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Used test: BMW i3 vs Renault Zoe costs
These two are among the most affordable electric options on the used market, but which is the better buy?...
Buying and owning
Costs, equipment, reliability, safety and security
The BMW i3 has gone from a £33,070 new car in 2016 to a £9000 used car today. The Renault Zoe has lost less of its value, going from £22,670 in 2017 to £8500 today. We expect both cars to depreciate at a similar rate going forward and we don't expect either of these cars to lose a great deal more of their value in the coming years.
Both of these cars have climate control, as well as rear parking sensors – a rear-view camera was optional from new on the Zoe and i3. The Zoe also has keyless entry, whereas the i3 demanded a premium from its original owner for that.
For two services of the i3, we were quoted £540 via BMW. For a single service of the Zoe, Renault quoted us £149. Being in insurance group 21, the i3 should cost you around £618 for a year's insurance. The Zoe, in group 16, should set you back around £522.
In our 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey, the i3 ranked 12th out of 20 cars in the electric car class. The Zoe wasn't too far behind, placing 14th. As brands, BMW came 12th out of 32 manufacturers, while Renault came 23rd.
The i3 can charge at 50kW and is able to go from zero to 80% capacity within 40 minutes. The Zoe's maximum charging rate is 22kW, meaning it'll take more than 2hrs to reach 80%. We recommend seeking out a Quick Charge model, because they can charge at 43kW and deliver an 80% charge in a little more than an hour.
When it was assessed back in 2013, the i3 received four out of five stars from safety experts at Euro NCAP – compared to today, the standards were more lenient, too. The Zoe received five stars back then, but has since been retested. In 2021, it scored zero stars. The i3 hasn't been retested since 2013.
Disappointingly, automatic emergency braking (AEB) isn't available with the Zoe. You can have it with the i3, but the original owner had to pay extra.
The i3 can charge at 50kW and is able to go from zero to 80% capacity within 40 minutes. The Zoe's maximum charging rate is 22kW, meaning it'll take more than 2hrs to reach 80%. We recommend seeking out a Quick Charge model, because they can charge at 43kW and deliver an 80% charge in a little more than an hour.
