New RENAULT TWIZY review at a glance:
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Advantages: Designed for the city, the Twizy is cheap to run, zippy and easy to park and will always catch people's eye with its unconventional design.

Disadvantages: The batteries could restrict the Twizy’s range. Also you have to pay extra for doors

Summary: The Twizy is a space age looking transportation device that is specifically designed for city-life. While there are obvious compromises on space and speed, it is undoubtedly a realistic green option for the budget-concious who have little intention of making too many rurally based excursions.

New RENAULT TWIZY Review:


The new Renault Twizy is something of an oddity that wouldn’t feel out of place in a sci-fi movie and is sure to turn heads on the high-street.

The Twizy has created a niche for itself as an economical, value-for-money two-people electric transportation device. How many people will feel compelled to fill this niche instead of opting for a more traditional vehicle fully remains to be seen?

The Twizy’s concept style means that passenger sit behind the driver. This ensures a smaller wheelbase and increased ease of parking. Renault sees the Twizy as a fun, practical solution for those needing an affordable, environmentally clean vehicle. Indeed, as a mode of transport for people living in the city, it could well be a realistic option. It is cheap to buy although you will have to rent the battery on a one or four year lease basis.

The lithium-ion batteries can be recharged from the household mains via a plug and a full charge takes three-and-a-half hours giving the Twizy a 60-mile range. Twizy drivers will benefit from not having to pay road tax, congestion charge and cheaper parking.

Compared to conventional vehicles the Twizy is slow, but is perfect for nipping in and out of busy city traffic. The Twizy will get from 0-28mph in six seconds, with a top speed of 50mph, ample for city driving. There are no gears, simply put it in drive, press the accelerator and go.

The Twizy has disc brakes all round, a driver airbag, immobilizer, lockable steering column, a three-point rear seatbelt and a four-point front seatbelt. Since the Twizy is categorized as a quadricyle it has not been crash-tested by Euro NCAP but since the speeds the Twizy can travel at are significantly less than a more traditional vehichle, there should be peace of mind. Side protection bars are provided in absence of doors to provide at least some comfort from side-impacts, but doors can also be ordered separately. There is also an option to have park assist for extra peace of mind.

The Twizy comes in three trim levels: Urban, Colour and Technic all priced similarly. The standard equipment includes 13-inch wheels, two glove-boxes, one lockable, and an on-board computer that monitors the charge levels remaining. The Twizy comes in black, grey or white, which can be combined with blue, green or orange for the roof and side panels. There is also an option for interior decals, colour-coded upholstery and other additions. The entry level Urban however is good enough to look at unless you are insistent of having metallic paint on your Twizy.

High driver-visibility is achieved through a full-length windscreen. The turning circle, owing to slim, short wheel base is better than other Smart and electric cars. Obviously the size of the wheelbase means that there are compromises to be made with passenger, driver and stowage space. The Twizy is certainly not perfect for long-legged passengers and the stowage space for mobile phones and other odds and ends is minimal. The décor feels a little plastic but does not feel like corners have been cut.

Cute, curious, quirky, whatever word you choose the Twizy is definitely an urban-vehicle in looks and design. It may reach more rural areas, but whether it gets back without a charge-up could be a different story. The Twizy may be confined to a curio than a feasible option for non-city dwellers owing to limited local charging infrastructure but there’s no hiding its joie de vive.