Renault updates baby Zoe, more power & new interior.

Renault has updated their lovely little stalwart, the Zoe small hatchback with a more powerful motor, larger battery, expanded charging options and a redesigned interior. A 52-kWh battery, up from 41 kWh, gives the Zoe a real-world range of 380 km (236 miles) in the summer and 250 km in the winter, Renault says. As-tested range under WLTP standards is 390 km, a 20 percent increase.

Two motors are available, starting with an 80-kWh motor introduced last year. A new 100 kW motor is now rated at 135 hp and 245 nm of torque, which Renault says cuts 80-120 kph acceleration times to 7.1 seconds, 2.2 seconds faster than the 80-kWh motor.

The Zoe's front charging port, hidden as before behind the Renault logo on the nose, now has two plugs, to accommodate everything from typical 2.3 kW AC home sockets to the 50 kW DC fast-charging ports that are now appearing on European highways. Charging times range from nine hours (from 0 to 100 percent) with a 7 kWh wallbox, to 30 minutes (adding 150 km of range) on a DC fast charger, Renault says.

Digital dashboard

The dashboard has been redesigned to feature a 10-inch digital instrument panel and an optional 9.3-inch central touchscreen. Renault has also given the Zoe more soft-touch materials, including fabric made from recycled materials. A redesigned center console has more storage and houses a new electronic "drive by wire" shifter, an automatic parking brake and an induction charger for cellphones.

Renault says it has improved drivability by adding a new "B" mode that increases deceleration resistance, enabling almost complete one-pedal driving.