Renault 5 E-Tech Review (2025)

Introduction

No, we haven’t suddenly started reviewing classic cars. The Renault 5 really is back – and not just in name only.

Despite taking a break for nearly thirty years, the once popular rectangular wedge-shaped French hatchback has returned, looking somewhat familiar, albeit in a futuristic way.

Ford has brought back the Puma and the Capri, but they bear little resemblance to the classics of yesteryear.

On the other hand, the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric (to give its full name) looks like it never went out of production. The continuity from the old model must be seen to be believed.

Of course, it has plenty of modern touches and appears thoroughly contemporary, but there are also respectful nods to its past.

Admittedly, Renault has appeared keen to distance itself from a bygone era, especially as this new car is all-electric, so the Renault 5’s re-emergence in the first place seems surprising.

Its revival came about by a happy accident. A designer made a mock-up that was initially rebuffed, only for the company's CEO to believe there may be some mileage in reintroducing it. And now it’s finally hitting the roads.

Believe it or not, we’ve had to wait several years to get our hands on this new one – Renault first announced its intention to build it in early 2021.

So, has four years of anticipation been worth it?

We have taken one for a drive – albeit with the steering wheel on the left-hand side – to find out.

At A Glance

The Renault 5 is certainly recognisable from last century’s model.

It retains the classic rectangular wedge shape that made the car so instantly familiar in its heyday. Still, in contrast, the old Renault 5s looked rather weak and flimsy, while the new one is bolder, chunkier, and keener.

It features rounded corners, headlights with little quiffs underneath, square day running lights below, and some shapely bodywork towards the bottom.

The wheel arches pop out from the sides, and a crease curves towards the lower part of the doors, which is above some black cladding.

One notable feature of the old Renault 5 was its rear light arrangement, which was positioned vertically on the corners of the car, about halfway up. While the bodywork on the new Renault 5 now extends around the taillights, this classic feature is retained. A horizontal black bar with solitary '5' numbering links the two sets of lights.

The 21st Century’s Renault 5 looks funky and modern yet should be immediately familiar to anyone who remembers the original.

Key Features

Three trim levels are offered on the Renault 5.

The entry-level Evolution gets 18-inch alloys, a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, an Arkamys speaker system, a seven-inch digital driver display, LED headlights and taillights, and rear parking sensors.

You also get dual-zone climate control, automatic headlights, automatic high beams, rain-sensing wipers, and a host of safety features, which we'll cover later.

The mid-range Techno boasts a larger 10-inch digital driver display, a wireless phone charger, adaptive cruise control, a bonnet charging indicator, a shark fin antenna, multiple driving modes, ambient lighting, a rear-view camera, and a central armrest with storage. A synthetic leather steering wheel is also thrown in.

The top-of-the-range Iconic acquires 18-inch black alloys, a heated steering wheel and front seats with lumbar adjustment, hands-free parking, and various additional safety systems, which, again, we'll cover later.

Power comes from an electric motor with two power outputs – 120PS or 150PS – although only the lower-powered version is available on the entry-level Evolution trim.

Our test car is a left-hand drive French version in mid-range Techno trim with 150PS.

Range & Batteries

The size of the battery is linked to the electric motor's power output.

Choosing the 120PS (which, as we said, you'll be obliged to do with the entry-level Evolution trim) will get you the Urban Range battery, which is 40kW (usable) and has a claimed range of 190 miles.

If you pick either trim, you'll have the option to up the power to 150PS, which gives you a larger Comfort Range battery at 52kWh (usable) and a claimed range of 248 miles.

You won't achieve these figures in practice, though, as any number of factors, including ambient temperature and driving style, can influence the actual real-world range.

Anything above two-thirds of the quoted figure is about in line with expectations.

Performance & Drive

The 120PS version goes from 0 to 62mph in nine seconds. But on balance, the 150PS version is preferable, as its sprightlier 7.9-second 0 to 62mph time puts more of a smile on your face. The 120PS version will suffice if performance isn't a concern.

However, you’ll need to opt for the more potent variant to maximise range, as the larger battery is only available with a 150PS electric motor.

If that still isn’t enough, the mad hot-hatch Renault 5 Turbo 3E with a bonkers 500PS is on the way (and, yes, it features the enormous, flared wheel arches of the retro hot-hatch version). However, in terms of performance and price, that will be too excessive.

Back to reality, then, and we’ll make do with 150PS on our test car.

Still, you won't benefit from all those horses if you’re in Eco mode, which reigns in the acceleration and is supposed to increase range.

You need Sport mode to unleash proper poke. It offers a sharper throttle response and adds extra weight to the steering. You might want to stick to a less aggressive setting in slippery conditions, though, as wheelspin is easy to generate when hooning around.

Comfort mode provides a nice middle ground between the two. The not-too-sluggish but not-too-quick pace nicely complements the handling, allowing you to have a bit of fun without going over the top.

The 18-inch wheels are about right for the Renault 5, resulting in ride comfort that's neither too harsh nor too absorbing to limit the car's agility.

As a result, a decent middle-ground is achieved between comfort and cornering capability, making the 5 entertaining to thread around a twisty backroad, no doubt helped by its low centre of gravity.

The Renault’s liveliness also means it's adept at darting in and out of traffic on ring roads. Around the slow, narrow, 90-degree bends of urban streets, it's effortlessly easy to drive and fits right in, offering very light steering at lower speeds.

Wind and road noise are well-contained, too.

Charging

The higher capacity 52kWh battery can be charged at a maximum rate of 100kW, but this is reduced to 80kW with the smaller 40kWh battery.

A full 0-100% charge of the larger battery takes 55 minutes while topping up from 15-80% takes half an hour.

If you charge it from a 7.4kW home wall box, these times extend to just over five hours and seven and three-quarter hours, respectively.

Charging times for the smaller battery are likely to be similar, given that its slower charging speed is offset by its smaller capacity.

Running Costs & Emissions

Being an electric car, there are no emissions to worry about and, of course, filling up at petrol stations becomes a thing of the past.

If you can charge it at home, you'll avoid more expensive public charging points, making it especially economical. This is particularly true if you can charge it overnight and have a tariff that favours off-peak charging.

Road tax is free, but that's changing from April this year when you'll pay £10 for the first year, followed by £195 for each subsequent year.

It will also be cost-effective as a company car, given that the Benefit In Kind tax favours zero-emission vehicles. However, the list of electric cars is growing by the day, and the same favourability applies to any other electric vehicle.

Reliability-wise, the Renault 5 is an unknown. It should go without saying that comparisons to the old Renault 5 are pointless, while the French manufacturer’s other all-electric vehicles are still in their infancy. That said, Renault as a brand is doing well for reliability nowadays and has been climbing up the league tables.

Interior & Technology

The interior of the Renault 5 looks modern and funky.

You will find plenty of soft-to-the-touch, plush materials, including a cushioned two-tiered dashboard.

Naturally, given the low leasing price for an electric car, there are some drawbacks, but Renault has done a fine job of hiding the cheaper plastics.

Everything feels securely bolted into place and well-made. Some of the materials are recycled, including the upholstery in the top two trims, which is a sporty yellow colour in the top trim and a mixture of grey and brown in our mid-range trim.

The chunky unit behind the steering wheel immediately grabs your attention. It houses both the infotainment touchscreen and the smaller digital instrument display.

Although the screens are separated, with a button sitting between them, they’re contained within a single unit, which slightly curves the infotainment screen towards the driver.

The steering wheel's top and bottom are slightly flatter than its sides. Its three spokes are covered in glossy piano black, and there are plenty of buttons.

The rest of the cabin, though, is fairly minimal in terms of functionality.

There are air vents on the left and right, two more in the middle of the dashboard next to one another, and that’s about it.

There are, at least, some physical buttons to control the air conditioning and window heaters, meaning Renault has resisted the temptation to integrate them within the infotainment system.

The infotainment system is nice to use, offering an intuitive, uncomplicated menu layout and a high-resolution screen that responds to your fingers' touches and prods.

It is worth avoiding the entry-level Evolution trim, as the two higher trims get an excellent Google-derived satellite navigation system along with an impressively capable voice control system.

The 10.3-inch digital driver's display behind the wheel offers crisp, modern graphics and essential information, including speed and remaining range. It is worth noting that entry-level models get a smaller seven-inch version.

Overall, it's a lovely interior. Although it lacks some luxuries, it ticks all the right boxes for such an inexpensive electric car.

Practicality & Boot Space

The Renault 5 does not have electric seat adjustment, but given its price point, that's hardly surprising.

Indeed, only the top trim gets adjustable lumbar support, but the seats are comfortable and hug you tightly enough in the bends, regardless of which version you choose.

There is plenty of travel in the seats and steering wheel, so finding a comfy driving position is relatively hassle-free. However, those with the larger instrument display might need to adjust their position to avoid the wheel blocking the screen.

Front visibility is okay, although we've seen thinner windscreen pillars. As the windscreen is sharply angled, you may get a better view by leaning forward when pulling out of road junctions.

As in most cars, the rear pillars are thicker – in fact, they’re much thicker in the Renault 5, which lacks a third window behind the rear doors, leading to what’s almost a ‘double pillar’ on each side of the rear windscreen.

Happily, all models have rear parking sensors, although Techno and Iconic Five trims also have a rear-view camera, which we found useful in our test car.

There is a respectable amount of space in the front, even for taller drivers, while headroom won’t pose many challenges.

However, although the Renault 5 is quite a bit bigger than its predecessor, taller passengers might struggle for legroom in the back.

There isn't much shoulder space, but fitting two or three kids in the back is doable.

The Renault 5’s boot measures 326 litres and expands to 1,106 litres with the rear seats folded down in a 60:40 split - about comparable with the Citroen e-C3 and more than a Fiat 500e.

There is also a further 41 litres of storage beneath the boot floor for charging cables, although the floor isn’t height adjustable, so you’ll have to cope with a small loading lip.

You won’t get additional cargo capacity underneath the bonnet, either – a feature in some all-electric cars.

Back in the cabin, there are a couple of cupholders, a tray, and a cubby beneath the centre console, although the door bins aren't that wide.

Safety

The Renault 5 was put through its paces by Euro NCAP last year, earning a four-star rating, scoring 80% for adult occupants, 80% for children and 68% for safety assists.

The latter category includes automatic emergency braking on all models, along with cruise control, vehicle dynamic control, hill start assist, emergency lane keeping assist, oncoming traffic and road edge detection, and rear parking sensors.

The Techno trim and above get a rear-view camera, while the top-of-the-range Iconic Five adds hands-free parking and active driver assist, combining adaptive cruise control with lane centring and a blind spot warning system.

Options

There are four body colours to choose from, with the default being bright ‘pop green’.

Diamond black, arctic white and bright ‘pop yellow’ are the alternatives, which cost extra.

Techno and Iconic Five trims also unlock the option of a black roof, a couple of roofline shades, and an extra body colour of dark ‘midnight blue’.

Sadly, Iconic Five isn't offered with ‘pop green'; the default colour is black with a red roofline.

Numbered ‘5’ racing decals are also included in the top two trims. They can be swapped for different designs or added as an option on the entry-level model, although any changes you make are excessively expensive.

Rival Cars

The Renault 5 is in an increasingly crowded market nowadays, with several rival electric superminis and small hatchbacks on offer.

There are the Citroen e-C3, the Fiat 500e, and the Peugeot E-208, to name three.

Hyundai has recently launched the tiny Inster SUV, while the new Mini Cooper Electric also offers BMW-engineered competition.

Verdict & Next Steps

The Renault 5 offers an excellent package, ticking plenty of boxes.

It treads the delicate balance between handling and comfort well, offering an engaging driving experience without being too firm.

Add that to a nice, funky interior, modern conveniences, a user-friendly infotainment system, and some retro styling, and you've got a great all-rounder that's good-looking and well-equipped, especially if you avoid the entry-level model.

Practicality isn’t a strong suit of any supermini, and adults won’t be comfortable in the back, but a couple in the front, along with two or three younger kids in the rear, will be fine. Plus, it still offers a reasonably sized boot for a car of its size.

The entry-level trim's leasing price is excellent for an electric car, although we'd opt for the mid-range Techno, which adds some useful features without raising the cost too much.

If you want a bit more fun, go for the 150PS motor. It extends the range thanks to its larger 52kWh battery without breaking the bank. Those opting for the 120PS motor will get the smaller 40kWh battery, which will restrict your range.

All things considered, this century’s Renault 5 is a car you simply need to drive.

Where to next?

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Renault 5 E-Tech.

**Correct as of 28/01/2025. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments, or £2,214.63 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.