Business Car Manager road test verdict

The Zoe is the best production electric car yet – far better and cheaper than the first wave of EVs that hit the market just two short years ago.

That represents an outstanding rate of progress that’s pretty much unmatched anywhere else in the motor industry but it probably still won’t be enough to make the Zoe a mainstream choice for business motorists, most of whom won’t be able to live with the Zoe’s comparatively limited range.

Renault has also made some new work for company car drivers – or their accountants – by giving them a whole new set of numbers to crunch by introducing a separate monthly charge to lease the battery, which is not part of the price of the car. In terms of running costs, it’s like a £70 a month fuel bill.

But for those business motorists who have the right mix of shorter urban journeys, the Zoe could be a winner. There’s no company car tax to pay, at least until the 2015/16 tax year when it goes up to 5 percent, and with the Government grant it costs about the same as a Clio.

Add in a superbly smooth and quiet drivetrain, a roomy, comfortable, stylish cabin, and great looks and suddenly an all electric company car starts to look more realistic.

The Low Down…

…and what it costs