Used Renault Zoe for €99/month, who are we kidding?

Renault has launched a Lease with Purchase Option at €99/month on its used Zoe. Interesting on paper, but in reality?

The Renault Zoe is dead, long live the Renault Zoe. As we approach April 2024, a long-announced disappearance occurred at the end of March: that of the Zoe. After a decade of valuable service, Renault’s first electric city car has taken its bow to make way for the future R5. The first deliveries of this model are expected by the end of 2024, but the industrial tools must be modernized by then.

To anticipate this major shift, but also to respond to the growing demand for affordable electric cars to provide purchasing power to households, Renault came up with the idea of Renew. A reconditioning program, smartphone-style, where cars are refreshed physically and mechanically in the diamond’s workshops.

Dream vs Reality?

Renault offers two options: a Long-Term Lease (LLD) that is nearly impossible to find on the Renew site, and a Lease with Purchase Option (LOA) “starting at 99 euros per month” for a duration of 3 years and 30,000 kilometers.

In both cases, the promise is of a version equipped with the large 52 kWh battery. What does it look like in practice?

Browsing the used Renault site, it quickly becomes clear that this starting price of €99/month applies to very few vehicles. Recent models, which have already benefitted from bonuses and are mostly depreciated, tend to hover around €150-160 per month. At this price level, the offer on new cars is already generous…

The model found by Mobiwisy is a Renault Zoe R110 in Life trim, registered in 2020 and already showing 72,698 km on the odometer. The front wheel covers are missing; perhaps the dealer will provide two new ones.

Upon visual inspection, the appearance is quite flattering. The tires look new, the bodywork is very clean, and the interior is likewise. But what needs to be done to achieve this price?

Renault values this model at €9,790, whereas it cost around €25,000 in 2020 after deducting the bonus (which was €7,000 at the time). To lower the rent while adhering to the 3 years and 30,000 kilometers, an initial payment of €1,900 is required.

At the end of the lease, the customer will have the option to buy for €6,304.10. The total amount will thus be €11,760 compared to the €9,790 requested for the used car. In sum, Renault is effectively selling the same car twice. Which is clever…

In the end, we are only moderately convinced by Renault’s Renew offer. As mentioned previously, there are today equally interesting, if not better, offers with new cars of more recent design.

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