Electric cars are becoming more and more numerous, better and cheaper, but the call for truly affordable models remains strong. The new Renault Twingo Electric can currently call itself one of the cheapest EVs on the Dutch market. Can it make do with that?
We immediately cover ourselves: a car like this is not a bargain. Where EVs in higher segments slowly but surely manage to approach the price of their conventional motorized equivalents, the additional cost of the battery pack in the smallest class still has a major impact on the consumer price. That price is roughly double the original purchase price of this model, which has been with us for years with petrol engines. The current, third generation of the Twingo has been around since 2014. Renault places the Twingo Electric next to its traditionally motorized brothers on the price list. However, that qualification may not be appropriate; after all, there is little traditional about the current Twingo. With its rear engine and rear-wheel drive, this car is completely different from all other compact hatchbacks, with the exception of Smart’s technically related cousins. The electric version is barely distinguishable from the petrol versions on the outside. Even the scoop above the left rear wheel was allowed to remain. It made its appearance in 2019, when Renault subjected its smallest to a fairly extensive facelift. Headlights and rear lights with LED accents, tighter bumpers and other colors and wheels make the Twingo a lot more modern than before.
Trick
It is difficult for car manufacturers to make money in this market segment. Perhaps the electric powertrain gives a positive impulse here. Renault has replaced the three-cylinder petrol engine under the luggage compartment with an electric motor with 82 hp and 160 Nm. A 22 kWh battery pack (you) provides the power, which according to the WLTP cycle should be enough for 190 electric kilometers. The Twingo lacks a CCS connection, with which the car retreats even more into the corner of the real city cars. Still, the Renault has a trick up its sleeve: its advanced three-phase charger, good for a charging capacity of up to 22 kW at a charging station that is capable of this. In theory, the battery can be charged from completely empty to completely full in an hour. Those who drive many short distances in one day and can charge them in between, will therefore not have to deal with an empty battery quickly. If the ride takes you a little further, that is the case very quickly. In the somewhat autumnal conditions such as those during the test period, it was often already after 100 kilometers to look for a charger.
With a fuller battery, speed is no problem at all. Well, a top speed of 135 km / h is not very impressive, but acceleration makes this little one smooth and seemingly effortless. Smooth Twingos were already there, but compared to the turbo-free entry-level version, the Electric does a lot better. Once up to speed, it is striking that the electric motor of the Renault is clearly audible; the light hum is not to be missed on the highway. Perhaps this is due to the position under the luggage compartment.
The Twingo appears to be fully focused on urban use again. The high seat is pleasant for a lot of getting in and out and the light steering and the very small turning circle are fantastic when maneuvering. Once up to speed, the very indirect control is less pleasant. The fact that the car is quite obese in electric form is not a disadvantage when driving. He wasn’t sporty anyway; suspension and damping can handle the weight well and when the wind blows or rains, which was all the issue during the test period, it feels a bit more unyielding than a conventional 850 kg city car. The Twingo is still somewhat sensitive to crosswind, but remains surprisingly stoic under harsh conditions.
Simple
Until now, it has mainly been about the powertrain and driving, because those are the only differences between the new electric version and the variants of the Twingo that we have known for years. The manufacturer has managed to keep the interior space intact. That is a good thing, because in that area it was of course not a winner. The only thing you give up is the space that the charging cable takes up. With Renault, there is no separate place for this and the cable must simply lie loose in the trunk. The Twingo is a strict four-seater and therefore the rear seat backrest in the entry-level version can only be folded down as one unit. More expensive variants, such as the one that we drive, will receive a folding copy. Furthermore, the Renault just has fully covered door panels, something you sometimes see differently. In addition, the Twingo is also designed with fantasy on the inside. The instrument panel looks neat, with the car scoring points with its touchscreen.