Few cars in recent memory have been as hotly anticipated as the new Renault 5. Its blend of right-sized dimensions, right-price positioning and retro-futuristic styling has captured the attention of buyers and rival brands alike. After driving Renault’s reborn electric supermini, I’m pleased to report that style and substance go hand in hand.

The Renault 5 lineup might seem complex at first glance, but it’s actually quite straightforward. Buyers can choose between two battery and motor options – 40kWh with 118bhp or 52kWh with 148bhp – and three trim levels. The smaller battery delivers a claimed 186-mile range, while the larger extends that to 252 miles. All variants are front-wheel drive.

My test car is a mid-spec Techno model sporting 148bhp. Delivery from the powertrain is progressive in its Comfort and Eco driving modes, and initial acceleration is strong, thanks in part to the near-instantaneous 181lb-ft (245Nm) of torque, but also the relatively low kerb weight of 1,460kg.

Acceleration remains brisk even on half throttle, making it easy to make progress in town or join motorways. Eco mode reduces the power available but is the best-suited setting for urban driving, with the gentlest throttle map available.

Renault 5 Review - Driving Impressions

The 5 quickly becomes second nature to drive, thanks to a combination of good visibility and keen steering, which can be adjusted through three levels of weighting. The windscreen is relatively far ahead and steeply raked – much like one would find in a Mini – and large door mirrors provide a decent view of the surroundings, although rear visibility would be improved if the back headrests could be tilted flat when not required. While the driving position is slightly higher than one would expect for a small hatchback, it doesn’t result in a crossover sense of elevation. 

Confidence in the platform emerges after just a few miles. The place where EVs often come unstuck is when decelerating, as many manufacturers still struggle to perfectly blend friction and regenerative braking. In the new Renault, however, the two systems work harmoniously. Pushing the Mercedes-Benz-esque column gear selector down engages drive with a gentle regen profile – similar to natural engine braking in a piston-engined car. A second press of the column activates ‘B’ mode, amplifying the regenerative braking effect, which is best used for urban driving or when turning up the pace on a twisty road.

While the Renault 5 is not designed with outright performance in mind, it joins the new Mini Cooper in a class of two city cars featuring independent rear suspension – rather than a torsion beam. The multi-link setup is taken from the Dacia Duster 4x4, and it brings the car to life once the city limits have been breached.

Activating Sport mode results in a more binary throttle response and defaults the steering to its heaviest setting. The 5 proves more than just capable on country lanes – it’s enjoyable, joining the long list of small French hatchbacks that are a joy to hustle along back roads.

Sharp turn-in is balanced by progressive damping, allowing for a natural amount of body movement and lean as the car gently finds its limits. The 5 corners confidently at pace, with the efficiency-minded 195-section Continental EcoContact 6Q tyres offering plenty of grip in reserve.

The 5 is happy to turn gently or sharply, maintaining excellent stability through bends with no need for mid-corner corrections. Its punchy powertrain brings 62mph in 8.0 seconds from a standstill, with only the faintest hint of torque steer detectable up to around 30mph under full throttle. For B-road driving, Sport mode is ideal but not essential – the 5 remains composed and engaging even in Comfort and Eco settings on the undulating roads of Buckinghamshire.

The car is enjoyable to drive briskly – and silently – and it’s clear that the chassis could easily handle more performance. If the basic 5 is this well set up, the omens for the hot variant from Alpine – the A290 – are very positive indeed.

As fun as it is to dart this small hatchback through forests, I know that’s not where it’s meant to spend most of its time. The car was designed with the city in mind, and the same suspension that makes it fun out of town also works well on rutted urban streets, delivering good ride quality across the variety of surfaces I encountered.

The 55mm sidewalls add a layer of insulation between cracked tarmac and the 18-inch wheels fitted to all models, and no bump unsettled me during my time at the wheel. Refinement levels are excellent at town speeds, while wind noise at motorway speeds can be overcome by turning up the volume on the six-speaker audio system.

Renault 5 Review - Cabin and tech

Arguably as important as powertrain response and driving dynamics in a mass-market car is the tech, and the 5 uses a Google-based infotainment system, with its central touchscreen display angled towards the driver. The high-resolution display is clear and intuitive to use, with just five menu options along the right-hand side: home, audio, telephone, applications and car settings.

Submenus are accessed via large, easy-to-read – and touch – tiles, with settings for the audio and driving assistance systems simple to adjust on the move. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included as standard, but the integrated Google Maps navigation not only predicts the battery’s state of charge at your destination but also estimates how much charge will remain at the end of a round trip – a handy touch for countering range anxiety.

The driver’s display is inset to prevent glare from sunlight, and its content can be customised to show proximity to cars ahead, energy flow, navigation or simply speed and the current speed limit. Secondary colours change with the selected driving mode, while additional data – such as average energy consumption or live range predictions – can be added to the screen via the steering wheel buttons.

Even the lane-keeping assist is well judged, its inputs decisive yet delicate. On one occasion, it gently but firmly steered me away from the edge of a lane, while the active cruise control feels like it’s been lifted from a car a class or two above – all it’s missing is automatic speed adjustment. Available from mid-spec Techno trim, the system accelerates and decelerates smoothly, reacting to other road users in good time. It can even bring the car to a complete stop if required.

Tech geekery aside, the cabin still has to be a comfortable home for its driver and passengers. The front seats are fantastic – well-bolstered and supportive over long distances – despite lacking lumbar adjustment outside of the top-tier Iconic 5 trim level. The upholstery is made from recycled fabric, and 19.4% of the entire car is built from recycled materials.

The key touchpoints are clad in soft-touch materials, while harder-wearing plastics are reserved for areas unlikely to be handled – a reasonable approach given this is a car that starts from £22,995, not £66,995.

Renault 5 Review - Practicality, charging, and efficiency

In terms of practicality, the rear bench accommodates three passengers, with two pairs of ISOFIX anchor points for child seats and deep seatback pockets to make up for the lack of door storage bins. Hidden in the driver’s seat pocket, a fabric label featuring schematics of Renault 5s through the ages was a great Easter egg to uncover.

The high floor, designed to accommodate the battery, means adult knees sit high in the back of the 5. At 6ft 3in, I can’t fit behind my own driving position, but there’s plenty of room for children – and just enough for my friends who claim to be 5ft 10in on their dating profiles but are actually five inches shorter. With me driving, the 5 effectively becomes a 4+1-seater, and I can’t help but wonder if the rear bench could have been moved back an inch – though that might have compromised the impressive 326 litres of boot space.

With the 60/40 split-folding rear bench lowered, total capacity expands to 1,106 litres. Additional storage space sits beneath the false floor, and while there’s no dedicated area for the charging cable, a 3D-printed box can be purchased to keep it tidy. When not stowed, the cable plugs into the socket by the front left wheel, accepting up to 11kW AC inputs. The 52kWh battery takes just under eight hours to charge from flat to full at home or 30 minutes for a 15–80% top-up using a 100kW DC charger.

I’ve been lucky enough to log plenty of seat time in a variety of electric cars – to the point where I haven’t suffered from range anxiety in years. When I set off, the car showed 208 miles of predicted range from a 97% full battery. Over the next three hours and 91.2 miles, I averaged 3.4 miles per kWh across a route evenly split between motorway, urban and brisk B-road driving. That translates to 176.8 miles of range – not accounting for energy recovered through regenerative braking.

Renault 5 Review - Verdict

So far this century, the BMW Mini and Fiat 500 have used their blend of retro-modern styling, attractive pricing and enjoyable driving dynamics to make their mark on the segment. Now, the reborn Renault 5 applies a similar mix of style and substance to set a new yardstick – but this time with electric power.

Yes, there could be more second-row space, the regenerative braking can feel surprisingly strong at town speeds, and heated seats would be nice on the mid-spec Techno model rather than being reserved for the range-topping Iconic 5. But I’m glad to see that all models come with a heat pump as standard.

Prices start at £22,995, with the model tested coming in at £26,995. Monthly payments begin at £182 PCM, rising to £249 for the top-spec Iconic 5. However, those eye-catching 0% finance figures require a near £7,000 deposit on a 24-month term. I expect more buyers to opt for the intermediate 5.5% PCP, where a fully loaded 5 can be had for £326 per month with a £3,000 deposit.

It’s impossible not to be captivated by the new 5. If you’re in the market for a small hatchback, regardless of fuel type, this car should be on your shortlist. And if you’re after a small electric hatch with great tech, refinement, handling and equipment, then your shortlist just got very short indeed. Put simply, the new Renault 5 is the new benchmark.