Renault 5 review – iconic supermini reinvented as an EV

Verdict – is the Renault 5 a good car?

While we’re yet to fully test the Renault 5 E-Tech electric on the road, first impressions of our on-track drive are very positive. It’s not perfect, of course – rear passenger space is tight meaning there are more practical options out there, and it’s not the quickest, but it’s a great homage to the classic Renault 5 with lots of retro appeal, it handles very well and there’s lots of boot space on offer.

Renault 5 models, specs and alternatives

The Renault 5 is an iconic small car which was conceived back in the 1970s. Now the French brand has resurrected the name for its latest electric supermini in a similar vein to the retro Fiat 500 EV. The Renault 5 EV has been in the pipeline for some time and its nostalgic looks have generated a great deal of excitement and anticipation, so there’s a lot riding on this supermini.

While beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, we think the Renault 5 EV looks absolutely fantastic, striking a great balance between retro styling and modern touches to bring the name into the 21st century. The classic silhouette remains, and the front fascia gets LED headlights which mimic the outlines of those of the classic car’s, while the tail-lights sit high up either side of the hatchback boot like on the old Renault 5. The rear door handles are hidden in the pillars, giving the look of a three-door hatch while retaining the practicality of a five-door.

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Unlike the old Renault 5, the new model is solely offered as an electric model, with a choice of 40kWh or 52kWh batteries paired with a front-mounted motor. The launch model produces 148bhp and is paired with the larger of the two batteries, making it capable of a range of up to 249 miles. The more affordable model with a smaller 40kWh will arrive later with a 118bhp electric motor, while a 94bhp-motor option that will be offered in other markets is not expected to make it here.

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UK prices and trim levels for the Renault 5 are yet to be confirmed, but at the time of writing you can sign up to be fast-tracked to order and take delivery of one of the first of these retro EVs by buying an ‘R5 R Pass’ for £150, such is the expected demand of the car. While it’s not yet confirmed, we expect the Renault 5 EV to cost from around £23,000 when it does launch in entry-level specification with the smaller battery, while the model with the 52kWh battery will probably start from around £27,000.

That might sound like a lot, but to put it in perspective, a three-door MINI Cooper EV will cost you over £2,000 more than the top-spec Renault 5, while the price is about on-par with the Peugeot E-208 or a high-spec petrol MINI Cooper.

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The Renault 5 is available with a choice of 40kWh and 52kWh battery sizes. The larger of the two is capable of up to 249 miles, which isn’t particularly far but should be enough for those buying an electric car for shorter trips to the shops or daily commute. A Peugeot E-208 can do up to 225 miles on a charge, while the MINI Cooper Electric can travel up to 250 miles from a smaller battery.

During our testing on a warm day, we managed to achieve around five miles/kWh, which made the Renault 5 efficient enough to hit its 249-mile on-paper range figure. Be aware, though, that range really depends on how you’re using your electric car and what the conditions are like at the time – cooler temperatures can detrimentally affect range, as can driving the Renault 5 on the motorway.

Full details regarding the small 40kWh battery are yet to be announced, but it’s expected to be capable of up to 186 miles. What we do know is that it can be charged at a maximum speed of 80kW, while the 52kWh battery gets faster 100kW charging. That means both cars can be charged up from 15 to 80% in 30 minutes at a public charger. 

Home wallbox charging at speeds of up to 11kW is possible, enabling a charge time of around five hours for the 52kWh version. 7kW wallbox charge speeds are more common, though, which will take you overnight to top up.

What will the Renault 5 cost to insure?

Insurance groups are yet to be announced for the Renault 5 EV. For context, the electric MINI Cooper sits in groups 20 to 26, the Peugeot E-208 in groups 26 to 28, while the electric Fiat 500 spans groups 16 to 18 – with the Renault 5 looking to compete with these models, we’d imagine it will sit in a similar ballpark.

What does the Renault 5 cost to tax?

Currently the Renault 5 doesn’t incur any VED (road tax) as an electric vehicle, but it will from April 2025 – from then on it will cost £10 for the first year and £190 annually thereafter. The good news is that, because the Renault 5 costs less than the £40,000 threshold, it won’t incur the luxury car tax surcharge. As a company car the 5 should be cheap on BiK (Benefit-in-Kind) tax because of its zero-emissions status.

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The Renault 5 launches with the higher-powered 148bhp electric motor, while a smaller 118bhp version is expected later on. While the focus here isn’t out-and-out performance, the 5 does feel fun to drive at speed.

The front end gets suspension borrowed from the Clio and Captur – the former of which is good to drive in its own light – and as a result the suspension feels well tuned to the Renault 5. The steering is direct, and it’s also been nabbed from the latest Megane – another electric model we think is great to drive. 

One potential area for improvement is the brakes. We found them to be a bit sensitive in our testing, so it was hard to brake smoothly, and didn’t feel terribly easy to modulate. This can mean that at low speeds you have to focus more than you might like because the Renault 5 takes some getting used to. That said, after some time acclimatising to the car, things do improve.

Is the Renault 5 good to drive in town?

The original Renault 5 was designed to be a good supermini for urban environments and the new model should fulfil that brief, too. Its small proportions and nimble character should make it easy to manoeuvre and park in town. From launch there’s no one-pedal driving, but this will be added to models later down the line – this can make urban driving incredibly easy, though it’s not for everyone. As we mentioned before, at lower speeds braking can be hard to do smoothly, which can make driving in urban areas less relaxed than you might want it to be.

Is the Renault 5 good to drive on long journeys?

The Renault 5 feels like a very capable motorway cruiser. Road noise and wind noise are both kept to an absolute minimum, and the electric motor feels like it’s up to the job of pottering on at a steady high speed, where sometimes other city-focused EVs can feel like they run out of puff.

Is the Renault 5 good to drive on B-roads?

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The Renault 5 is one of the best-handling small cars on sale, but we think it’s a shame it’s not got more power. It’s incredibly agile and nimble and also feels well composed in the corners thanks to its low kerb weight. We just wish it was more powerful to make the most of these impressive traits, but thankfully a hot Alpine version is on the horizon that could prove even more fun to drive.

Carbuyer notes

“Overall, the Renault is not quite as engaging to drive as a MINI, but the fundamental chassis balance is good and it feels ripe for the extraction of more focused performance” Jordan Katsianis, Senior staff writer

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The Renault 5 is expected to be offered in three trims: Evolution, Techno and Iconic Five. The Renault 5 is just as exciting to behold from the inside as it is from the outside. We love the colourful numbers on the speedometer displayed on a 10-inch driver’s display, which hark back to the pop-art style of the seventies. In fact, there are lots of interesting pops of colour around the cabin which keeps it interesting, as well as many touches that are included as an homage to the original car, such as the H-shaped pattern on the seat upholstery. In some ways it’s incredibly refreshing to sit in an EV with more going on than the raft of incredibly minimalist interiors of late.

We like that there’s a set of physical buttons for features like the air-conditioning and media volume. The Renault 5’s interior isn’t perfect, though – there are some ergonomic foibles such as the sheer amount of stalks on the steering column; four to be exact. These stalks are present on the brand’s other EVs and we can’t help but think it’s overkill – there’s one for the indicators, another for the wipers (as you’d expect), but an extra two stick out on the right side; one for the media controls and another for the gear selector. While it’s good Renault wanted to free up space in the centre console, we can’t help but feel it makes the steering column rather busy.

Is the Renault 5’s infotainment and navigation system easy to use?

Renault has been on a roll recently in terms of its infotainment systems. The Renault 5 uses Google Android Automotive, like in the brand’s other models, so the software will be very familiar to anyone with a smartphone, particularly an Android device. Google Maps is pre-installed, while over 50 apps can be downloaded via the PlayStore.

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The system’s application here in the Renault 5 is similarly brilliant, with simple, well laid-out menus and easy-to-navigate settings. The driver’s display is great to look at, and the layout and designs change depending on the drive mode you’re in. We like the fact that the main information you need access to, such as speed and other data, remain static whichever mode you’re in.

The car’s system also has an AI assistant called Reno – see what they did there? The voice assistant can provide directions to the nearest charging station, provide tips on preserving range among other functions. Unfortunately in practice, Reno wasn’t the easiest system to use and we couldn’t get anything to work as it should, but admittedly we were testing it in French and there’s still time for the system to be perfected before production, so we’ll reserve judgement for the time being.

Is the Renault 5 well equipped?

All versions of the Renault 5 will come with a central 10-inch infotainment system and a digital driver’s display. The driver’s display will be seven inches in size on entry-level cars while more expensive models will have a larger 10-inch unit.

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The Renault 5 is now – as you’d expect of a modern car – much larger than its predecessor (the original car was 400mm shorter). Unfortunately that doesn’t mean it shows on the inside. The front seats sit very low down but that has come at the expense of foot room for rear passengers. Even when you adjust the driver’s seat for a smaller adult, there’s very little kneeroom for rear passengers, so it’s best suited for smaller children back there. Because it gets rear doors, however, it is much easier to get into than the current three-door-only MINI Cooper E, its main rival.

Does the Renault 5 have a big boot?

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While passenger space may be limited, the Renault 5 does at least get an impressively spacious boot for a supermini. There’s up to 326 litres of capacity with the seats still in place and if you fold the rear seats you can free up 1,106 litres – that might allow for the occasional piece of flatpack furniture. The bad news is that there’s a high load lip to contend with, but in all honesty you don’t buy a supermini if you plan to regularly transport large items.

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It’s too early to give a prediction on the Renault 5’s reliability, but Renault as a brand performs quite poorly in terms of customer satisfaction in our Driver Power owner survey, having come 28th out of 32 manufacturers in the 2024 edition. 24.4% of owners also reported an issue with their Renault in the first year of ownership, which is a little worse than average. Just 12.7%, 11.8% and 20.8% of MINI, Fiat and Peugeot owners, respectively, reported the same with their cars. In theory, however, an EV like the Renault 5 should have less to go wrong than the equivalent combustion-engined cars, and we’re yet to hear of any horror stories with the rest of the brand’s electric cars.

How safe is the Renault 5?

The Renault 5 is yet to be tested by Euro NCAP, so safety is less clear-cut as a result, but the brand says it’s designed the car to be incredibly safe. It says that lots of work has gone into the 5’s structural design to protect occupants and also the battery, decreasing the risk of it getting damaged and causing a fire, for example. 

The Renault 5 will come with a range of safety assistance tech to help avoid an accident, too. There’s a driver attention monitoring system, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist and a safe-exit warning system that sounds an alert if you’re about to get out of the car into the path of oncoming traffic. Adaptive cruise control with stop and go, plus lane-centring also enable the car to drive semi-autonomously in certain environments.

What are the Renault 5’s service intervals?

Renault says its electric models require a service every 12 months. During a service, the battery and motors, braking system, cooling system and cabin air filters will be checked, while the car’s software will be updated if it hasn’t been already.

What is the warranty on the Renault 5?

The Renault 5 is covered by Renault’s standard warranty – that means it’s covered for an unlimited mileage in the first two years, while it’s covered in the third year up to 100,000 total miles. The electric powertrain is covered for up to four years or 100,000 miles, too, while the battery pack has its own warranty which covers it up to eight years of 100,000 miles.

Should you buy a Renault 5?

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While we should reserve full judgement until we’ve driven the Renault 5 on roads in the UK or otherwise, things are looking incredibly positive for the retro-inspired EV. If you’re looking for an electric car with lots of range, power or rear-seat space then you might be disappointed, but for pure retro charm, nimble handling and boot space, the Renault 5 does very well and gives the MINI Cooper a run for its money.

The Renault 5’s success will hinge on how well priced it is and how well it drives on UK roads, but after initial testing we’re hugely impressed.

What is the best Renault 5 for keen drivers?

The most powerful version of the Renault 5 that buyers can get is the 148bhp version – this handles very well, but it might prove a little underwhelming in terms of pure performance. Fortunately, Renault’s performance sub-brand Alpine will be releasing its own hot version of the 5 called the A290, which is expected to have around 220bhp and a 0-60mph time of 6.4 seconds. It’s still a way off and we’re yet to test it, however, and it’s expected to be significantly more expensive than the standard Renault 5.

Renault 5 alternatives

Using an iconic retro name for a modern EV is nothing new, and the Renault 5 enters a market with a few other well-established models, such as the electric MINI Cooper and Fiat 500. There are also other EV superminis with less retro appeal worth buyers’ consideration.

• MINI Cooper
• Fiat 500
• Peugeot E-208
• Vauxhall Corsa Electric
• MG4
• Citroen e-C3

How we tested the Renault 5

So far, we’ve tested the Renault 5 on track in Germany in September 2024, but hope to give it a more comprehensive test on roads in Europe and the UK soon.