Relying on the way you take a look at it (technically, it’s a quadricycle), the Renault Twizy stays the most affordable electrical automobile on sale within the UK. But it surely hasn’t actually bought that nicely. Since its launch in 2012, the French two-seater has solely managed to shift 30,000 examples as of 2019. So, Prime Gear TV alumnus Rory Reid goals to find out if it’s nonetheless one thing folks ought to contemplate within the electrical age.

To be trustworthy, as complementary as Reid is, it’s not arduous to see why the Twizy hasn’t discovered extra followers. Granted, we could also be taking a look at it as a substitute for a “correct” automobile, which is a bit unfair. The Twizy is probably greatest considered as a safer and barely extra sensible various to a bike. Whereas it appears out of depth trying to overhaul tractors within the British countryside, as Reid factors out, it’s a automobile that belongs within the metropolis.

Watch: South Africa’s Cheapest Car Has A Drag Race With A Bicycle 

Even in cities, although, it tends to rain, and in the event you’re caught in a downpour, the Twizy doesn’t do a lot in the best way of providing safety. You get doorways – in the event you possibility them – however they don’t have home windows. Which means you’re always on the mercy of the weather, one thing that maybe wouldn’t be of an excessive amount of concern in a heat and dry local weather just like the Mediterranean, however is a big minus level within the UK.

And though it’s technically the lowest-priced electrical automobile on supply, it’s not precisely low cost. When the Twizy was launched, you might have them on a leased-back battery scheme, that means that you just paid simply £7500 ($10,600), plus £50 ($70) monthly for the battery. Now although, that possibility doesn’t exist, that means you must fork out £12,000 ($17,000). That rises to £13,000 ($18,450) if you wish to add on the “luxurious” of doorways.

For one thing that has a spread of simply 31-56 miles (50-90 km), though Reid may solely see it doing 20 miles (32 km), a high pace of fifty mph (80 km/h), can solely seat two, is solely recharged by way of a three-pin wall-plug, and will get overwhelmed off the road by an e-assisted bicycle, you begin to see why it hasn’t precisely caught on within the UK.

That mentioned, the Twizy does do a superb job of trying completely different and is surprisingly enjoyable to drive on the subject of the twisties. It’s safer than a motorcycle, and due to its small footprint, it’s simpler to park round city — that means that, in 2021, city-dwellers are in all probability the one ones who ought to nonetheless contemplate this quirky French EV.