This work presents the evaluation of the downlink (DL) performance of a dual-layer cellular networks by using energy efficiency (EE) metric, where femto base stations (FBSs), macro base stations (MBSs) and users (FUs) form independent spatial Poisson point processes (PPPs). The proposed network model is developed by considering number of antennas at each BS alongside a single antenna at each user with the use of the conventional spectrum re-utilization approach. Then, Coverage probability and EE expressions for the dual-layer cellular networks are exclusively derived analytically. It is also demonstrated that simulation results are almost inline with the analytical one in the PPP-based model. While coverage probability deteriorates with less margin in the lower FBS density region compared to the scheme presented in Xu and Qiu [“Energy efficiency optimization for MIMO broadcast channels,” IEEE Trans. Wireless Commun., Vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 690–701, Feb. 2013.] signalled not much turnaround of the network performance, EE in the lower and the upper FBS density regions are likely to remain between (Formula presented.) to (Formula presented.) Bits/Joule and (Formula presented.) to (Formula presented.) Bits/Joule, respectively. Proposed scheme tells us that it is firmly on course to match up with Vehicular Ad-hoc NETworks (VANET) applications without incurring high cost as EE, low latency, coverage probability and low power adaptability are back on good growth path. © 2021 IETE.