Review: Renault Twizy

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Originally published on EV Obsession.

I recently got to test drive the Renault Twizy at EVS27 in Barcelona. Below is my quick review of this super-affordable electric vehicle, as well as a few pictures.

First of all, it’s important to note that the Renault Twizy is a small two-seater (one seat in the front & one in the back). So, it’s not as much competition for the Nissan Leaf or Chevy Volt as it is for the smart electric drive.

I don’t have a lot to write about the Renault Twizy, but it was actually a lot of fun to drive. It had better acceleration than I anticipated — not much different from a normal EV, but in a compact little vehicle that sits low to the ground, it felt a bit different, perhaps even more exciting.

There wasn’t much in the way of extras in the Twizy, but it was comfortable enough, and, again, quite an interesting/fun feel. I actually liked the feel of the pedal & acceleration more than in the smart electric drive, the electric car it would be most comparable to. Of course, like the smart electric drive, the Twizy also has a great turning radius.

The Renault Twizy has a top speed of 50 mph, and about a 50 range. While not officially for sale in the US, a commenter notes that you can find them on ebay. In Europe, the starting price for the Renault Twizy is £6,895 ($11,318), but you also have to lease the battery. That compares similarly with the $12,490 you’d pay for the smart electric drive.

Overall, I’m definitely a fan. However, I’m also a big fan of bicycling for transportation. If my commute was so far that I didn’t feel up for bicycling, I’d certainly consider purchasing the Twizy. However, I think if I was to buy an electric vehicle, I’d go for a larger one with more seats so that it could be used for trips with my wife and baby. But it’s hard to say for sure until you’re on the market for something.

Check out more of my EVS27 coverage here on EV Obsession or even more on CleanTechnica.