Review: Renault 5 E-Tech

Cars painted in bright primary colours are not to everyone’s taste. But I love them.

So when a vibrant green Renault 5 E-Tech was mine to test for a week, I was more than happy.

Cynics (including my daughter) may say that one reason I’m so enamoured with bright paintwork is the ease with which the car can be spotted at the supermarket when I’ve forgotten to make a mental note of where I’ve parked it.

If you’ve been around as long as I have, you’ll remember the original Renault 5, produced from 1972 to 1996 over two generations.

One of the first modern superminis, it was hugely popular, particularly in its native France, with a total production run exceeding 5.5 million.

Surprisingly, despite passing my test in the early 80s, I never drove one, although I was a passenger in a fair few over the years.

Almost 30 years after the demise of the Renault 5, we have the all-electric E-Tech, which was launched in 2024.

A nicely styled compact hatchback, it bears many of the design cues of the original, but with a modern twist.

It looks like a three-door, but the cleverly concealed handles reveal it is actually a practical five-door.

You are in no doubt what model you have on your drive. There is a lot of ‘5’ branding, including a clever battery charge indicator on the bonnet that lights up when it’s plugged in. Someone remarked it looked like a solar panel from a distance, which I suppose it does.

The interior is quite sophisticated, featuring a variety of tactile materials. The dashboard of our test vehicle was dressed in a stylish light denim blue fabric with white pinstripes, creating an elegant appearance.

The majority of the on-board functions are controlled through the intuitive 10.1-inch Renault openR Link infotainment system; thankfully, there is a selection of physical buttons and switches to hand to make life easier.

And, once I got used to it, I really liked the steering column-mounted gear selector tucked away behind the steering wheel.

Seats are supportive and comfortable with plenty of adjustment, including lumbar support.

The steering wheel adjusts for both rake and reach.

While front seat passengers can relax in comfort, the rear seats are very cramped for anyone other than children, with the lack of legroom being the main complaint.

There are two powertrains - 118hp and 148bhp - and four trims to choose from: Evolution, Techno, Iconic Five and Roland Garros. We drove the Techo and loved it.

It’s fast - acceleration from 0 to 62mph is 7.9 seconds- and power delivery is smooth.

The 118bhp version has a claimed 192-mile range from its 40kWh battery, while the more powerful 148bhp drivetrain has a potential 251-mile range from a 52kWh battery.

Prices start at £21,495 with our Techno test car coming in at £27,395.

Renault 5 E-Tech Techno

Price: £27,395 (as tested, incl. government EV grant)

Engine: 52kWh battery

Power: 148bhp

Torque: 245Nm

Transmission: single-speed electric

Top Speed: 93mph

0-62mph: 7.9 seconds

Range: 251 miles

CO2 emissions: 0g/km