New Renault 5 is here! Retro EV costs from just under £23k

• Up to 248 miles of range
• Retro-inspired styling
• Prices start from £22,995

The new Renault 5 E-Tech caused quite a stir when it was unveiled earlier this year. The little French EV had the retro-inspired looks to capture hearts, but it was the promise of affordable pricing that got us excited. Now we have official UK details for the 5, and Renault looks to have stuck to its word – prices for the Renault 5 will start from just £22,995 when it goes on sale in January 2025.

That makes the Renault 5 one of the most affordable electric cars on sale today, costing not much more than the Citroen e-C3. It’s quickly becoming a fiercely competitive market, with new electric superminis like the Leapmotor T03 and BYD Dolphin all vying for the budget EV crown. Renault’s entry certainly has the looks to stand out, but our recent in-depth test proved that it’s more than just a pretty face.

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The French brand has suggested that the new electric hatchback could be sticking around for a while, too. Unlike most new cars, which typically have a seven-year lifespan with a facelift somewhere in the middle, the Renault 5 could be on the market for up to 15 years, according to CEO Luca de Meo.

That’s not to say the 5 won’t be updated – Renault plans to continually evolve the tech and improve efficiency on a yearly basis – but those retro looks are here to stay.

What does the Renault 5 look like?

It’s clear that Renault has pulled out all the stops for the styling of its latest EV, managing to squeeze as much charm from the concept car into the production-ready model. The 2024 Renault 5 draws on the original 1972 Renault 5 for its small-yet-boxy proportions and simple, geometric styling details.

It’s just 3,920mm long, placing it between a typical city car and supermini in terms of size, with its 18-inch alloy wheels pushed right to the extremities of the car, helping to increase interior space for passengers. All models come with five doors, with the rear-most handles neatly integrated into the window frames, much like its Renault Clio sibling. 

Despite the lack of a combustion engine, Renault’s designers felt the original car’s bonnet vent was a styling cue worth carrying over to the new model. No longer a vent, it has been reinvented for the modern age as a small digital display to indicate the battery charge level in the shape of a ‘5’. Other unusual touches include the square LED running lights up front and the ‘5’ decals behind the front wheels, as well as the red trim detail that runs from the base of the wing mirror along the roofline.

What about the Renault 5’s interior?

The inside of the Renault 5 feels equally as stylish as the outside. Buyers will be able to choose from a range of recycled upholstery materials, including denim or yellow fabric to match this car’s exterior paintwork. All cars come with a central 10-inch infotainment touchscreen alongside a digital driver’s display (seven inches for base cars, 10 inches for the rest of the range). The H-shaped pattern on the seats is a neat touch inspired by the 1970s 5, and the quilted headliner, rear seat ‘5’ emblems and contrast stitching help to further elevate up the interior ambience.

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When we sat in a production-ready car, cabin materials felt on par with the Clio hatchback, although it wasn’t quite as spacious – the Clio is 90mm longer. There’s a 326-litre boot with a handy storage space under the floor, ideal for charging cables.

What are the specs of the Renault 5?

An electric car’s styling is irrelevant if the hardware underneath isn’t up to scratch. From what we know so far, the Renault 5 looks to be just as competitive as its rivals, with a choice of two batteries. The smaller is a 40kWh unit, badged ‘Urban Range’, paired to a 121bhp motor driving the front wheels. This model will manage up to 190 miles on a charge, while the 0-62mph sprint is dusted in 9.0 seconds flat.

‘Comfort range’ models use a larger 52kWh pack powering a 148bhp motor – good for motivating the 5 from 0 to 62mph in under eight seconds. Range sees a healthy improvement, too, jumping to 248 miles. Both batteries can be rapid-charged from 15-80% in under 30 minutes and all UK cars are fitted with a heat pump as standard, helping to improve range in cold conditions.

For more performance, there’s always the Alpine A290. This electric hot hatchback is based on the Renault 5, but gets bespoke styling and a host of sporty upgrades designed to appeal to driving enthusiasts.

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One feature that will be missing at launch is one-pedal driving, a common EV technology that uses the electric motor to slow the car down instead of the mechanical brakes. It will be fitted to Renault 5 models a few months after launch, although it’s unclear whether the first examples will be able to have the system retrofitted. 

In order to reduce production costs and keep that starting price competitive, Renault has looked to its other models and borrowed components where necessary. The platform uses a mix of Clio and Captur parts, as well as some components from the Dacia Duster’s rear suspension.

How much will the Renault 5 cost and when can I order one?

The Renault 5 costs just £22,995 in its most basic form, which is about £1,000 more than the Citroen e-C3. That gets you into the ‘Evolution’ model with the Urban Range battery pack. You still get rear parking sensors, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, 18-inch alloy wheels and more with this model, so it should cater to most buyers.

Above this sits the Techno trim, costing £24,995 with the smaller battery, or £26,995 with the larger pack. You get a bigger driver’s display, adaptive cruise control, a wireless smartphone charger, a rear view camera, and the external battery charge level display.

The range-topping Iconic model costs £26,995 or £28,995 with the small and large battery, respectively. This gets practically every bit of kit, including heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, blind spot monitoring and hands-free parking.

Customers will be able to place an order from January 2025, and the first deliveries are expected to start from March onwards.

Read our list of the best small electric cars to see what the Renault 5 is up against...