Renault 5 E-Tech (2025 - )

We seem to be in the middle of a glut of reboots right now with blasts from the past making a steady comeback. Some bear little resemblance to their namesakes from a bygone era such as the all-electric Ford Capri, while others stay closer to the original model. 

One such newcomer is the Renault 5 E-Tech, a fully electrified reinvention of the iconic supermini that launched into the small car market back in 1972 to high acclaim and remained a popular model until it was finally withdrawn in 1996.

Fast forward to 2025 and the all-new Renault 5 is faithful to the concept car that was unveiled back in 2021 with compact dimensions and a fun-packed personality. 

There are eye-catching colour options including Pop Green and Pop Yellow, while customers also have a choice of 40kWh or 52kWh battery sizes, plus two powertrains delivering either 120hp or 150hp.

Trim levels are called Evolution, Techno and range-topping iconic Five, so we opted for the latter with all the bells and whistles.

Despite its city-sized proportions, the five-door Renault 5 E-Tech, which sits on a new AmpR platform, is surprisingly spacious for a model competing in the supermini sector.

It stretches almost four metres in length and has plenty of kerb appeal like its ancestor did back in 1972. Expect bright colours, snazzy alloys, a reinvented bonnet vent grille that is now a charge indicator, quirky looking headlamps with a French flag, privacy glass and flush rear door handles. Our car was supplied with Arctic White paintwork with a black roof and contrasting red roof line – it looked stunning.

Move inside and the interior is bang up to date, although our model was upholstered in a bright yellow shade which certainly received mixed reviews. It looks great initially, although that novelty factor may wear off after a few months so think carefully before ticking that box.

That said; the cloth seats are supportive and there is ample manual adjustment to get a comfy driving position with electronic lumbar support for added comfort. The seats and reach-adjustable, squircle-shaped steering wheel can also be heated against the cold.

The main focal point is a 10.1-inch driver facing central touchscreen that offers access to the many on-board features, including full smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a built-in navigation system, Bluetooth, an Arkamys sound system, plus an artificial avatar called Reno that can help with simple tasks.

The speed, battery charge levels and existing driving range are clearly shown on a 10.3-inch driver display screen that merges seamlessly into the infotainment screen. There is a separate panel to control the air con functions and that always scores well in our book.

The space between the driver and front passenger is clear of all controls with the gear selector positioned on a steering wheel stalk. Actually, the steering wheel is a busy place with the gear selector, volume, lights, wipers and indicators all situated there - even the drive modes can be altered via a button on the wheel.

Our front-wheel drive Renault 5 E-Tech iconic Five featured the larger 52kWh battery pack with 150PS and 245Nm of torque. This results in good performance figures with a 0-62mph dash completed in 7.9 seconds, a top speed of 93mph and driving range on a single charge of 250 miles.

Models featuring the smaller 42kWh battery unit have 120PS, 225Nm, a 0-62mph time of 9.0 seconds, the same 93mph maximum speed and a driving range of 190 miles.

Performance-wise, the Renault 5 E-Tech has plenty of zip and is quick out of the starting blocks with smooth acceleration through the single-speed transmission. While it’s perfectly suited to busy city driving, it can easily hold its own when faced with the open road or faster dual carriageways.

It’s composed and balanced when pushed into long sweeping bends and there are drive modes called Eco, Sport, Perso and Comfort to alter the dynamics and efficiency according to the road conditions and your mood.

The steering is beautifully weighted with ample driver feedback and the impressive 10.3 turning circle makes light work of manoeuvring around congested town centres. Additionally, ‘B’ mode increases the strength of the regenerative braking and boosts the battery levels in stop-and-go traffic.

The cabin is well insulated to protect occupants from outside sounds, apart from a little wind noise at higher speeds, and even the bumpy road surfaces failed to concern the Renault 5 E-Tech despite it riding high on 18-inch wheels.

For a supermini, the Renault 5 E-Tech is certainly a crowd pleaser when it comes to looks and the designers have made the most of the available space inside the car too. It stretches 3,922mm in length, is 2,020mm across (including mirrors, 1,498mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,540mm.

That means for a relatively compact car, the interior is roomy up front with additional space for two or three youngsters in the back. The somewhat limited rear legroom will make it a squeeze for adults, but it would be fine for shorter journeys.

The boot, accessed via a manually-operated tailgate, can hold 326 litres of goodies, which is ample room for the weekly supermarket shop. There is space to store cables beneath the floor and the overall capacity can be increased to 1,106 litres by dropping the 60:40 split-folding rear seats.

Despite there being a lack of a frunk beneath the bonnet, there are numerous practical storage options scattered throughout the cabin, including a glovebox, compact central cubby, door bins, cup holders, seat back pockets and a wireless charging pad.

And on the subject of charging, the Renault 5 E-Tech with the 52kWh battery can be given a 15-80 per cent boost in 30 minutes via a 100kW fast charger or in 5 hours, 11 minutes if using a 7.4kW wallbox.

The entry-level Renault 5 E-Tech Evolution with the smaller battery pack starts from £22,995, increasing to £24,995 for the Techno grade (£26,995 for the larger battery model). The iconic Five costs from £26,995 with the smaller battery and is priced at £28,995 with the 52kWh unit, as tested. Our model had a final check-out bill of £30,045 due to the upgraded colour option costing £1,050.

Sadly, many government-led financial incentives for buying and running an EV have been cut right back this year. So whereas road tax was previously free, from April owners have had to pay a first-year fee of £10, increasing to the £195 standard charge after 12 months. 

EV owners also face the added cost of the Expensive Car Supplement which bumps up annual bills by an additional £425 for five years, but thankfully that would not apply to the Renault 5 E-Tech as it is priced below the £40k threshold.

Renault’s electric vehicles have an excellent reputation for reliability, but for added peace of mind, the Renault 5 E-Tech comes with a five-year, 60,000-mile warranty package that increases to eight years or 100,000 miles for the battery.

Our test car sits in insurance group 22.

It’s always nice when a highly anticipated car that’s given such a huge build up lives up to all expectations, and the Renault 5 E-Tech does just that. It’s fun, packed with tech and great to drive. Yes, the range could be better and the handling is not exactly hitting hot-hatch territory, but it’s a superb all-rounder with a very attractive asking price too.