Renault 5 Review

How much does it cost?

The Renault 5 has been delivered at a value-focused price, which is why things kick off at £21,495, inclusive of the Government’s electric car grant. That rises to £23,945 for a more powerful 150hp model and tops out at £26,945 for a range-topping Roland Garros model which gets all of the bells and whistles you could want. Since the Renault 5 hasn’t been on sale for too long, there aren’t too many options on the used market, but some are starting to pop up. However, because of high demand for this car, there aren’t any real savings to be made by shopping used - a Roland Garros model on the used market with 4,000 miles on the clock sits at £28,895, for example.

Engine and performance

Overview

There are two battery and motor layouts available with the Renault 5. Firstly, you’ve got the option of either a 120hp version linked to a 40kWh battery for a range of up to 190 miles, or a more powerful 150hp model which is combined with a 50kWh battery for a longer range of up to 250 miles. All versions drive the front wheels, too. In terms of charging speeds, things do differ between the two. The smaller-battery car can top up at speeds of up to 80kW, whereas the larger one will accept a rate of up to 100kW. However, because of the difference in battery sizes, you should be able to complete a 10 to 80 per cent charge in just over 30 minutes for both cars.

Out on the road

With its compact proportions and light, nimble handling, the Renault 5 feels designed with the city in mind. Like the original, the new 5’s wheels are placed right at the corners of the car and this makes it easy to position. There’s good visibility, too, though your view rearward is limited due to the car’s narrow back screen. The 5’s compact size means it’s easy to get close to a public charger, too, and the charging port’s handy location on the front left wing makes this part of the experience even simpler.

Ride and handling

The Renault 5 brings a good blend of sporty handling with easy-going refinement. The steering that you get is quite light, but that helps to make the 5 easy to drive around town, while the car’s square shape makes parking a breeze. You do get cameras and sensors to help out in this area, too. With the 5 being front-wheel-drive, there can be some noticeable slip from the wheels if you accelerate a little too hard when it’s wet outside. However, body roll is well contained and the whole car feels nicely tied down, so you can take on some quicker corners with lots of confidence. On the motorway, the 5 does start to feel a little flighty and there’s a decent amount of wind and road noise to contend with, too. However, this is something that we’d expect of a city car, so you can’t criticise the Renault 5 too much in this area.

Interior and features

Interiors

The inside of the Renault 5 has some of the usual features that we’ve come to expect from this brand’s cars. There’s a large wraparound screen - which is slightly smaller on entry-level models - and a slightly confusing stalk situation beside the steering wheel. With three separate stalks - one for the gear selector, one for the indicators and wipers and another for the volume and media - it can be quite easy to grab the wrong one, particularly when you’re in a hurry. However, everything feels nicely put together and the material quality is good in general. A great feature is the dedicated button for the assistance systems to the right-hand side of the steering wheel; you can quickly deactivate systems like speed detection and lane-keep with a simple ‘two press’ of the button. It’s a breeze to use when you’re on the move.

Boot space and practicality

Renault has prioritised boot space with the Renault 5, which is why you’ve got a very usable 326 litres to use up back there. It’s a nice, square area, too, and it’s easy to access thanks to a low load lip. However, the downside to this large boot is that rear-seat legroom is quite tight, and adult passengers are going to feel quite squashed sitting back there. Though there’s a flat floor in the rear, the middle passenger has very little shoulder room, so, again, things will feel quite snug if you need to sit three abreast. There’s a decent spread of storage options elsewhere in the cabin, though, with a large central cubby up front. There’s also a deep section ahead of this where driver and passenger can keep their phones secure. In the back, some small door bins and seatback pockets help to provide some storage options.

Features

The Renault 5 comes with a good level of equipment, though there are some differences between the specifications. The main changes come in the form of driver’s display, which is a seven-inch unit on lower-powered models and a larger 10.3-inch version on more powerful cars. However, the good news is that all models get a heat-pump as standard. This works in a reverse way to a fridge; it draws hot air from outside and compresses it to warm it. With this feature, an EV is able to warm up a lot more efficiently and, as a result, will help it deliver more range between trips to the plug.

Trim and colour options

The Renault 5 is all about customisation, which is why you’ll find so many exterior colour and wheel combinations available. Base-specification Techno cars are only available with the smaller battery and less-powerful motor setup, but still get automatic headlights and wipers, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a 10.1-inch infotainment system, though, as mentioned, the driver’s display is smaller. Step up to Techno grade and you’ll get the full suite of driver assistance systems, as well as cruise control, the option of a red roof and synthetic leather upholstery. Iconic five+ brings interior ambient lighting as standard, blind-spot recognition and black trim across many areas of the car’s exterior. A big upgrade comes in the form of the nine-speaker Harmon Kardon sound system which brings a far more premium sound to the 5.

Finally, there’s the range-topping Roland Garros specification. Here, you’re getting a range of model-specific decals across the car, including a satin silver accent for the top of the car and a unique alloy wheel design which helps to make this car stand out further. There are plenty of good colourways to choose from, too, including pop green, midnight blue and pop yellow. You can also get the option of a different roof colour, though this does depend on the specification. There’s a great range of 5-inspired decals to help you take customisation of this car one step further, while different alloy wheels are also there to choose from.

Safety and reliability

All versions of the Renault 5 come equipped with lots of safety equipment as standard. There’s a driver attention alert system which can detect signs of fatigue in the person behind the wheel, while intelligent speed assistance with traffic sign recognition is included on all models. Emergency lane-keep assistance comes on all models as standard, though lower-powered models do without rear cross traffic alert with autonomous emergency braking. Though the Renault 5’s reliability is as-yet untested, it’s a relatively simple design so we shouldn’t imagine that this car will throw up many issues. Plus, because it’s a single rather than a dual-motor configuration, it’s a less complex design than other EVs in the market.

MPG, emissions and tax

The Renault 5’s electric powertrain means that it could prove very cheap to run. If you’re able to take advantage of low rates of home electricity, the Renault 5 could be run for a fraction of what it’d cost to power a traditional petrol or diesel car. However, if you’re only able to use public charging, then costs could easily rise. Zero CO2 emissions also help in the costs department; the Renault 5 will cost £195 per year to tax, plus a £10 first-year payment thanks to its low emissions.