"What's that?" said the postman as he pulled the handbrake up on his bright red Corsavan.
"It's a Renault Twizy," I replied. "It's basically an electric scooter-cum-quadricycle thing"
"Oh," said the postman. "So it doesn't have an engine?"
"Nope. It's got an electric motor in the back and you charge it up using a three-pin plug"
"Huh! What will they think of next?" said the postman as he slid the van into first and trundled off.
This brief exchange largely set the tone for my few days with Renault's electric baby. Buy a Twizy and prepare yourself for an onslaught of questions about what it is, how much it costs and what it's like to drive.
Normally, being dragged into conversations with complete strangers would enrage my inner misanthrope; however, if there's one thing you positively can't be behind the wheel of a Twizy it's unhappy. On a smiles-per-mile basis, there's nothing to touch it and, as I find out when I got behind the wheel, the Twizy's irresistible joie de vivre is infectious.
Drive the Twizy along your average town high street and pedestrians will literally stop in their tracks to gawp at you. And because it's is essentially an open car, there's nowhere to hide; you would genuinely feel less conspicuous walking through town dressed as Mr Blobby.
In fact, I can't think of any car currently on sale that would elicit the same outpouring of interest from the general public as the Twizy. A Bugatti Veyron might get more admiring glances from petrolheads, but for the average man on the street the tiny Renault is far more interesting.
So, what is it exactly? Well, like I told Postman Pat, the Twizy is an electric quadricycle. Designed mainly for town-based commuter use, it seats two people in tandem and is powered by a 17bhp electric motor which is fed by a lithium-ion battery.
17bhp might not sound like an awful lot but it's more than enough to make the Twizy an absolute hoot to drive. At speeds below 30mph, the Twizy is nippy enough to make urban driving a breeze. Push it past forty and you'll find that the performance disappears fairly rapidly but the Twizy will nudge its top speed of 50mph without too much hassle.
Where the Twizy really shines, however, is in the handling stakes. It feels like a go-kart to drive thanks to its quick, precise steering and tight turning circle. There isn't a whole lot of grip thanks to those narrow tyres; however, if you push the Twizy beyond its limits all you get is terminal, but safe, understeer.
There's very little body roll throughout the corners thanks to firm suspension, but while this does wonders for the handling, it completely ruins the ride. The Twizy is a genuinely uncomfortable car to drive, with every speed bump, pothole and road imperfection transmitting itself directly to your coccyx.
Take the Twizy out on a rainy day, however, and things can get really uncomfortable. There's very little protection from the elements, which, in the UK, means that for 250 days of the year, you'll get wet. Our car was the top-of-the-range Technic model and, as a result, came fitted with optional doors and zip-up plastic windows. Unfortunately, while these provide some protection from Mother Nature, they're clearly a bit of an afterthought. To open the doors you have to unzip the windows first, and if, like me, you don't have any fingernails, this makes the Twizy about as inaccessible as Fort Knox.
Once you're inside, the Twizy is a fairly pleasant place to be. The dashboard is spartan and the plastics feel cheap, if rugged, however, there's plenty of space for the driver and a natty digital display behind the steering wheel which shows your speed and range. There are even a couple of lockable storage cubbies.
Things aren't quite as rosy for the rear-seat passenger. If you're 23, getting into the back is a piece of cake; however, getting my 51-year-old mother (sorry mum) into the back took about eight weeks. On the plus side, once you've managed to fold yourself into the rear seat it's a comfortable place to be, although all of my rear passengers complained that they couldn't see the road ahead.
There are a few extra niggles: there's no sun visor, which on a bright winter's day is annoying, and the handbrake is tricky to operate if you're doing a hill-start; however, all-in-all the Twizy is a relatively practical proposition, especially if you compare it to a scooter or a small motorbike.
It's a cheap proposition too. Although the top-of-the-range Technic model we had costs £8,505 including extras, you can get a Twizy on your drive for less than seven grand. This might not seem that cheap, especially when you can get a proper car for less cash; however, none of these cars offer the same low running costs as the Twizy. A 40-mile charge costs just £1 and although you have to lease the car's battery from Renault for between £45 and £67 per month, it's still a cost effective car to run. Plus, if you live in London you won't have to pay the dreaded Congestion Charge which, for some, will be reason enough to own one. Just make sure you have somewhere to charge it up.
So, should you buy a Twizy? Well, if you need a car which will transport you and four passengers long distances in comfort, the answer is quite emphatically no. For the majority of UK motorists, the Twizy is about as useful as a solar-powered torch.
If, on the other hand, you're looking for a fun, stylish and cheap to run commuter vehicle, there really is nothing on the market that rivals the Twizy. The Twizy might have an imperceptibly narrow demographic, but if you happen to be in it, it's brilliant.
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| The Carsite Verdict | |
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Limited appeal, but fantastic fun. |
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