Renault 5 2026 review | Retro charm and electric tech form a winning combination

What is the Renault 5 E-Tech?

The Renault 5 E-Tech is an electric supermini that, for many, is love at first sight. The reborn Renault has caused a real stir thanks to its retro-revival good looks. The lurid Pop Green and Pop Yellow colours are particularly striking, but you can get more subdued tones if you want, including a rather lovely Gordini-inspired dark blue with subtle gold highlights.

Those colours are only some of the design aspects inspired by the original Renault 5; the font graphics, the upholstery, the dash design and more, all hark back to the iconic 1970s Renault 5. For all that, it also looks modern, chunky and cute, and is arguably one of very few electric cars that manages to be both sensible and aspirational.

At 3.9 metres long, it’s a little smaller than a regular supermini such as a Volkswagen Polo. Also note, the Renault 5 E-Tech is, as the name suggests, only available with an electric powertrain – there are no petrol or hybrid options. If you’re after an efficient petrol car, you may want to look to options like the fuel-sipping Suzuki Swift or hybrid Toyota Yaris – or, indeed, the Renault Clio, available in both economical petrol and hybrid guise (although we’re still waiting for the all-new Renault Clio to launch in the UK…).

Key EV rivals to the Renault 5 E-Tech include the MINI Cooper Electric, Fiat Grande Panda, Hyundai Inster and the Citroen e-C3. More affordable electric cars like these are exactly what the market needs, and the Renault 5 is undoubtedly one of the best. Not just because the modern-retro looks are so engaging, but also because it can still seat five if you really need it to, the boot is a useful size, the equipment and pricing is great, and it’s fun to drive while also being comfortable to ride in.

The Renault 5 sits on a dedicated electric car platform called AmpR, which also underpins the 5’s sporty sibling, the Alpine A290, as well as the related new Nissan Micra electric, along with the larger Renault 4. In the future, there’s also going to be an electric Ford based on this platform – heralding the retro revival of the Fiesta, perhaps?

You can choose between two lithium-ion batteries – a 40kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) pack that’s good for a WLTP range of up to 192 miles, while the 52kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery manages up to 252 miles. In Renault speak, they’re known as the Urban Range and Comfort Range models.

The Renault 5 E-Tech is built in France, and this brings benefits in terms of eligibility for the government’s Electric Car Grant. The Urban Range gets a £1,500 grant and, because the battery is also assembled in France, the Comfort Range gets the full £3,750 grant. This makes prices even more compelling; remember, because it’s built in China, the Mini Cooper Electric doesn’t qualify for any form of Electric Car Grant…

How practical is it?

The cabin up front in the 5 is very functional, and also looks great. The colourful, retro-inspired recycled seat upholstery is very cool, especially in the Iconic Five’s yellow marled mixed textile upholstery that matches that distinctive Pop Yellow exterior paintwork. The seats are also comfortable (although the electric lumbar adjustment is only standard on the Iconic Five and above), while the steering wheel has adjustment for both reach and rake, so that most drivers will be able to get comfortable.

If you’re choosing the standard Renault 5 Evolution, note that you don’t get a centre console. Some will like the open-plan feel, but the centre section you get in Techno+ and above is much more practical – and, unlike the Alpine A290, also includes cupholders. For many, this alone makes it worthwhile to trade up from the base version.

Another design curio is the ‘e-pop shifter’, which most of us would call the gear selector. This stalk rises from the right-hand side of the steering column, like an indicator stalk but with a clear plastic tip that’s 3D printed and can be changed if you fancy a different colour. Until you get used to it, you’ll be getting the gearshifter and window wiper stalk mixed up…

It is also curious that you don’t get a ‘park’ mode. Instead, you select ‘N’ and rely on the car to automatically apply the handbrake when you remove your seatbelt. We’d much prefer a regular ‘P’ button…

The Renault 5 is reasonably practical by 3.9-metre-long small car standards. It's a five-door car (the rear door handles are hidden) so access to the back isn’t too bad. The rear doors would benefit from opening a touch wider, but that’s a small niggle, and once you’re in, there’s just enough room for a couple of average-sized adults, provided those in the front compromise a little on legroom (it’s pretty tight if they won’t).

There’s no centre rear armrest, unfortunately, but it’s light enough and comfy enough back there that the kids will be perfectly happy even on longer journeys. The rear seats fold 60/40, too, so you can get chunkier items in if you need to, but the 326-litre boot is a very decent size for a small car like this. It’s bigger than you get in most rivals, and a medium-sized dog or a lightweight single buggy will fit in pretty easily. Just note that space shrinks to 285 litres in Iconic and Roland Garros trim, due to their standard Harman Kardon sound systems.

Fold the rear seats and space expands to more than 1,100 litres. There are handy fabric straps on the top of the rear seats, so you can do this from the boot itself – although you’ll probably need to remove the headrests, depending on how far back the front seats have been slid. Despite being a dedicated electric car, there’s no cable storage in the nose of the Renault 5. However, there is some storage beneath the boot floor which’ll be ideal for keeping your charging cable out of the way.

Overall, between the variety of materials, neat design touches like the illuminated graphics on the dash (which change colour with the drive modes) and physical buttons for the air-con, volume control and screen dimming, the 5’s interior not only looks great but is also very practical and user-friendly.

What's it like to drive?

While the Renault 5 is fun to drive, it’s no hot hatch. If it’s a sporty drive you’re after, Renault offers the Alpine A290, while the electric MINI Cooper E and SE both feel much more overtly sporting than the Renault 5. That said, we still really like the way the 5 drives.

The range opens with the 40kWh 118bhp ‘EV40’ version, which is fairly nippy, serving up 0-62mph acceleration in 9.0 seconds. However, the top-spec EV52 test car that we spent most time in has a 52kWh battery and a148bhp electric motor powering the front wheels (you can’t get the Renault 5 with four-wheel drive) for a 0-62mph time of just 7.9 seconds.

That feels more than punchy enough, especially around town where the 5 feels nippy and responsive, thanks not only to the decent acceleration but also to the quick steering. With only 2.6-turns lock-to-lock, you don’t need to wind loads of steering on to fling the little Renault gamely through a roundabout, which helps to make it a really tidy little about-town car. A tight turning circle of 10.3m also helps to make the 5 useful in awkward car parks.

Having said all of that, the 5 is fairly wide and short, which is one reason it looks so cute and chunky, and has such a good stance on the road. While that may not be ideal in really tight city roads, where the narrower Hyundai Inster might do better, it does mean that the 5 feels very planted and confident on the motorway or on a fast country road. It swings into fast bends willingly and predictably, and it all gelled nicely whether we were in town or our on faster roads.

Thankfully, it’s also comfy. You get 18-inch wheels as standard, and our test car was on Continental EcoContact rubber with surprisingly chunky 55-section sidewalls (195/55 R18 tyre size, if you’re interested). This is worth mentioning as it really helps to keep the ride pliant, and it shows in the way the 5 manages to handle tidily yet also feel relaxed on scruffy roads. It’s more direct and enjoyable to drive than the Fiat 500e, but it’s not as firm and sporty as the electric MINI Cooper, and that happy medium is about perfect for the Renault 5.

Regenerative braking is now fitted to the Renault 5. It uses steering wheel paddles to adjust the force; pulling the left-hand paddle increases the regenerative ‘slowing down’ force, while the right paddle eases it off. Select maximum regeneration and a one-pedal driving mode is engaged, which lets you slow down and even bring the Renault 5 to a complete halt simply by easing off and releasing on the accelerator pedal.

Technology, equipment & infotainment

Every Renault 5 gets a central 10-inch colour touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Move up from base Evolution and Renault adds Google built-in services: this is a noteworthy addition, as it’s your portal to Google Maps, which features a very good charger search function, along with the familiarity we know and love from Google Maps. There’s also a digital driver’s readout (7-inch on the Evolution or 10-inch on the other trims) behind the wheel that you can alter to show your nav, or to prioritise the speed readout.

The Google suite of tech also features the Google Play store. This opens up a world of apps, such as YouTube, Spotify and even an in-car web browser. All the apps are tailored for use in the car, and the app store is being added to all the time (there are currently more than 50 of 'em), making the Renault 5 an even more tempting tech proposition.

Entry-level Evolution trim does without adaptive cruise control, but it does get 18-inch alloy wheels, parking sensors, keyless entry, climate control and LED headlights. You don’t get a body-colour roof on Evolution trim though, and you can’t get the preferred 52kWh battery on here either, which is why most buyers will opt for Techno, which switches to the larger battery.

The Renault 5 Techno also gets the raised ‘bonnet bump’ charging indicator, stylish two-tone paint, reversing camera and electrically folding side mirrors, while Iconic Five adds a heated steering wheel and seats, and a host of additional safety aids including blind spot warning.

Renault has promised to bring in a new top-level trim each year on the 5, in keeping with the fashion industry, which will have new colours and 3D Printed style and practicality solutions. The current range-topping Renault 5 is the Roland Garros.

Another novel feature for the 5 is the ‘Reno’ avatar, which is an AI character on the touchscreen that can help you to find information in the handbook, respond to voice control requests, or give updates and info when it deems them useful. You can also turn the Reno assistant off, if such features annoy you – or simply choose to use the Google Assistant voice tech instead.

Speaking of annoying features, the Renault 5 lets you configure ‘My Safety’ settings, such as lane-keep assist and speed limit warnings. You can then deactivate them all easily via a button near the steering wheel. It’s a really clever way of making the assistance systems more controllable. There’s even a physical button on the top of the touchscreen that allows you to turn the screen off at night, so the glare doesn’t distract you on unlit roads. Despite all its Google tech, the Renault 5 is not overly ‘screen dependent’ compared with a lot of modern cars.

More good news is that the 5 gets a heat pump, which will help with winter efficiency and driving range. The battery is also thermally managed, so the car will pre-warm it for charging or cool it when necessary, to help with charging speeds and battery longevity.

Renault 5 E-Tech running costs

The Renault 5 E-Tech range is nice and simple. There are four models – Evolution 120, Techno+ 150, Iconic Five+ and Roland Garros+. The ‘plus’ indicates these are updated versions with the latest 52kWh battery, which is assembled in France.

The latter is significant because of the UK’s Electric Car Grant. All Renault 5 qualify – but the larger 52kWh battery actually gets the full £3,750 grant, rather than the 40kWh battery’s £1,500.

This is great news for affordability. The range opens with Evolution, which costs £22,995, reduced to £21,495 with the Electric Car Grant included. The more desirable Techno costs £27,695 – which drops to just £23,945 once the Electric Car Grant is subtracted. Our favourite, the Iconic Five, goes from £29,695 to £25,945; it all means that the Renault 5 is not only one of the most desirable small electric cars, but it’s also one of the most affordable.

As we've already outlined, equipment is very generous at the price, particularly for Techno grades and above, and will certainly make most people considering the much more expensive MINI Cooper Electric think twice.

Our only quibble with the Renault is that the real-world range seemed underwhelming on our test drive, which took place in warm temperatures and at moderate driving speeds. We were seeing around 170 to 180 miles per charge from the 52kWh Comfort Range car, which is a touch disappointing given the 252-mile claimed WLTP combined figure, and means that winter real-world range will probably drop to around 150 miles.

You may want to avoid the smaller 40kWh battery. It has an official range of 192 miles, meaning a comfortable real-world range of perhaps 125 miles or less.

Renault 5 E-Tech reliability

It’s too early to know how the Renault 5 will stack up in terms of reliability. Renault as a brand is a slightly below average performer, being placed 20th in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, just behind Porsche and just ahead of Volvo.

At least it’s a fully electric car, with the simpler mechanical layout theoretically meaning there’s less to go wrong. We should have a clearer idea of how the Renault 5 is stacking up in terms of reliability over the next few months.

When Kia, Hyundai, MG, Toyota and Peugeot are all offering warranties of five years or more on their electric cars, it’s disappointing that Renault is sticking with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty. The battery in the Renault 5 is covered for eight years and 100,000 miles.