Renault 5 E-tech review: Proof positive that small EVs are best

Introduction

I’m a big fan of small EVs; the Mini Cooper SE, cuddly little Fiat 500e and perky Abarth 500e being three of the best examples. Now though, there’s the Renault 5 E-tech, which takes the best bits of the 1970s original and reimagines them for the modern electric era. Design is the clear highlight, dazzling from every angle – and the interior is every bit as good. The car is also suitably compact, with practical dimensions that make it city street-friendly, yet still with room inside to seat four. Comfort levels are high, and performance is perfectly suited to its size.

Renault is keeping the model range suitably no-nonsense, with three trim levels; the base Evolution, the mid-range Iconic, and range-topping Iconic 5 seen here. It sits on a dedicated AmpR EV platform, which will also act as the basis for the French carmaker’s similarly reborn (and soon to arrive) Renault 4.

Customers can choose from two batteries, including a 40kWh that offers up to 190 miles of range, or a 52kWh variant that delivers up to 250 miles. Anyone wanting a little more power will probably want to head for the 110kW (150hp) powertrain over the lesser 90kW model, but that still delivers 120 horsepower. If that’s still not enough, then there’s going to be an Alpine A290 variant soon that’ll doubtless deliver the goods on the performance front.

The styling

This is one of the funkiest cars to hit the streets in ages and I think it’s a real success from all angles. It works best in the livelier colours, like the vibrant Green Pop and the metallic Yellow Pop seen here. Add on the chunky 18in alloy wheels and, for my money, the Renault 5 has the perfect stance. This being a car with city streets in mind, it’s also a manageable size, at 3.92m long.

There are oodles of little design touches to spot, like the neatly carved headlight openings, the subtle boxy wheel arch lines and the intricately crafted taillights. Optional two-tone paint detailing helps lift the Renault 5 still further and, while there’s quite a lot going on with this car, it all works together beautifully. Meanwhile, a retro design flourish on the bonnet also acts as a battery level indicator and a lighting signature delivers a headlight wink when the car is powered down. 

Renault designers have continued the innovative theme with the interior, with lots of great touches that help give the compact EV its own identity. The use of seating materials and coverings for the door cards, dash and headliners are smart, making the cockpit feel warm, cozy and very accommodating. Space inside is pretty good really, although if anyone has their front seat moved back the rear legroom isn’t massive. Boot space is very practical though, with versatile seats that offer additional carrying flexibility.

The drive

I got to drive the Renault 5 E-tech on a wide variety of roads, and it turned out to be a great all-rounder. The obvious big appeal of this compact car is the way it can be worked through tightly packed city streets and, despite the beefy wheels, there’s an impressive turning circle that offers easy parking. That said, the screen resolution of the rear-view camera didn’t seem particularly crisp, but it worked well enough.

Leaving cramped city streets behind, I found the Renault 5 great fun on twisting B roads. The ride quality is definitely forgiving enough to make it work for the UK’s crumbling highways and byways. Meanwhile, on smoother stretches, the compact EV sits really snugly on the road, with those sizeable wheels offering plenty of grip, with only the occasional hint of skittishness when taking off from junctions on broken ground.

This is also down to the power that’s on offer, which is decent but not exactly intimidating. The Renault 5 E-tech certainly doesn’t feel like a handful, and the 1449kg weight feels even more apparent pushing it up steep hills. I think it’s perfectly quick enough for what it’s designed to do without being underwhelming, and a 0-62 mph time of 8 seconds is fine with me, as is the 93mph top end speed.

I tried the various drive modes, with Comfort being the core point of call and Sport being another appealing option. In reality, it didn’t feel much different with the zestier mode engaged, although the dash does try to add excitement as it changes to a livelier red colour. Switching through these modes is done via a push button on the super-comfy steering wheel, which like most other aspects of driving this car, has been created with convenience in mind. Even climate controls can be tweaked with, yes, real buttons.

The technology

Keeping things simple is something Renault engineers have remembered to do with the technology in this car. I love the way the twin screen setup – one 7-incher in front of the steering wheel and another 10.1in offering to the right of that, packs in everything needed to get a journey underway and completed with the minimum of faff. There’s an awesome use of colours, graphics and fonts, all of which worked in tandem to tell me what I needed to know.

The central screen offers up a very good Google-centric sat nav system, which works just as expected. Aside from that, there’s a liberal smattering of apps, which allow quick and easy tweaking of core settings when needed. It’s all very simplistic, without being boring and much of that is down to the way the layout has been designed and executed.

The only thing that didn’t really work for me was the animated digital assistant ‘Reno’, which would frequently pop up unannounced to inform me of things I didn’t really want to know. I like the idea, and the graphics are quite good, but I’m just not sure how much value I’d get from it, even if Reno did get his act together and start working as expected.

Renault 5 verdict

I’m loving the all-electric rebirth of the Renault 5, and it certainly lived up to my expectations. In fact, I can find very little to grumble with. It’s compact, quick enough and impressively quiet too, with nigh-on zero tyre noise, which is often the first thing that becomes apparent when driving most electric cars.

The design is a real success story, both inside and out, while Renault’s smart ideas for optioning the car will allow owners to personalise their pride and joy still further. Baguette holder anyone? Considering so many cars are bland and uninspiring, this little EV is just the opposite. Combined with the very keen pricing, I think the Renault 5 E-tech has the potential to sell in huge numbers. I mean, who wouldn’t want one?

Renault 5 technical specifications