I drove the new Renault 5 - and it's finally the first small, fun electric vehicle for the masses

The Renault 5 is what the British would call a “national treasure”. It’s not just a plucky little hatchback that came to France in the 1970s, but an affordable, mass-market machine that would relieve an entire country of multiple crippling fuel crises.

His mission was clear from the start: the Renault 5 had to be fuel efficient, cheap to buy, easy to maintain and offer a little “that certain something”. during an otherwise rather dark and bleak time for many who lived in Europe.

As a result, the original Renault 5 sold 5.5 million units across five continents from 1972 to 1985 and is now an integral part of France’s history. It’s completely understandable why launching an all-electric version of this classic was such a big deal for the French manufacturer, but it’s finally here – and I’ve tried it.

(Image credit: Renault)

Renault boss Luca de Meo likes to regale the press with stories of how he fell in love with an early design study and claims he knew the modern electric vehicle had to be created after first seeing a simple orange replica that Hidden from the company’s eyes is its design headquarters in Paris.

In fact, de Meo also knew that the world was crying out for a more affordable electric vehicle, one that wasn’t just reserved for the wealthy of society and one that could be sold in large numbers. The transition to electric power may not be the oil crisis of the decade, but it’s certainly a nuisance for automakers around the world.

A retro ride

The Renault boss’s story about his “crush inspired by an orange model” may be the stuff marketing dreams are made of, but it’s also easy to see where it comes from. The Renault 5 E-Tech 100% Electric (its clunky full name) is a striking piece of modern design.

The modern electric vehicle is immediately recognizable as a homage to the car of the 1970s and features styling elements from the 5 and the sought-after Renault 5 Turbo. It surprises passers-by. It’s compact, sweet and has enough punch to appeal to as wide an audience as possible.

Prices start at £23,000 (around $30,000 / AU$45,000) when order books open early next year. A simple pricing strategy sees the price range topping out at £27,000 ($35,000 / AU$52,000), but it’s full of clever and quirky features.

There is an external battery charge indicator where the original Renault 5 Turbo’s air intake once was. This number five is divided into five illuminated sections, each representing 20% of the battery capacity, which lights up when the owner approaches the car.

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A close-up of the Renault 5's front lights — (Image credit: Renault)

The front LED lights make a small “wink” as you approach and music by French electronic music composer Jean-Michel Jarre plays from the sound system as the infotainment boots up.

For this price, the interior is exceptional, with figure-hugging bucket seats covered in a fabric pattern reminiscent of the Renault 5 Turbo, while all trim levels get two digital displays: one in front of the steering wheel and an infotainment screen. both measure 10 inches (7-inch driver display in entry-level models).

For this price, the interior is exceptional, with figure-hugging bucket seats covered in a fabric pattern reminiscent of the Renault 5 Turbo.

Renault’s OpenR-Link system is powered by Google and therefore has integrated Google Maps. This enables easy EV navigation with live information about charger availability as well as routes based on the vehicle’s range.

It also opens up access to the Google Play Store and a variety of fun apps, including video and audio streaming services. In fact, during a break (ahem, we had a puncture), I sat and played a pop music quiz to while away the minutes.

Technology that works

Much like Fiat did with its revived 500 and the hugely successful relaunch of the Mini brand, Renault’s all-electric 5 is the French brand’s attempt to create a product that is modeled on the brand’s image and therefore features a number of unique details It has a lot of character in an often faceless EV market.

For example, there is an AI assistant called Reno that appears on the infotainment system and can help with various questions. When I spoke to Renault officials, I was told that it has pre-programmed 200 answers to the most common vehicle-related questions, including remaining range, how far the car can go with the battery level, and even help finding nearby charging stations.

Reno is connected to ChatGPT and can therefore answer pretty much any question you can throw at him, but the animated character (complete with facepalm emotes) also proactively intervenes and suggests turning on the heaters when he detects that the Windows are fogged up.

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The interior screen of the Renault 5 EV — (Image credit: Renault)

The optional wicker basket, which the renowned basket maker Marguerite Herlant designed for transporting the daily baguette, is similarly French and idiosyncratic. “No more flour crumbs on your beautiful upholstered furniture!” reads the marketing materials.

In some cases this may all seem a little excessive, but in the Renault 5 it really works. Perhaps more importantly, it elevates the interior to something more premium than the price suggests.

I was particularly impressed with the My Safety Switch, which allows all of the nanny’s active safety systems to be turned off with a convenient, accessible physical button.

During testing, I was particularly impressed by the My Safety Switch, which allows all of the nanny’s active safety systems to be turned off with a convenient, accessible physical button. There are also hard keys for the air conditioning and other important vehicle functions.

Above all, it’s easy to use and the infotainment system works rather than trying and failing too much. Even those who opt for the base model get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, but it’s worth sacrificing a little extra to be able to use Google Maps natively.

accumulation of personality

Renault’s original 5 was a cheap and cheerful car to grab by the scruff of the neck and drive (responsibly) down country roads. I had a friend with a penchant for Renault 5 Turbos and it’s no coincidence that he became the king of oversteer when starting off on slippery roundabouts. He was like a budget version of American rally driver Ken Block.

The new incarnation isn’t quite as fun to control, but it’s not boring either. At the rear there’s a multi-link suspension that improves grip and handling, while the overall weight of 1,449kg means it doesn’t feel like many of the numb and bloated electric cars on the market.

Its compact proportions make it ideal for weaving in and out of heavy traffic, while the short overhangs mean it can easily be reversed into tight parking spaces.

However, it is a proper five-door hatchback, so adults can also climb into the back – albeit with slightly limited legroom – and there is enough space in the deep trunk for weekend bags. Amazingly, this is also the only electric city car designed to tow a trailer weighing up to 500kg.

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Two Renault 5 EV cars sat next to each other — (Image credit: Renault)

In Europe it will be available with a choice of two drive types and battery capacities: the most expensive cars have a 110 kW electric motor with 150 hp or a smaller 90 kW (120 hp) unit with a 40 kWh battery is coupled.

The more powerful motor is equipped with a 52 kWh battery, allowing it to travel about 250 miles on a single charge. Even the lower-powered version can travel about 190 miles between charges.

Later next year, Renault will offer an even cheaper version later in the lifecycle, but the more powerful vehicle I drove during testing seems to have the right mix of straight-line performance (0-62mph in 8 seconds) and highway comfort to be speeds.

Point the electric Renault 5 up a winding mountain pass and it’s a ton of fun to drive, with agile handling and sharp steering making cornering a breeze. When you load the front tires, they’ll squeal a little in protest, as it’s still a heavy car but doesn’t lumber around as ponderously as some rivals.

Its compact proportions make it ideal for weaving in and out of heavy traffic, while the short overhangs mean it can easily be reversed into tight parking spaces.

Additionally, it’s not overly powerful like some small electric vehicles, meaning it never feels like an overload on slippery surfaces. Sure, it won’t get your pulse racing like, say, a Hyundai Ioniq 5N, but it’s hard to argue that it isn’t fun to drive.

From the pointing and staring of random strangers on the street to the simple but effective atmosphere in the car, it’s clear that Renault has ticked the boxes perfectly with the new 5 E-Tech. It’s a small, affordable electric vehicle that will put smiles on faces and get the French to acknowledge their honking.

With widespread concern about cheap, homogeneous electric vehicles flooding the market, it’s time for the so-called legacy automakers to step up and prove what decades of automotive experience can do.

Renault has done just that, and let’s hope this opens the door to a range of affordable, battery-powered passenger cars that will tip the scales in favor of electric power.

I drove the new Renault 5 – and it’s finally the first small, fun electric vehicle for the masses

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