Renault 5 review

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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…

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…

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…

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…

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. 

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.