Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Renault 5 review

The retro-inspired Renault 5 electric supermini is well priced, nice to drive, and has great tech

Overall Auto Express rating

4.5

How we review cars
RRP
£22,995 £28,995
  • Eye-catching style
  • Infotainment system
  • Well priced
  • Tight rear seats
  • Not as engaging to drive as some rivals
  • Annoying gear selector
Find your Renault 5
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car
Advertisement

Is the Renault 5 a good car?

Yes, the latest Renault 5 plays heavily on nostalgia, and to some, the retro design might tread a little too closely to pastiche, but there’s so much joy in this little package that it’s impossible not to be impressed. It feels like a more compelling posh supermini than rivals like the MINI Cooper and the Peugeot E-208, and it has just enough space inside, a decent electric range across both powertrain and battery options, plus a competitive price. While we would like a slightly more forgiving ride and a less abrupt stability control system, the R5 ticks all the boxes that need to be ticked to make it one of the better options in its class.

Key specs
Fuel typeElectric
Body styleFive-seat hatchback
Powertrain40kWh battery, 1x e-motor, front-wheel drive
52kWh battery, 1x e-motor, front-wheel drive
Safety4-star (Euro NCAP, 2024)
Warranty4yrs/100,000 miles

How much does the Renault 5 cost?

Renault’s plan with the R5 is to offer the sort of desirability that’ll tempt buyers away from the low prices of Chinese EVs, but it seems like Renault isn’t looking too shabby on that latter front either. The base Evolution model is offered only with the smaller 40kWh battery, and starts from £22,995. For that, you’re getting 18-inch wheels, LED headlights and rear parking sensors as standard. There’s a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but without Google built-in.

Advertisement - Article continues below

At £24,995, the Techno trim costs £2,000 more with the same battery/motor set-up, or another £2,000 on top of that to get hold of the 148bhp motor. In terms of kit, it adds the Google infotainment tech, which includes battery preconditioning & route planning, the '5' bonnet charge indicator and a reversing camera.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The top-spec Iconic Five costs £26,995 with the 118bhp motor, and £28,995 with the 148bhp motor. It has a different design of 18-inch alloy wheel from the other trims, and adds heating for the steering wheel and front seats, plus adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning and a hands-free parking system.

Electric motors, performance & drive

The front-mounted 148bhp electric motor is smooth and well calibrated, but it does have a slight whine that you won’t find on rivals like the MINI Cooper E. The Renault rides better than the MINI, and has just enough of a sprightly edge to keep things entertaining in the corners. We suspect the sportier R5-based Alpine A290 will be the more dynamic choice for drivers after bigger thrills. Read more about the Renault 5's electric motors, performance and drive here…

Range, charging & running costs

The Renault 5’s small footprint and relatively low weight reap dividends when it comes to running costs. Range is good, if not great, for the size of battery, but if you keep your speeds low or stay in urban areas, it should match the 249-mile claimed range figure. However, on motorways and at high speeds, the relatively large frontal area hampers range. Read more about the Renault 5's range, charging and running costs…

Interior, design & technology

Renault has gone full steam ahead with the R5’s design and interior, packing lots of content, style and retro references into a relatively small car. This comes with a couple of ergonomic quirks, but the technology is very impressive, and should remain that way, thanks to an updatable Google-based interface. Read more about the Renault 5's interior, design and technology…

Boot space, comfort & practicality

Interior space has not been a priority with the R5’s development, and this can be seen in elements like the relatively tight rear seats and limited versatility in the cargo area. The car isn’t quite as spacious inside as a Corsa Electric or E-208, or as cleverly packaged as the forthcoming Fiat Grande Panda. But, when compared with its chief rival, the MINI Cooper E, its rear doors and larger boot strike a good balance between space and style. The comfort levels are also excellent, thanks in large part to the ergonomic seats that are modelled on those in the original Renault 5 Turbo. Read more about the Renault 5's boot space, comfort and practicality…

Reliability & safety

The R5, like many small EVs, only managed a four-star out of five Euro NCAP safety rating, but there is a full suite of modern safety aids to hopefully prevent you from getting into a collision in the first place. The brand hasn’t had the best reputation in previous Driver Power ownership experience surveys, but a lot of work has been done to improve previously poor scoring areas, such as the infotainment system, so we expect that new models like the R5 will bring an improvement in future surveys. Read more about the Renault 5's reliability and safety…

Renault 5 alternatives

The fight for the right to rule the small, desirable supermini segment now comes down to three retro-inspired models. MINI is the brand that Renault will want to emulate most, and right on cue there’s a new generation of models in both electric and petrol forms that represent the R5’s biggest rival. Both the bigger-battery R5 and Cooper SE feature similarly sized 50kWh-ish packs, front-mounted motors and around 250 miles of range. The MINI has three doors compared with the Renault’s five, and while an electric five-door MINI isn’t yet on the cards, there is an alternative in the MINI Aceman to consider. 

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The key difference is that, model-for-model, the R5 will undercut the MINI by around £5,000 – a lot of money at this end of the marketplace. Not only that, but Renault also doesn’t skimp on standard equipment, and while the R5 is relatively compact inside, it still beats the MINI for both rear-seat and boot space. The new MINI is the more engaging drive, but it also rides more firmly, which ultimately limits its appeal as a daily driver. 

Sitting below both R5 and MINI is the Fiat 500, a model that’s more aligned with the smaller 40kWh R5. It still can’t get close to the R5’s circa-190 mile range, sitting at around 140 miles, and is more than a tad under-nourished when it comes to standard equipment. Spec it up, and it’ll cost more than an equivalent R5. 

The Renault’s vital statistics also compare well to those of more mainstream electric superminis such as the Vauxhall Corsa Electric and Peugeot E-208. Spec-for-spec, the R5 definitely shows the Stellantis pair a clean set of heels. 

So the R5 is great value, and as such, it also stands as one of the first in a new era of more affordable EVs that will rapidly come on stream. This includes cars like the Citroen e-C3 and Fiat Grande Panda, both of which lower the price of entry below the R5’s £23k. They also have equivalent range figures, and offer more space. So while the R5 looks on point right now, things will change.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    90kW Evolution Urban Range 40 kWh 5dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Auto
  • RRP
    £22,995
Select car

Most Economical

  • Name
    110kW Techno Comfort Range 52 kWh 5dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Auto
  • RRP
    £26,995
Select car

Fastest

  • Name
    110kW Techno Comfort Range 52 kWh 5dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Auto
  • RRP
    £26,995
Select car
Chief reviewer

Alex joined Auto Express as staff writer in early 2018, helping out with news, drives, features, and the occasional sports report. His current role of Chief reviewer sees him head up our road test team, which gives readers the full lowdown on our comparison tests.

Our latest car deals

Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £18,395Avg. savings £2,697 off RRP*Compare Offers
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £31,535Avg. savings £3,985 off RRP*Compare Offers
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,080Avg. savings £3,600 off RRP*Compare Offers
Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,710Avg. savings £2,338 off RRP*Compare Offers
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Have you considered?

Renault 5 review
Renault 5 - main image

Renault 5 review

In-depth reviews
23 Dec 2024
Skywell BE11 review
Skywell BE11 - front

Skywell BE11 review

In-depth reviews
19 Dec 2024
Polestar 4 review
Polestar 4 - main image

Polestar 4 review

In-depth reviews
18 Dec 2024

Most Popular

Driver whose towbar voided his insurance wins payout
Towbar

Driver whose towbar voided his insurance wins payout

Allianz tells Auto Express it was ‘right in principle’, but has agreed to cover the claim in full
News
20 Dec 2024
Kia Sportage alternatives: cars you could buy instead of this family favourite
Kia Sportage alternatives - header image

Kia Sportage alternatives: cars you could buy instead of this family favourite

Kia’s multi-award winning SUV is the apple of plenty of families’ eyes, but it might not be for everyone. We’ve searched high and low to find some tal…
Features
21 Dec 2024
Car Deal of the Day: Vauxhall Grandland is simply stunning value at £145 a month
Vauxhall Grandland - main image

Car Deal of the Day: Vauxhall Grandland is simply stunning value at £145 a month

The outgoing Vauxhall Grandland is fine transport for all the family. It’s our Deal of the Day for 18 December
News
18 Dec 2024