What it was like to live with

I genuinely loved driving the Renault 5 E-Tech. It made me smile in a way plenty of faster, more expensive cars do not. It is not a hardcore performance car, but it has that playful, nippy character that makes a simple drive feel brighter. At times it made me feel a bit like I was 17 again in a small hot hatch, even though the Renault 5 is really about charm and usability rather than outright pace.

The seats deserve proper praise too. They are sporty and supportive without being hard bucket seats, giving just the right amount of support and that gentle hugging feeling without becoming annoying on longer journeys. On the winding roads out towards Beachy Head, the car handled exceptionally well and felt light, eager and easy to place.

Around Brighton it was exactly the right size. It was easy to park on the streets in and around town, easy to thread through traffic and small enough to feel stress-free. The one caveat from my time with it was motorway range. On a Brighton to Bluewater run, the smaller battery drained fairly rapidly while sitting at 70mph, so regular motorway users need to plan realistically.

Headline numbers

  • Price (UK) : approx £22,995 - £30,000+ depending on battery and trim
  • Trims : Evolution, Techno, Iconic Five (plus special editions)
  • Battery options : 40 kWh (Urban Range) or 52 kWh (Comfort Range)
  • Motor options : 90 kW (≈120 hp) or 110 kW (≈150 hp)
  • Real-world range : ~185-190 miles for 40 kWh; about ~250 miles for 52 kWh (book ~252 miles)
  • Charging : home charging overnight possible; rapid public charging 15-80% in ~30 minutes under good conditions
  • Boot & practicality: surprisingly generous for its size; good for everyday use.
  • Availability : On sale now
  • Leasing note: Excellent prospect for personal or business lease, thanks to its price, residual value, tech and appeal.


First look

The moment you walk up to the Renault 5 E-Tech you’ll notice its presence. The sharp lines and retro cues shout personality. In my week with it I found the bold colour and contrasting roof made it stand out in traffic and car parks alike. 

Auto Express describes it as:
“well-priced, nice to drive, and has great tech”.

Meanwhile Carwow highlights how it “blends everyday usability with a reasonably long range, fun driving character and a massive dose of retro charm”. My early impressions: controls feel familiar and intuitive, the driver environment feels intuitive and uncluttered. In an era where many EVs complicate the user experience with overly layered menus, this one keeps things refreshingly simple - a big plus.


Design & cabin

Exterior Design

  • The example I drove had a vivid yellow paint and black roof, it turned heads, just as expected.
  • Gloss-black wing mirrors, red detailing around the doors, diamond-cut alloy wheels, all combine to create that “funky hot-hatch” look.
  • Up front: minimal grille, flush lines, a clever LED badge/display where an air-intake would be on a petrol car. Details like those make a difference.
  • Rear: The styling is instantly recognisable as a Renault 5 lineage car, stacked LED lights, a carbon-effect trim across the boot lid and that cheeky silhouette.
  • Practical touches: Hidden door handles, rear tinted windows, 360° parking sensors all contribute to usability. In tight urban spaces I found it very easy to manoeuvre in and out.

Interior / Cabin

  • Seats: My test car had mustard-toned upholstery with retro-style “5” embroidery. I wasn’t personally a fan of the colour choice, but the build and bolstering were good.
  • Dashboard: Leather-effect top, yellow stitching matching seats, gloss-black trim, illuminated Renault 5 branding, visually attractive and well finished.
  • Infotainment and tech: This is a highlight. The built-in Google apps, voice activation, personalisation of ambient lighting (you can cycle through all colours, choose your own) - very slick. Carwow calls the system “one of the best I’ve used in a long time”.
  • Boot and daily practicality: For a car of this size the boot is better than many expect. There’s a false floor with space underneath for your charging cable (which I found very handy). Rear seats are usable but not generous for tall adults on lengthy trips.
  • Rear cabin: Legroom is limited. I sat behind my driving position and felt the constraint. It’s fine for shorter runs or smaller passengers, but if you regularly move four tall adults and luggage it might feel compromised.


Space & practicality

For the “city plus commuting” use-case this car is very strong. It’s compact, easy to maneuver and park, while still offering enough space for daily errands, school runs and short motorway stints. Visibility is good and the parking cameras + sensors give confidence in tight spots. The build quality is better than I expected; according to Top Gear, the chassis feels “remarkably rigid… we can’t recall driving a supermini with better-insulated suspension noise.”

If your requirement is a full-sized family car with lots of rear cabin and boot volume then this may not be the optimum choice, but that’s not what the Renault 5 E-Tech sets out to be.

On the road

City driving: The instant torque that electric motors offer is well exploited here. Whether pulling away from a junction or merging into traffic I found the car responsive and agile. Even in Eco mode it felt composed; flicking into Sport added some heft to the steering and enhanced the feel.

B-roads and dual-carriageways: The ride is tighter than a budget hatch might be, but composed. Adaptive cruise and lane-keeping assist contribute to comfort on longer stretches; I used those on a dual-carriageway and found things calm and stable. The blind-spot monitoring worked well when switching lanes.

Motorway use: The 52 kWh battery provides enough to make motorway use viable, though frequent 70 mph stretches will inevitably reduce range.The Renault 5 is not only a fantastic car for around-town driving, it’s more capable on the motorway than you might expect.


Range & charging

In my week with the 52 kWh version I found ~250 miles realistic in mixed use (urban + some A-roads + motorway). That lines up with the quoted 252 miles in the specs. The 40 kWh version gives lower range (185-190 miles) but still sufficient for many city-commute users.

Charging: overnight home charging (7 kW) comfortably covers a full charge for daily use. Public rapid chargers: under optimal conditions you can go from ~15-80% in about 30 minutes. As ever with EVs, planning matters: check charger availability, consider your real-world usage, factor in weather and highway speeds which reduce range.


Trims & pricing (buying tips)

  • Entry-level (~£22,995) gets you into the 40 kWh version with good kit.
  • Step up to the 52 kWh version (~£26k-£30k) for extra range and more power.
  • Bold colour choices (like Pop Yellow) add personality but can cost more and may affect resale.

My advice:

  • If your commute is under ~50 miles and you mainly drive urban and peri-urban, the 40 kWh version could hit the sweet spot for cost.
  • If you regularly drive longer distances or want more flexibility (and occasional motorway use) the 52 kWh is worth the premium.
  • Choose a standout colour if you value the ‘fashion’ element.
  • Explore leasing: given the footprint of the car and the reduced running costs for an EV, it’s a compelling option.


Safety & ownership

Safety systems: The car comes with modern driver aids - adaptive cruise, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors/cameras front and rear. I found them all well-calibrated (i.e., not intrusive). Build quality is very good for this class. Plus the suspension noise insulation is very competitive.

Ownership: EV running costs are low, no fuel, lower servicing. Renault offers a standard warranty; charging infrastructure remains the owner’s responsibility to plan. Auto Express awarded the Renault 5 “Affordable Electric Car of the Year 2025”.