Car of the Year Awards 2026: Small Electric Car of the Year
The so-called ‘restomod’ industry is a big money maker. People spend hundreds of thousands, even millions, of pounds on instilling old cars with a new lease on life. Classic looks, modern internals. The new Renault 5 (R5) fits a similar description, being a modern, fully electric take on the 1970s original. However, it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to buy.
In fact, our recommended Comfort Range Techno+ version costs less than a lot of conventionally powered small cars – thanks in part to the £3750 government grant it qualifies for. It’s also more affordable than the equivalent Mini Cooper Electric, as well as the closely related Nissan Micra, on PCP finance.
And for your money, you’re getting a very well-rounded product. To drive, the R5 is nippy (0-62mph in just 7.9sec) around town and on the motorway, and it strikes a good balance between tidy handling and a smooth ride. It’s more comfortable than the Mini, plus it’s quieter at speed.
So, for longer journeys, you’re better off with the R5, and that’s reiterated when you compare their ranges. Officially, the entry-level 40kWh R5 can travel for 193 miles on a full change, with the 52kWh Comfort Range upping this figure to 253 miles. For comparison, the Cooper E promises 186 miles and the Cooper SE 247 miles. The rival Hyundai Inster can manage up to 230 miles in its higher-spec form. All of these cars can manage a 10- 80% charge in around half an hour.
Speaking of the Inster, its interior may be more spacious and practical – it’s available with sliding rear seats and it better copes with six-footers in the back seats – but the R5 is better for quality. There’s a much wider variety of materials on show here, and the plastics feel more expensive.
The R5 edges further ahead of the pack when infotainment systems are factored in. Opt for Techno+ trim (or higher) and the R5 has Google functionality built in, meaning you have access to Google voice assistant and maps. The whole system is very slick, but we’re glad that commonly used functions (such as the climate controls and driving modes) can still be accessed via physical buttons. By contrast, the Mini’s set-up is much fiddlier, because it’s much more reliant on its odd, circular touchscreen.
Other useful kit that comes with Techno+ includes adaptive cruise control and a rear-view camera. If creature comforts are your thing, the Iconic Five+ trim adds heated seats and a heated steering wheel; we don’t think it’s worth the extra cash, though.
In terms of boot space, the R5 sits between the Cooper and Citroën e-C3. Four carry-on suitcases fit below the R5’s parcel shelf, versus two in the Cooper and five in the e-C3. The R5 is practical enough for most small families.
In fact, the R5 can work for a lot of people, being one of the first truly credible – not to mention desirable – small electric car.
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