Renault 5 E-Tech first drive | The compact EV we've been waiting for

There’s been a flurry of cheaper electric cars coming to market of late, but the Renault 5 has undoubtedly been the most hotly anticipated.

When Renault pulled the wraps off the concept version, back in 2021, our interests were piqued. The production-ready version now sits in front of us, looking every bit as good as that original concept.

Even more intriguing is the pricing. Even after numerous price cuts, the Vauxhall Corsa Electric still costs almost £30,000. The Renault 5 E-Tech comes in at a hair under 23k.

And don’t think you’re getting short changed, either. The base model – dubbed Urban Range - uses a 40kWh battery, giving 190 miles of driving range. Step up to the Comfort Range model, at £26,995, and you can enjoy 248 miles of driving between charges.

Urban Range models are equipped with a 120PS motor, while the Comfort range produces 150PS. The additional capability comes from its larger 52kWh battery.

At less than four metres in length, the Renault 5 E-Tech has a slightly smaller footprint than a Clio. From the inside, however, it feels just as spacious. There’s a decent amount of head and legroom upfront, while space in the rear is ample for a compact model.

The boot has a smaller capacity than most cars in this segment, at 277 litres. There is extra storage space beneath the boot floor for the charging cables, however.

The eye-catching concept-car styling turns a lot of heads, especially if you opt for one of the bolder colour choices. Our test car was finished in Pop Yellow, which really accentuates the car’s retro styling.

On the inside, Renault has continued the retro theme with seats inspired by those from the original Renault 5. There’s also a two-tier padded dashboard which sets the 5 apart from Renault’s other models.

More familiar is the Google-powered infotainment system. Although in the 5, Renault has opted for a landscape orientation for the touchscreen. There’s a handy row of physical switches for the car’s climate control, but most functions are controlled via the screen.

We were impressed by the user interface, which is easy to use and has crisp graphics. The digital instrument cluster mirrors the main screen with an easy-to-read layout and customisable displays.

There’s a generous array of standard equipment across the three-grade line-up. Base ‘Evolution’ gets keyless entry, LED headlights, smartphone integration and rear parking sensors.

The Techno is our preferred trim. It comes with a larger 10-inch instrument cluster screen, rather than the base model’s seven-inch version, Google connected services, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera and an illuminated ‘5’ motif on the bonnet which lights up when the car is charging.

Range-topping Iconic gets a heated steering wheel, heated front seats and blind spot monitoring.

The Renault 5 sits on a new compact car platform for the brand. Called AmpR, it will underpin a wide range of compact electric models across the Renault Group.

It shares some suspension components with the Clio, although the calibration has been altered to handle the 5’s additional weight.

Work to enhance refinement is noticeable from the off. There’s very little noise intrusion at speeds below 60mph and the 5 rides smoothly in urban environments. At motorway speeds it remains composed and makes for a good long-distance cruiser.

The car’s agility benefits a more urban environment, where its very quick and direct steering allows for fun and nimble progress. You can jump in and out of gaps in traffic with no bother, aided by the responsive and immediate electric powertrain. 

In rural environments the 5 remains fun to drive but the ride becomes a little harsh on undulating and rougher surfaces, such at typical British B roads. The quick steering also gives a slightly unnerving feel in these conditions as the weight of the car causes it to fidget about a little.

We’ve only driven the more potent 150PS version. It’s well set up for city driving but feels a bit lacklustre at higher speeds. Out of the city the throttle mapping feels dull, clearly calibrated to minimise wheelspin from the front-drive setup. We’ve no doubt a sportier version will join the range, eventually, and in mind of the 5’s pricing and rival pool it’s by far the best in its class, currently.

Our testing netted 3.5mi/kWh, which isn’t bad considering the colder temperatures of a winter afternoon in High Wycombe and the demanding nature of automotive photography. That puts the real-world range just shy of 190 miles. In better conditions we’d feel comfortable in achieving at least 200 miles from the car.

Charging speeds are 80kW for the Urban Range and up to 100kW for the Comfort Range. That should enable a mid-journey top-up in around half an hour in either model.

As a company car the Renault 5 exudes the same high level of desirability as the ‘new’ Mini did back in 2001. It’s going to be 2025’s ‘must-have’ accessory and coupled with its 2% Benefit-in-kind tax rate, acquiring one through a company car scheme or salary sacrifice arrangement will make sound financial sense.