The Renault 5 is back as an electric car. (Photo: © Renault)
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With the new Renault 5, the French are reviving their once iconic car. Visually, it pays homage to its famous predecessor, but the technology is modern. We took the little electric Gaul for a spin.
In 1972 , when flared trousers and short skirts were all the rage, Renault presented the R5 . The small car offered space for four adults and perfectly captured the spirit of the times. Its clever design with its colorful paint finishes was a hit. The cute Renault 5 was right on trend and enjoyed cult status until production ceased in 1994.
Now, the new edition of this classic small car aims to seamlessly continue its success story. The Renault 5 E-Tech Electric boasts an appealing retro design and immediately turned heads during our test drive through southern France. The reactions were overwhelmingly positive: people turned to look at the electric French car, smiled warmly at the handsome little vehicle, and gave it a thumbs-up. Words like "très chic" and "magnifique" were frequently heard. Few other cars have garnered as much positive attention as the Renault 5.
At 3,92 meters long, the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric is 13 centimeters shorter than the current Clio. The R5 is based on Renault's new AmpR Small platform and, at just under 1.500 kilograms, is quite light for an electric car . However, the charging port is located on the left side, which isn't always ideal. On the other hand, the electric French car boasts many appealing details.
For example, a charge level indicator is prominently integrated into the hood. The state of charge (SoC) can be read from the outside on the display as a sketched "5". Each bar represents 20 percent of the battery capacity. Of course, the charge level can also be checked from inside the car or via a smartphone app. A nice unique selling point. Striking exterior colors like a vibrant yellow or a bright green round off the distinctive and appealing appearance of the Renault 5 – just like its iconic predecessor.
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The colorful theme continues inside, at least when the R5, like our yellow test car, arrives in the "Iconic Five" trim level . In this version, the door panels and seats are upholstered in yellow materials, which, as with the Techno model, are made entirely from recycled materials. For those who enjoy baguettes, Renault offers a woven baguette basket for the R5 as a practical transport solution . It attaches to the center console on the passenger side and keeps breadcrumbs off the seats. A nice touch indeed.
While the French car's interior features a lot of hard plastic, the overall ambiance feels quite solid and contemporary. The driver has a clear and easy-to-read instrument cluster , and the multimedia display to its right is simple to use thanks to Google integration . Furthermore, the R5 is well-equipped with a total of 26 available driver assistance systems and offers Level 2 semi-autonomous driving capabilities.
In terms of space, everything is fine up front. The front seats, modeled after the legendary R5 Turbo 2's distinctive shape, prove to be quite comfortable. In the back, however, there's only enough room for children . Adults will find legroom particularly lacking, and their feet won't fit properly under the front seats. This electric city car is therefore better suited to a stable couple , as the 326-liter trunk capacity isn't exactly generous, though it's still adequate. The R5 is, after all, a small car. The high loading sill , which makes loading bulky luggage difficult? Okay, let's just forget about it.
The Renault R5 is the first Renault model to feature a virtual assistant. This digital avatar, named "Reno," provides answers to common questions. Furthermore, the voice assistant offers tips on increasing comfort or, for example, extending the electric range. Unfortunately, the digital assistant wasn't yet activated in our test car, so we couldn't test its functionality. We will provide a more detailed review of this feature in a later test.
Less appealing: Upon entering the small French car, the numerous stalks around the steering wheel immediately catch the eye . Besides the classic turn signal lever on the left, there are three more on the right. In addition to the obligatory windshield wiper stalk, the gear selector, familiar from various Renault models, is now also located there. This design, already seen in the Megane E-Tech, is somewhat overwhelming and appears as cluttered as an old-fashioned party hedgehog from the 1960s. A more sensible layout would have been preferable.
Driving this little beauty is a tremendous pleasure. The steering is direct and responds instantly, while the chassis, with McPherson struts at the front and a sophisticated multi-link rear axle, makes the French car a nimble cornering machine . The agile handling provides plenty of driving fun, without the French having gone overboard, as the Renault surprisingly offers a smooth ride even at a leisurely pace.
The Renault 5 starts at €26.378 (all prices net) in the more powerful 110 kW (150 hp) version . The electric motor delivers a maximum torque of 245 Nm and ensures brisk performance. The top speed is electronically limited to 150 km/h. Renault states the average consumption as 15,2 kWh. An entry-level motor with 70 kW (95 hp) is expected to follow later this year, but it will not be capable of fast charging, which is puzzling. The base model is expected to start at under €21.000 , while the mid-range variant with an output of 90 kW (122 hp) will cost €23.016.
Furthermore, the small French car will be available with two different battery sizes. While the larger battery, available at launch, has a capacity of 52 kWh , the smaller version, released later, has 40 kWh . The maximum range is 312 and 405 kilometers, respectively . When the battery is depleted, the Renault with the 52 kWh battery needs 30 minutes at a fast-charging station to charge from 15 to 80 percent.
It takes approximately 4,5 hours to charge the batteries from 10 to 100 percent using an 11 kW wallbox . The smaller battery, due to its lower capacity, is fully charged an hour faster. Furthermore, the Renault 5 supports bidirectional charging, allowing it to feed unused electricity back into the grid or, via an adapter, power electrical devices such as a picnic grill during a trip with the small French car.
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