Renault 5 review

The Renault 5 isn’t the first car from a bygone era to make a comeback, but we reckon it could be just as successful as other efforts, including the reimagined Fiat 500 and Mini.  

Indeed, the hatchback that took the small car market by storm in the early 70s has been completely reinvented for the modern era – although just like the original, the new 5 aims to offer stylish, versatile and affordable motoring for the masses.

The biggest change, other than perhaps the increase in size and safety provisions, is what powers the Renault 5. While the original was designed to sip fuel during the first oil crisis, this latest model doesn’t use any petrol at all – it’s a fully electric car.

Renault 5 video review

The 5 isn’t the only small electric car with lofty ambitions, of course. As well as the Fiat 500e and Mini Cooper Electric, it's up against more modern-looking alternatives, including the BYD Dolphin Surf, Citroën ë-C3 and Hyundai Inster.

So, does the latest Renault 5 have the range, charging capability and driving manners to compete with the best electric cars? Or is it a classic case of style over substance?

How fast is it and which motor is best?

The cheapest (E-Tech 120) version of the Renault 5 has a 121bhp electric motor that drives its front wheels. Acceleration is adequate rather than eye-widening, but it feels fairly nippy in urban environments and can officially do 0-62mph in 9.0 seconds.

Even the more powerful E-Tech 150 version, which has a 148bhp motor is no match for a Mini Cooper SE in a drag race. It’s still far nipper than any Citroën ë-C3 or Hyundai Inster, though. We reckon this motor is the better choice, although that's largely because it's twinned with a bigger battery (more on that later).

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

The Renault 5 is designed primarily as an urban and suburban runaround, and it’s really well suited to town driving. The tight turning circle of just 10.3 metres certainly helps, but the light, accurate steering also impresses.

All versions of the Renault 5 have fairly big 18in wheels, yet the ride is pretty comfortable by small electric car standards. The 5 copes with poorly surfaced roads better than the ë-C3 or Cooper Electric, for example, and there’s enough control to keep things composed along faster, undulating country lanes.

'Grown up' is probably the best way to describe the Renault 5's handling, because this is a car that's always pleasant and confidence-inspiring to drive on winding roads. You can add a bit of weight to the steering by selecting Sport mode (useful for faster driving) and there's plenty of grip. The Mini Cooper Electric is a bit more agile and leans less through corners, but the margins aren't huge.

Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?

The 5’s brakes deserve a special mention, because there’s no mechanical connection between the pedal and the braking system. This "brake by wire" approach might sound a bit scary, but it’s easier to slow down smoothly than it is in some of Renault’s other electric cars, including the Renault Megane and Scenic.

Those cars have decidedly grabby brake pedals, and while the Renault 5's isn't perfect, there's enough feel and consistency to prevent your passengers thinking you've only just passed your driving test.

There's only a small amount of wind noise at 70mph, although you will hear more tyre noise than in an ë-C3 or BYD Dolphin Surf (the big wheels don't help here).

What’s the range and efficiency like, and how quickly can it charge?

The cheaper E-Tech 120 is twinned with the appropriately named Urban Range battery, which has a usable capacity of 40kWh and an official range of up to 193 miles (it varies slightly depending on trim level). 

Meanwhile, the E-Tech 150 Comfort Range has a 52kWh battery, boosting its official range to a maximum of 253 miles. Don’t expect to achieve those distances in normal driving, though – especially in colder weather.

Still, the Renault 5 can travel farther between charges than the Inster and even edges the Mini Cooper Electric. If you want a fairly small electric car with an even longer range then check out the (slightly more expensive) MG4 Long Range.

A 10-80% top-up in the Renault 5 takes around half an hour in ideal conditions, assuming you’re plugged into a fast enough charging point. That’s roughly on a par with the Inster and Cooper Electric, and faster than a BYD Dolphin.

“The Renault 5 has a fine ride and handling balance for a small car, but if you want a bit more performance and sharper handling, I'd suggest checking out the closely related Alpine A290.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

If you’re hoping the retro theme continues inside then you might be a little disappointed. Indeed, the Renault 5’s interior is thoroughly modern in design, with plenty of real estate devoted to big screens (more on those later).

The inside isn’t completely devoid of nods to the classic Renault 5, though. The ceiling is textured in a criss-cross pattern, and the front seat bases in range-topping Iconic Five versions have a similar ribbed design to those in the original 5 Turbo. 

Whichever exterior paint colour you choose, you get yellow seats in the Iconic Five and navy blue seats in the Techno. Both are upholstered in a fabric Renault calls ‘denim’, although it’s actually spun from recycled bottles. Entry-level Expression versions have regular grey fabric seats, as does the limited-edition Roland Garros.

As for interior quality, there is unsurprisingly some hard plastic on the dashboard and insides of the doors – the Renault 5 is one of the cheaper electric cars on sale, after all. Nothing feels flimsy or low-rent, though, and some extra padded fabric on the dashboard (or faux leather in the Iconic Five) makes the interior feel more upmarket than a Citroën ë-C3 or Hyundai Inster's.

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

You'll need to go for range-topping Iconic Five trim (or the limited-run Roland Garros) if you want adjustable lumbar support for the driver's seat, but otherwise the seat is comfortable, it lines up neatly with the pedals and steering wheel and there's a good range of adjustment.

The 5 is easier to see out of than a Cooper Electric. And while the rear screen is fairly small, rear parking sensors come as standard even on entry-level Evolution trim, while the posher trim levels add a rear-view camera.

The screen behind the steering wheel shows your speed, remaining range and other trip computer information, and it measures 7in if you go for entry-level Evolution trim. The higher trims have a larger 10.3in display, and you might find your view of the top of it blocked by the rim of the steering wheel, depending on your height and driving position.

Are the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

Fortunately, you don’t need to use the infotainment touchscreen to control the air-conditioning (you do in a BYD Dolphin Surf or Mini Cooper Electric. Instead, there’s a panel just below the touchscreen with proper buttons on it, making it a doddle to tweak the temperature or adjust the fan speed while you’re driving.

Talking of the infotainment system, this is controlled using a 10.1in touchscreen in the middle of the dashboard – although it’s angled slightly towards the driver to make it easier to see and reach. 

Being a touchscreen, it's inevitably a bit distracting to use while you’re driving – but the operating system is far more intuitive than the one in a 500e or Cooper Electric. You get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay whichever trim you go for, and every trim except entry-level Evolution has an in-built Google-based sat-nav app and a surprisingly useful voice-control assistant.

The My Renault phone app can communicate with the infotainment system remotely, allowing you to check your Renault 5's battery level and schedule off-peak charging times. You can also ‘pre-condition’ the interior temperature, so it’s nice and toasty when you get inside during the winter, and not a meltingly hot on a sunny August day.

“The Renault 5's gear selector doesn't have a Park position to lock the motor or apply a parking brake. It’s a strange omission and I found that it took a bit of getting used to.” – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

How much space does it have for people?

The latest Renault 5 is much bigger than its 70s namesake, but it’s still fairly compact by modern small car standards. Indeed, while it’s slightly longer than a Mini Cooper Electric, it’s actually shorter than a Peugeot e-208.

Taller adults sitting in the front are well catered for, thanks to plenty of head room and seats that slide back a long way on their runners. Storage space isn’t bad either: there’s a hidden cubby under the central armrest on Techno, Iconic Five and Roland Garros trims, and a double cupholder with a removable partition and a big tray below the infotainment screen.

The door bins are quite shallow, but they are long so they can hold several cans of drink or a few snacks.

Space in the back is less impressive, although these things are relative. On the plus side, the Renault 5 has rear doors (you don’t get those on a Fiat 500e or Cooper Electric), and children and shorter adults will fit just fine.

However, anyone approaching 6ft tall will feel rather cramped, with their knees wedged against the seat in front and their feet clamped against the floor by the base of the front seat. Head room is decent enough, with more than in a 500e, but the BYD Dolphin Surf and Citroën ë-C3 are altogether roomier in the back.

How much room does it have for luggage?

Those cars have bigger boots too, although we managed to fit a respectable four carry-on suitcases below the Renault 5's parcel shelf. For comparison, the ë-C3 swallowed five cases while the Cooper Electric could only manage two.

There’s extra storage under the 5's boot floor for the charging cable, which is handy because, unlike some electric cars, the 5 has no storage under its bonnet. There's also no height-adjustable boot floor, and you can't slide the rear seats forwards like you can in some versions of the Hyundai Inster.

However, as with most other small cars, you can fold down the rear seatbacks in a 60/40 split when you need to carry more clobber, even though this will, of course, mean turfing out at least one of your rear passengers.

“There’s a big drop down from the boot entrance to the floor so I’m not sure why Renault doesn’t offer a height-adjustable floor to help mitigate this.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

So far, so good for the Renault 5 – and things get even better when you see its starting price of £21,495 (after a £1500 electric car grant from the Government). Even the most expensive version – Roland Garros trim with the larger Comfort Range battery and more powerful 148bhp motor – costs less than £30,000.

True, the BYD Dolphin Surf and Citroën ë-C3 have even cheaper list prices, but an equivalent ë-C3 will probably cost you more per month if you're buying on PCP finance due to its heavier predicted depreciation.

Entry-level Evolution trim isn’t exactly stingy on the equipment front and comes with automatic air-conditioning, cruise control, keyless entry and a heat pump for more efficient warming of the interior in cooler weather.

We think mid-rung Techno trim is worth the extra though. It adds the Google-based infotainment system, a pre-conditioning function for the battery (so it’s at the perfect temperature to charge quickly when you plug in), adaptive cruise control and some extra paint options for the exterior.

Don’t rule out Iconic Five trim either. It brings a different alloy wheel design, adjustable lumbar support for the front seats, a heated steering wheel and heated front seats. Meanwhile, the limited-edition Roland Garros version is slightly more expensive than the Iconic Five and adds bespoke alloys and some different interior finishes.

Is it reliable, and how long is the warranty?

We can’t give you much of a steer on reliability yet, other than to say that Renault finished in a very respectable ninth position (out of 31 brands) in the 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey manufacturer league table. 

You get a three-year/60,000-mile warranty on most components, with eight years’ cover on the battery. That’s par for the course – the Hyundai Inster gets the same eight-year warranty on the battery, but a five-year/unlimited-mileage warranty on the rest of the car.

How safe is it, and is it easy to steal?

All versions of the Renault 5 have automatic emergency braking (AEB), driver attention monitoring and lane-keeping assistance, while the Iconic Five and Roland Garros add blind-spot monitoring.

These active safety features helped the Renault 5 achieve a four star (out of five) Euro NCAP rating, which is respectable for a small car. The ë-C3 and Inster hadn't been tested at the time of writing, although the larger Mini Cooper Electric achieved five stars, and was found to offer slightly better crash protection to both child and adult occupants.

As for security, all versions are fitted with a Thatcham-approved immobiliser to help stop thieves stealing your Renault 5 away. There’s no alarm on any Renault 5, though.

“The strong early demand for the Renault 5 has resulted in slow predicted depreciation and I'd expect resale values to remain strong for at least the first few years.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor

Buy it if...

- You’re after a car that’s small enough to feel at home in the city, but grown-up enough to make longer drives easy

- You have off-street parking, so can charge an electric car cheaply overnight

- You like products that blend style with substance

Don’t buy it if…

- You regularly carry adults in the back of your car

- You need a boot that can cope with more than just the weekly shop

- You’re looking for the very cheapest electric car on sale

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