Renault 5 E-Tech review: The ultimate breakdown of France's beloved hatchback

In 1972, the heart of the practically minded but occasionally absurd French motor industry released the Renault 5. Hailed as a “voiture à vivre” or “car for life”, it was groundbreaking for its time, and far from absurd. Between 1972 and the mid 1980s, the first generation alone sold around 5.5 million units. However, despite its success and incessant lovability, Renault was forced to discontinue the spritely 5 in 1996.

Fast forward nearly 30 years, and the Renault 5 is back! This time with a whole new look and a green powertrain, ready to add a touch of 70s style pounds-to-fun ratio back to the modern car market. So, stick with us for our Renault 5 E-Tech review.

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What is the Renault 5 E-Tech? A modern classic reborn

A brief history of the iconic Renault 5

The original Renault 5 was released in 1972. In its day, it was a game-changing little supermini, designed to offer a touch more space and usability than the likes of the actual Mini and the Fiat Cinquecento. It was designed as a car for all seasons and all needs, from commuting to a family holiday.

At release, buyers of the day could choose from a 782 cc engine or a 956 cc variant if you really wanted to push the boat out. Obviously, at less than a litre displacement, these were no speed demons, but they sipped fuel conservatively by the standards of the time and gave enough lève-toi et pars to get you where you needed to go.

All this practicality was parcelled neatly into a cute, boxy exterior that gave the R5 a distinctive charm and character that saw it survive through several iterations, including the iconic mid-engined rally monster, the Renault 5 Turbo. In the end, competition from the newly released Ford Fiesta and Austin Metro made the R5 increasingly redundant, and it was axed in 1996.

What's new with the Renault 5 E-Tech?

Well, we should address the elephant in the room – the most significant change with the Renault 5 E-Tech is the powertrain. Gone are the sewing machine-inspired rattlers of the past, in favour of a new, native electric vehicle (EV) powerplant – meaning it was built as an EV from the start and enjoys the flat floor and roomy interior that go with it.

In contrast to the economically sparse interior of the 1972 debut, the E-Tech comes with all the latest creature comforts and safety features as well as generous touch screens and even recycled textiles.

Renault 5 E-Tech performance and driving experience

Electric motor performance and specifications

Of course, no Renault 5 E-Tech review would be complete without mentioning the performance. Which, in short, is best described as ample. With a max power output of 148 bhp, you won’t be left mashing your foot into the floor, willing the throttle to open wider like in the days of old, but it’s certainly no speed demon. Renault’s left the R5 performance tuning to the team at Alpine, with the considerably more punchy A290, based on the E-Tech.

In its most oomph-orientated spec, the R5 E-Tech is good for a 0-62 mph dash in a perfectly competitive eight seconds.

Driving range, battery life and charging

With range anxiety still weighing heavy on many peoples’ minds, the next question is how far can you go? Well, Renault claims the E-Tech is good for as much as 252 miles as long as you opt for the Comfort Range battery, which is pretty comfortable indeed at a lease cost of not much more than £300 per month.

Plus, you can recoup as much as 80% of that charge in just 30 minutes with the 100 kW fast charging capabilities, meaning you’re unlikely to be left without juice as far as most routine driving is concerned.

Handling and ride quality on UK roads

The original Renault 5 was loved for its nippy, lightweight handling, and three decades later, the E-Tech is no different. With disc brakes all round and suspension that manages to be soft enough to tackle the UK’s pot-holed cities while also being responsive enough to keep it under control at speed, the R5 E-Tech is as fun to drive as it is comfortable.

For a more characterful ride, you can even adjust the steering stiffness to give you a more direct input feel during those spirited country drives. Wind and tyre noise are kept to a minimum, giving you a quiet ride even on the motorway, and those disc brakes are operated by a brake-by wire system that delivers a smooth, responsive brake feel.

Renault 5 E-Tech design: Retro charm meets modern tech

Exterior styling: classic looks, contemporary touches

Outside, the new Renault 5 E-Tech’s family resemblance is undeniable. The revised styling is collectively retro-futuristic, with cues borrowed from various iterations of the original.

Those flared rear haunches are a subtle nod to the monstrous Turbo edition, the rear taillights are reminiscent of the units that carried through both generations, complete with a raised texture to imitate the old rear vents, and the tidy bonnet charge indicator is a hark back to the very first release model with its bonnet vent.

Despite the historic touches, the new styling is decidedly modern but by no means bland, giving it a surprising amount of road presence for such a small car.

Interior features: comfort and practicality

Renault’s boffins admittedly had a harder time translating the original 5’s sparse interior to the modern E-Tech’s, in that the two are nothing alike, but in a new car, that’s arguably a good thing.

While some materials have been kept to a budget (as you’d expect on such an affordable car), the interior as a whole feels high quality and the seats are finished in a unique looking fabric woven from recycled plastic.

Technology and infotainment

Onto the techy part of this Renault 5 E-Tech review, the infotainment and speedometer are managed via two generous touchscreen displays, although, unlike some new EVs, functions including climate control, are managed via physical dials.

You won’t find anything excessively high-tech, but the new 5 comes packed with everything you could need for your day-to-day, including a smart Google navigation system, USB C charging ports and an Arkamys speaker system.

Safety features and driver assistance systems

Standard safety equipment overview

Built with safety in mind from the ground up, the E-Tech bagged a four-star Euro NCAP rating, scoring an impressive 80% protection rating for both adult and child occupants.

It comes loaded with all the reassuring safety features you could imagine, including driver attention alert, intelligent speed assist, e-call automatic emergency assist, emergency lane keeping, anti-lock brakes and a suite of airbags.

Renault’s advanced driver assistance technologies

While the original R5 didn’t even feature power windows, the E-Tech has taken leaps and bounds to make your life as a driver far easier. The option for adaptive cruise control with stop and go and lane centring makes long drives a breeze, the electric parking brake with autohold makes dodgy hill starts a thing of the past and customisable ambient lighting transforms the look and feel of your interior at the touch of a button.

Renault 5 E-Tech price, running costs and value for money

Pricing guide: purchase vs leasing

The Renault 5 E-Tech is inspired by its predecessor in more than just name and looks; it’s priced just as affordably. Upfront, the charming little EV starts at just under £23,000 and ranges up to just under £30,000.

Leasing, however, brings the upfront cost down drastically, and could save you heavily on overall ownership expenses. Lease deals for the Renault 5 E-Tech start at just over £200 per month, making it a seriously affordable, desirable EV.

Cost comparison: how affordable is the Renault 5 E-Tech?

For its class, the new E-Tech is one of the more affordable models available, beating both the MINI Cooper E and the Fiat 500e in lease costs. The sub-£300 leasing start price is hard to argue with, especially with a range of up to 252 miles from a single charge and a wealth of onboard tech.

Additionally, the E-Tech’s looks and charm have meant a high initial demand which should help them hold their value well for at least a few years after purchase.

Explore Renault 5 E-Tech car leasing at Gateway2Lease

If our Renault 5 E-Tech review has left you itching to get behind the wheel, we can help!

At Gateway2Lease, we offer a range of customisable, competitive deals on a selection of Renault 5 E-Tech trim levels. Personalise everything from your chosen features to annual mileage for a package that suits you and let our experts find the best price.

We’re a family-owned business with an outstanding reputation for customer service offering fast nationwide delivery and access to the very latest vehicles. Browse our selection of cars for lease including the new Renault 5 E-Tech and contact our team today by calling 01299 407 360, emailing enquiries@gateway2lease.com or filling out our contact form.

Renault 5 E-Tech FAQs

Is the Renault 5 E-Tech suitable for everyday use?

Absolutely! The original 5 was built as a “car for life”, and the Renault 5 E-Tech echoes this ethos perfectly, even after 30 years. As well as a roomy interior and five seats, the E-Tech boasts a spacious boot and plenty of cabin storage.

You can cover as much as 252 miles from a single charge and recover up to 80% of your range in just 30 minutes, allowing you to tackle even long journeys with minimal disruptions.

How long does it take to charge the Renault 5 E-Tech?

At home, you can charge your Renault 5 E-Tech in around six to nine hours or even faster if you have an 11 kW charger. This is quick enough for you to wake up in the morning with a full battery for the next day.

On the go, in-built 100 kW fast charging will get you from 10 to 80% battery in just 30 minutes, keeping you moving even on long trips.

What alternatives are there to the Renault 5 E-Tech?

The two cars that the E-Tech is most often compared with are the MINI Cooper E and the Fiat 500e. Both alternatives are also retro EV revivals of 20th-century icons and make for worthy contenders. In general, the E-Tech provides a little more room than the 500e and a more comfortable ride than the Cooper E, but the 500e is more compact, and the Cooper E is sportier, so which one is best for you will depend on your priorities.