dealer check, using the serial number, that the parking lock axle recall has been carried out.

Questions to ask the seller

  • Is the battery leased or bought? If it is leased, what is the monthly amount and can the contract be transferred to me?
  • Do you have a recent SOH certificate for the battery?
  • Has the on-board charger or the reduction gear already been repaired or replaced? Do you have the invoices?

Test-drive tip: read the fault codes

A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.

See OBD2 scanners on Amazon → (new tab)Partner link

Electric or hybrid equivalent

No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost

Alternatives

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0

Peugeot e-208

II · since 2019

Good choice, check first
Price
€14,390 – €24,490
Reliability
4.5/5
Fuel types
Electric

Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de

Renault Clio

V · since 2019

Good choice
Price
€10,994 – €14,990
Reliability
4/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

Before you buy: check and equip

Check the history

Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.

Read fault codes

An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.

Parts and maintenance

Compare prices of parts for the Renault Zoe I (2012-2024, facelifted in 2019) (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.

Insure the car

Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Zoe battery lease?

Renault sold the Zoe for a long time without its battery, which was leased separately: purchase with the battery included became possible in April 2018 and the lease disappeared in January 2021 (EV Market). On a used Zoe with a leased battery, the contract must be taken over from DIAC (Renault's finance subsidiary) and a monthly payment made, the amount depending on the mileage package. The contract guarantees battery replacement if its capacity falls below 75%. You can also ask DIAC to buy out the battery.

Why does the Zoe have zero stars at Euro NCAP?

In 2013, the Zoe had obtained 5 stars. Retested in 2021 under stricter criteria, it obtains no stars: the facelift replaced the side airbag protecting the head and chest with one protecting only the chest, and the entry-level versions had neither automatic emergency braking nor lane departure warning.

What range can I expect from a used Zoe?

It depends on the battery: 210 to 240 km NEDC for the 22 kWh, 300 to 317 km WLTP for the Q90 and R90 41 kWh, and 386 to 395 km WLTP for the ZE50 52 kWh (Fiches-auto). Real-world range is lower, especially in winter.

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