We get behind the wheel of the winner of the 2025 European Car of the Year award, and one of the best new EVs on the market – the Renault 5 E-Tech
The reborn Renault 5 is easily one of the most eagerly-awaited electric cars of recent years.
For those too young to remember, the award-winning Renault 5 was one of the first true superminis.
Between 1972 and 1995, more than five million were built, and the little hatchback is still fondly remembered.
Fast forward to 2025 and the 5 is back. Renault has wisely followed Fiat (500e) and BMW (MINI Cooper) down the electric retro route rather than revive a much-loved nameplate and slap it on a modern SUV (Ford Capri).
Now marketed as the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric, the new 5 is a bit bigger than the original, but thankfully its styling is utterly faithful to its famous forebear.
For the record, the original measured 3,660mm (length), 1,750mm (width) and 1,320mm (height), while the 2025 EV’s vital statistics are 3,922mm, 1,774mm and 1,498mm.
In other words, the most obvious difference is in height, due to the battery pack which stretches across the chassis below the seats, just like most new electric cars.
The good news is that unlike almost all EVs, you’re not perched because Renault’s comfortable seats adjust down. The result is that you feel much more involved as a driver.
The downside is that the already cramped rear passenger space is further compromised because it’s impossible to slip your feet under a lowered front seat. C’est la vie.
In fact, I would have given the driving position a 10/10 if it wasn’t for the fact that there’s no footrest for your left leg either.
The new Renault 5 is offered with a choice of two power units and two battery sizes, both employing a single electric motor driving the front wheels.
So that’s 40kWh (“urban range”) and 52kWh (“comfort range”) batteries, with power outputs of 118bhp and 148bhp respectively.
Perhaps more importantly that translates into ranges of 192 miles (40kWh) and 252 miles (52kWh) and 0-62mph sprint times of 9.0 seconds and 7.9 seconds.
The plus side of smaller batteries is that a rapid charge from a 100kW connection (80kW on the smaller battery) takes around 30 minutes, so even though long journeys require a stop or two, the downtime is reasonable.
Competitively priced from £21,495, the new Renault 5 is available with three regular trim levels – Evolution, Techno and Iconic Five.
Entry-level Evolution features 18-inch alloy wheels, climate control air-con, wireless smartphone connectivity, rear parking sensors, a 7.0-inch digital instrument panel and 10.1-inch central touchscreen.
Step up to the mid-range Techno and you get a larger 10-inch digital instrument panel, wireless phone charger, adaptive cruise control, ambient lighting, a rear-view camera and two-tone paint options.
Topping the range is the Iconic Five, with diamond-cut 18-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, and extra safety features including blind-spot monitoring.
The Renault 5 is available in a set of vibrant colours (though I prefer Midnight Blue) and it’s packed with neat details, such as the reinvented vent grille on the bonnet (Techno trim and above) with an illuminated “5” that indicates the car’s charge status.
It’s less retro, and more funky and modern inside. Thankfully it’s not too minimalist, so there are some physical controls for essentials such as climate control.
However, the steering wheel is overloaded with stalks (gears, lights and washers), plus a stubby, dated one for audio, while the gear selector is fiddly.
Thankfully, the infotainment system has integrated Google services.
Overall, it’s well put together, and apart from a few hard, plastic surfaces, the upholstery fabric made from recycled plastic bottles works well, and the seats are very comfortable.
As previously mentioned, the rear seats are for small people only, while the boot delivers a useful 326 litres of space, expanding to 1,106 litres with the rear seats folded.
On the road, the Renault 5 doesn’t disappoint. I drove my test car (Iconic trim with the larger battery) on a range of UK roads. And it’s not often that I say this, but at the end of the week, I really didn’t want to give it back.
Though it’s not outstanding in any department, it’s right up there in most, and it has a certain je ne sais quoi.
A clever balance of comfort, refinement and fun, it’s nippy in town and fast enough out on the open road.
It’s agile too, with quick steering and almost no body roll in more challenging corners, while the brakes are nicely progressive and there’s plenty of grip, giving you the confidence to push on.
If you want more performance, then opt for the Alpine A290 – the hot hatch version based on the same platform from Renault’s performance arm.
Ultimately, the Renault 5 will sell largely because of its looks and keen pricing. And when you consider that the average car in the UK travels around 20 miles a day (about 140 miles per week) – then even its modest range shouldn’t put buyers off.
Talking of which, in real-world driving I’d estimate the 40kWh is good for 150 miles between charges, and the 52kWh around 200 miles.
Of course, the Renault 5’s natural habitat is in urban areas, in which case the range will go up, because EV batteries are much more efficient at slower speeds.
Verdict: The Renault 5 E-Tech is a breath of fresh air, brimming with joie de vivre. Affordable, fun to drive, comfortable and retro cool, it’s going to become a familiar sight on our roads.
