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You probably haven’t seen many examples of the tiny Renault Twizy running around. A two-seat electric city car was always going to be a tough sell, particularly one without proper weather protection in a climate as variable as that of the UK.
But for a small, hardy band of customers, the Twizy was both an affordable entry into the world of electric cars, and a vehicle that filled the middle ground between a scooter and a proper car. So while it’s not for everyone, there may be someone out there reading this for whom a Twizy is just about the perfect method of transport.
The Twizy’s unusual nature means there really isn’t much true competition for it either, at least from mainstream brands. The Citroen Ami launched in 2020 is a similar take on the theme, but if you’ve got a motorcycle licence, then a scooter could be an even easier (albeit less protected) way of getting around a city.
Renault has made some bold decisions in the past; remember the Clio V6, or the Avantime? But the Renault Twizy must be one of the boldest: An electric, tandem two-seat quadricycle with half-doors that open upwards, like those on a Lamborghini, with a range of around 50 miles and 50mph top speed.
If all that sounds like a niche within a niche, then you’d be correct - and the Twizy, which ran from 2012 to 2021 in the UK, definitely made more sense in continental Europe, where a basic lower-powered version was available that let people of moped-riding age (mostly 16, but as young as 14 in some countries) drive one.
The warmer weather in some parts of Europe also helped given the Twizy’s lack of proper doors. Instead, you get two half-doors that hinge upwards, supercar-style, though Renault did later offer what could best be described as ‘occasional’ windows to close the gap, and the aftermarket has developed some options too - so Twizy driving isn’t necessarily confined to just the warmer months.
Make it work for you, and the Twizy is both incredibly cheap to run, and a real hoot to drive. A 6.1kWh battery sees to the former, meaning at a 30p/kWh average electricity price, a full 3.5-hour charge from a three-pin plug is around £1.80, and that £1.80 gets you around 50 miles in temperate conditions, or around 37 miles when it’s cold. You won’t even find bus fare for that price.
As for the way it drives, the Twizy gets closer than most vehicles to that old ‘go-kart’ description, with precise and fairly light unassisted steering, firm but effective brakes, spritely acceleration thanks to its low weight, and surprising agility - though the ride quality is very firm indeed, so you’ll want to avoid potholes at all costs. Parking is about as easy as it gets in a ‘car’ though.
Unsurprisingly, the Twizy doesn’t have many true rivals. The Citroen Ami gets closest, and is more weatherproof, though it also tops out at under 30mph, so the Twizy is actually more usable on quicker roads. Those curious microcars you occasionally see around are also technically Twizy rivals, while more conventional small cars, from the two-seat Smart Fortwo, to proper four-seaters like the VW Up are still well worth a look unless the Twizy’s tiny size is absolutely essential - particularly as used Twizys are surprisingly expensive, and the difference can pay for a lot of fuel…
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The Renault Twizy doesn’t offer you a great deal of choice here, with just a single electric motor variant and only two trim levels. The Dynamique looks a bit smarter but its additional features aren’t essential, so we’d not pay over the odds for it. If you happen to be using the Twizy for business or promotional purposes though, the Twizy Cargo could be worth a look. You lose a rear seat, but gain an impressive 180 litres of cargo space.
The Twizy is understandably a fairly basic vehicle - you don’t even get full doors, for instance. So equipment regardless of trim is below what you’d expect to see in even the most basic conventional city cars. But Renault offered two trim levels before the Twizy was pulled from sale, as well as a Cargo model aimed at local deliveries.
The Renault Twizy’s dimensions are:
The Renault Twizy’s boot size is:
This one’s nice and simple: the Renault Twizy won’t cost you a penny in VED or ‘road tax’, however new or old it is, thanks to it being an electric vehicle and an inexpensive one at that.
Surprisingly the Renault Twizy falls into insurance group 11, on the 1-50 scale. If this seems strangely high considering how little car you’re getting, then the Twizy’s relative lack of security features and safety features compared to a conventional car may be the answer.
Read our full Renault Twizy review