Renault 5 long term test: report 2
Back in January, we named the new Renault 5 as our overall Car of the Year, but now we're seeing if it continues to impress when you live with it every day...
The car Renault 5 E-Tech 150 comfort techno| Run by Claire Evans, consumer editor
Why it's here To see if the new Renault 5 impresses in everyday life
Needs to Raise a smile on rural roads at the weekends, and complete motorway commutes during the week without stress or too much expense
Mileage 4656 List price new £26,995 Target Price £26,995 Price as tested £27,395 Official range 251 miles Test range 204 miles
27 July 2025 – Little car goes a long way
Some of my colleagues gasped in shock when I said I was going to drive to Belgium in my Renault 5. After all, it’s not exactly a luxury EV that feels designed to eat up motorway miles.
However, the 5 proved extremely comfortable thanks to the supportive front seats with adjustable lumbar support, and it has good high-speed acceleration and cruises without straining at 80mph on European motorways.
Its 200-mile maximum motorway speed range did mean I stopped to charge up twice on my 230-mile trip to Belgium – once at Calais and then just outside Antwerp.
However, while the car’s maximum charging speed of 100kW is nothing special, because the EV battery isn't huge, it can be replenished from 10 to 80% in 30 minutes. It also helps that the charging curve is better than some larger cars I’ve charged; it remains doggedly at 80-60kW right up to 85%.
The 5’s compact dimensions made it easy to drive on and off the Eurotunnel train and to navigate the pedestrian-friendly suburban streets of Antwerp, which are rather like a chicane with giant flower beds and parked cars along both sides.
Although I had to apply in advance for a certificate to drive in Antwerp, this was free for EVs, and my holiday apartment had its own parking space. Parking rules in the city are strict: everyone has their own space and, if you park in someone else’s, they can have your car towed away. This might seem draconian, but it means nobody can block on-street EV charging spaces with non-EVs.
The only real issue I encountered was with the public charging network in Belgium because much of the network is outdated and poorly maintained. One charger didn’t allow me to use the app to pay even though I’d put my bank details into it, and another had a broken contactless card reader. It actually made me appreciate the improvements that have been made to the UK network in recent years.
Interestingly, the cost of using the Renault 5 and charging up at public stations only worked out £7 more expensive than if we had been driving a small petrol car. Doing the 460-mile trip in a 1.0 150bhp petrol-engined Ford Puma would have cost £55, and the Renault 5 cost £62, mostly because I chose some of the pricier charging brands, such as Allego and Fastned, because they do provide hassle-free tap-and-go charging.
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