10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About The Renault Twizy

Summary

• The Renault Twizy is a unique quadricycle that stands out with its small size and distinctive design. It is not classified as a car, but rather a blend of a motorcycle and a car.
• The Twizy was offered in two trims, starting at an affordable price of €7,450 for the base model. It came with a warranty covering the powertrain, paintwork, and anti-corrosion.
• The Twizy features a minimalist interior with essential features and no additional amenities. It also has regenerative braking and can be fully charged in three hours and 30 minutes. It is well-suited for city driving but is not meant for highway use.

The Renault Twizy is a living example of, “Bigger isn’t always better”. The word “Twizy” is coined from the fusion of “twin,” denoting its two seats, and “easy,” emphasizing its user-friendly and easy-to-handle characteristics. The origin of the Renault Twizy dates back to 2007 when the team at Renault decided to come up with a vehicle that was neither a car nor a bike, but a mix of both.

After two years of passionate dedication, the project received approval, followed by another year to craft the initial prototype. In 2011, the Twizy was officially laid at the door of small electric vehicles, leading to its official release in 2012. This is how the journey of the Renault Twizy spanned five years before making its debut.

Standing out as a quadricycle with an all-electric powertrain, the Renault Twizy became a sight to take in with its unique design and size. Even today, after being taken off the shelves, it maintains its unique silhouette in the automobile market, whether electric or not.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources.

1 The Renault Twizy Doesn’t Qualify As A Car

A car is a vehicle that has four wheels, four doors, carries a few passengers, and is powered by an engine and a number of motors. While the Renault Twizy somewhat fits this description, it, however, isn’t classified as a car. Call it a big egg on a skateboard, a microcar, a fancied-up golf cart, or whatever. The Twizy is a regular head turner, thanks to its unique experience. The name “Twizy” is derived from the contraction of “twin” (representing its two seats) and “easy” (highlighting its handling characteristics).

The Twizy Is Classified As A Quadricycle

Classified as a quadricycle: a blend of a motorcycle and a car, the Twizy stands out from the crowd of mainstream electric cars, as one of the smallest EVs. This pocket-sized and budget-friendly option in Renault’s electric car lineup looks more like a prop from a sci-fi movie than something you would actually stumble upon in an actual showroom.

2 It Was Offered In Two Trims

Started At €7,450 (approx. $8,233)

You can get the Renault Twizy in two different trims: the Expression, representing its base form, and the Dynamique, featuring the addition of gloss alloy wheels and two-toned color collections. The Renault Twizy started at an affordable €7,450 for the 45 model, which is $8,233 based on today’s conversion rates, and €8,240 (approx. $9,106) for the 80 version. Renault decided to drop the curtains on the Twizy in September 2023, paving the way for its successor, the Mobilize Duo.

The Renault Twizy Came With Three Years Of Warranty

As off-beat as it may sound, the Twizy actually came with a warranty. The package included three years or 30,000 miles of powertrain warranty, whichever came first, paintwork warranty for two years, and an anti-corrosion warranty for six years, right from the date of registration.

Renault Twizy Warranty Coverage

(Data sourced from Renault)

3 Doors And Windows Came As Optional Accessories

The Twizy came with an open cabin as standard, meaning no doors or windows to protect you from sunlight, cold, or rain. If you happen to opt for the optional doors, you will receive a pair of scissor gull-wing doors that open vertically, like a Lamborghini, adding to the goofy image of the Renault Twizy. What’s next? No windows, since windows are actually mounted on top of the doors.

That means you will have to have doors in order to have windows. Also, the doors do not lock. To enter the Twizy, you’d have to reach in and pull the door handle from the inside.

Renault Twizy Optional Accessories

• Driver and passenger blanket
• Front mudflaps
• Protective vehicle cover
• Rear body-coloured parking sensors
• Steering wheel lock
• Storage nets Twizy windows

4 The Renault Twizy Is As Basic On The Inside As It Can Get

The Renault Twizy boasts a truly minimalist interior design. It features only the bare essentials: an ignition slot, turn signals, lights, windshield wiper, and a dashboard button for selecting drive, neutral, or reverse. The basic electronic display provides key information like speed, charge level, and estimated range. There are no additional amenities like a radio, a touchscreen infotainment display, air conditioning, or charging ports to be found in this stripped-down interior.

The Renault Twizy Has Regenerative Breaking

The automatic gearbox in the Twizy is linked to an energy recovery system. When you apply the brakes or release the accelerator, you contribute to saving and potentially extending your driving range. An optional Bluetooth kit allows some audio connectivity with your phone.

5 It Boasted Off-beat Exterior Dimensions

To say that there is nothing like the Twizy on the roads of Europe is an understatement. It has an open-wheel design, like a Formula One car. A lot of the mechanisms stick out; the dampers, the springs, and the steering arm are perfectly visible. Also, the Twizy rolls around on 13-inch alloy wheels, which can be upgraded to gloss alloy wheels, if you opt for the Dynamique trim.

Renault Twizy Exterior Dimensions

(Data sourced from Renault)

The Twizy Is Taller Than It Is Wide

The Renault Twizy stands at 57.2 inches tall and 48.7 inches wide, which is quite unusual for a car, if you consider it one. And right below the windscreen and the indicators, you’ll find a small storage container that has the built-in three-pin cable, used for charging.

6 This Little Number Was Actually A Two-Seater

Inside the Renault Twizy, the driver’s seat is located in the center, meaning you can get in and out on either side. Directly behind the driver is the seat for the passenger, with a removable backrest panel that has 1.09 cubic-feet (31 liters) of storage. In the front, the Twizy is equipped with two glove boxes built into the dashboard. The left one comes with a handy 12V socket for charging your smartphone.

Renault Twizy Storage Dimensions

(Data sourced from Renault)

Additionally, a net is present at the rear to provide an extra storage area. For additional storage, the Twizy’s accessory list features a removable bag and stowage nets. On the exterior, a concealed flap under the grill provides access to a three-meter cable and the windscreen washer tank.

7 The Most Powerful Renault Twizy Produced Up To 17 Horsepower

Coming with an all-electric powertrain and with no emissions, the Renault Twizy boasts a 6.1-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack with a 13.0-kilowatt electric motor. The Twizy comes in two versions: the 45 and the 80, where both numbers signify the top speed in kilometers-per-hour. The slower version of the Twizy can make up to five horsepower and 24.3 pound-feet of torque, whereas its stronger version can make up to 17 horsepower with 42 pound-feet of torque.

Renault Twizy Specs Performance

(Data sourced from Renault)

The Renault Twizy Can Be Fully Charged In Three Hours And 30 Minutes

To charge the Twizy, it can simply be plugged into a regular wall socket, and it goes from 0-percent to a full 100-percent charge in three hours and 30 minutes. Also, you can keep tabs on the battery status through the onboard computer. According to Renault, when the battery is halfway depleted, a 90-minute recharge break is all it takes to restore the Twizy to its full range.

8 Even 14-year-olds Can Legally Drive It

Depending on the model of the Twizy in question, and where you are, it might not be mandatory for you to have a driving license. The Twizy 45, which is limited to 45 kph (28 mph), falls under the category of a light motor-powered quadricycle (L6a). This makes it accessible to drivers aged 14 and older. On the other hand, the more powerful Twizy 80, with a top speed of 80 kph (50 mph), belongs to the heavy quadricycle category (L7e) and requires a standard B license or B1 license, available from the age of 16.

According to Renault, in Germany, a similar principle applies. The first version of the Twizy is accessible to individuals aged 16 and above who hold a moped license. Meanwhile, the second category of Twizy requires a category B driving license.

9 Best Suited For City Driving

Being a quadricycle, the Twizy is not designed to travel on highways. Its petite and slender design is tailored for urban environments, and it’s not suited for fast roads or highways. Additionally, the Twizy’s maximum speed limit of 80 kph (49.7 mph) and undependable maximum range of 100 km (62.1 miles) further make it incompatible with highway driving.

But here’s a plus: due to its small frame, the Twizy can fit into tight parking spaces, requiring almost one-third of a full-sized sedan, making it perfect for city driving. Beating traffic could also be easier, provided the small body of the Twizy can slip through cracks where a full-sized car would get stuck.

10 Offered With Decent Safety Features

Since the Twizy classifies a quadricycle, the safety regulations may be less stringent than those for a conventional car, but it still boasts decent safety features. According to Renault, the chassis boasts an impressively low center of gravity. All four wheels are equipped with disk brakes. The driver’s seat is equipped with an airbag, and each seat is fitted with seatbelts; a four-point system at the front and a three-point system at the rear. Some notable safety features are:

Renault Twizy Safety Features

• Rear park assist: Two sensors in the back to detect obstacles over a meter away.
• Airbag: Offers protection in the front in case of collisions.
• Seat belts: To lower the risk of being displaced from the seats.
• Brakes: Installed behind all four wheels.
• Audible warning: A gentle warning sound to use in times of danger.