RENAULT TWIZY
A 2-seater, pure-electric quadricycle quite unlike anything else available on the market.
In 2012, a UFO could have landed and most of us in the motoring world wouldn’t have noticed it, because we were all too busy looking at Renault’s new model – the Twizy.
The Renault Twizy was and still is unlike any model seen before, an electric car that’s classified as a quadricycle, seats no more than 2 people and comes with optional doors. In just over 4-years, more than 20,000 Twizy models were sold and its unique design and electric power makes it feel just as fresh as it did over 7-years ago at launch.
Its batteries give the 450kg Twizy a range of around 60-miles, making this the perfect city runabout or resort transport. Top speed is just a touch over 50mph, so it’s far from home on the motorways or A-roads, instead this is best suited to those urban environments, large estate transport, or quiet, well surfaced routes. Despite its low top-speed, the Twizy’s size make it huge fun to drive with the distinctive whirr of an electric car joining planted handling and that central driving position giving a real sense of speed. There’s really nothing else quite like driving a Twizy, like the car itself it’s a unique experience.
Charging is a key point with any EV, but the Twizy can usefully be charged from any domestic 230V socket, and as its batteries are fairly small, the total time to charge is just 3 and a half hours. Inside the cabin, the driver sits ahead of the passenger and the Twizy is a very simple vehicle, offering little to nothing in the way of equipment. Even the optional doors don’t come with windows, making this a machine that you might not want to drive in rainy conditions – at least not without suitable clothing.
There’s definitely a place in the world for the Renault Twizy, as an urban errand runner or a fashionable, fun way to get from A to B, this little electric machine offers something no other personal transport can. Whether it’s suitable for your needs will require some careful thought, however.