Renault Twingo review

Not so long ago, buying a small electric car meant stomaching a shockingly big price tag – but the new Renault Twingo is actually expected to be cheaper than most petrol-powered alternatives.

Channelling the cheeky, ‘90s retro styling of its iconic first-generation namesake, the new electric Twingo isn't just a design exercise; it should be a genuine game-changer. Indeed, with a price tag expected to dip below £17,000 (assuming it qualifies for the £3750 Government EV grant), it should cost about the same as a Kia Picanto.

New Renault Twingo video review

That means it will comfortably undercut its equally retro sibling, the Renault 5. And while it won’t be as cheap as a Dacia Spring or Leapmotor T03, those cars are severely compromised urban runarounds that feel out of their depth on faster roads.

Read more: Complete the What Car? Reliability Survey now and you could win a prize

How fast is it and which motor is best?

The Renault Twingo has an 80bhp motor driving its front wheels, so acceleration is roughly on a par with the cheaper Dacia Spring 70 and Leapmotor T03.

This isn’t an issue around town where the Twingo is nippy enough from 0-30mph. However, at faster speeds it feels noticeably tardier than the more powerful Renault 5. In fact, even the entry-level BYD Dolphin Surf has the edge from 0-62mph.

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

The Twingo is built on the same basic underpinnings as the pricier Renault 5, so there are similarities between how the two cars drive. However, the Twingo is better geared for town driving, where its light steering and tight turning circle (of just 9.9 metres) really impress.

Softer suspension means there’s more body lean when cornering quickly, but the Twingo still feels a lot more composed and confidence-inspiring along a twisting country than a Spring. And for the most part the ride is comfortable by class standards, only becoming unsettled along pockmarked sections of Tarmac.

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

The Twingo is a significantly cheaper car than its bigger brother, the Renault 5, so it’s hardly surprising that there’s less sound-deadening material inside. 

Put simply, this means more noise makes its way inside – particularly when you’re driving at faster speeds. You hear the tyres drumming away at the surface of the road and, along bumpier roads, booms from the suspension. There’s also a noticeable amount of wind noise at faster speeds.

That said, the Twingo is still quieter on the move than a Dacia Spring or Leapmotor T03, and it’s really easy to drive smoothly. The accelerator and brake pedal give consistent and predictable responses when pressed and, on Techno trim, there are paddles behind the steering wheel to adjust the strength of the regenerative braking.

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

The Twingo has a 27.5kWh (usable capacity) battery and an official range of up to 163 miles. That figure drops to 156 miles if you go for range-topping Techno trim (more on that later) because of its bigger 18in alloys.

How does that stack up against rivals? Well, it’s farther than promised by any Dacia Spring or an entry-level BYD Dolphin Surf. However, the Leapmotor T03 can officially do 165 miles on a charge and the Renault 5 Urban Range can manage 193 miles.
 

The Twingo’s battery chemistry is LFP (a first for Renault). That means it doesn’t contain cobalt, so less environment-harming mining in Africa is required. It can also be regularly charged to 100% and drained to a low charge level without affecting the lifespan of the battery.

The Twingo can accept a maximum of 50kW from a public charging point, meaning a 10-80% charge will take around half an hour.

“For a small EV designed for the city and suburbs, I think the range is absolutely fine – especially considering you can regularly charge the battery to 100% without damaging the battery.” Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

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

The Twingo’s interior is far more inviting and eye-catching than a Dacia Spring’s. That’s particularly true if you go for Techno trim because the passenger’s side of the dashboard is painted the same colour as the body of the car (it’s always white on cheaper Evolution trim).

The interior isn’t particularly upmarket with hard plastics everywhere you look and touch, but at least it feels better screwed together than a Spring’s. The BYD Dolphin Surf and pricier Renault 5 have some more appealing materials in their interiors if that’s important to you.

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

The driving position is fundamentally good thanks to a steering wheel, seat and pedals that all line up neatly with one another – in the left-hand-drive version we’ve tested so far, at least.

The seat could do with a bit more lower back support on longer journeys (there’s no adjustable lumbar support to mitigate this) but otherwise there isn’t much to grumble about.

The steeply raked windscreen pillars don’t get in the way as much as you might imagine at junctions, although the Twingo isn’t as easy to see out of as a Renault 5. Going for Techno trim gets you a reversing camera to help with parking.

Is 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 Dolphin Surf). Instead, there are chunky dials and buttons just below the touchscreen, 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. Being a touchscreen, it's inevitably a bit distracting to use while you’re driving, but the operating system is more intuitive than the one in a Fiat 500e or Leapmotor T03.

All versions get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, while the range-topping Techno has an in-built Google-based sat-nav app and a surprisingly handy voice-control assistant.

“The infotainment systems in the Dacia Spring and Leapmotor T03 aren’t much cop, so it’s great to see a cheap small EV with a user-friendly touchscreen.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

How much space does it have for people?

Six-footers will be comfortable in the front of the Twingo, thanks to generous head room and seats that slide back a long way on their runners. The door pockets are small (we couldn’t fit a 500ml bottle or water in them properly), but there’s 3.6 litres of storage space in an uncovered tray between the driver and front passenger, plus a couple of shelves on the dashboard.

An unusual feature (for the class) is sliding rear seats. This allows you to prioritise either boot space or rear leg room depending on your needs. Admittedly, if you’re tall you won’t get into the back of the Twingo without sliding the rear seats a fair way forwards.

With the seats as far back as they go, a couple of six-footers will have enough knee room. Head room is tight, though, and the rear windows don’t wind down; they only pop open a few centimetres. Unlike the Renault 5, the Twingo is a strict four-seater.

How much room does it have for luggage?

Again, this depends on the position of the rear seats, but with them slid fully back there’s only slightly more luggage space than in a Fiat 500e.

Slide them all the way forwards, though, and there’s actually more boot space than in a Renault 5. 50 litres of that is under a false floor, leaving a handy place to stash the charging cable.

There’s a big drop down from the boot entrance to the floor of the load bay, and step in the floor of the extended load area when the rear seats are folded down. The Twingo doesn’t have any storage under its bonnet, either.

“I think the Twingo’s split false floor is really useful. It means you can lift up one side to access the charging cable, rather than taking everything out of the boot.” Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

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

Prices haven’t been confirmed but Renault told us the new Twingo will start at less than £20,000 – regardless of whether it qualifies for the Government EV grant. There’s a good chance it will get the full £3750 assistance, because it’s built in Slovenia and the battery is sourced from Hungary – both EU countries. 

If that happens, the Evolution could start at less than £17,000. That’s quite a bit more than the Dacia Spring or Leapmotor T03, but less than any BYD Dolphin Surf or Citroen e-C3.

Evolution trim will get the basics, including 16in steel wheels and manual air-conditioning, while Techno will add automatic climate control, keyless entry, 18in alloys and the Google-based infotainment system we mentioned earlier.

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 fairly disappointing 20th position (out of 30 brands) in the 2025 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 Dolphin Surf gets the same eight-year warranty on the battery, but a six-year/93,750-mile warranty on the rest of the car.

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

Euro NCAP hadn’t completed its safety testing at the time of writing, so we can’t tell how well the Renault Twingo is likely to protect you and your family if an accident can’t be avoided.

All versions come with six airbags, though, along with a selection of active safety aids, including automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane-keeping assistance. Extra safety kit will be offered as part of a pack on range-topping Techno trim.

“If the Twingo qualifies for the full £3750 Government grant, I think it will represent incredible value for money compared with the competition.” Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

Buy it if...

- You mostly drive in town

- You have off-street parking, so can charge your electric car at home cheaply

- You like products that blend style with substance

Don’t buy it if…

- You need to carry tall people in the back

- You make lots of long journeys

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

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here