Renault

The Renault Twingo E-Tech Electric is a small car with a big job. It has to be affordable, electric, practical, easy to drive, efficient and charming enough to make people care. That last part matters more than carmakers sometimes realise. Because small cars used to be fun. Simple, clever, colourful and full of personality. The new Twingo understands that.

If the R5 is Renault's retro-electric statement, then the new R4 E-Tech feels like the mature, refined big brother. Yes, on paper they look alike, but in practice the differences are too big to ignore. For us the R4 is not a better R5. But it may well be the most complete of the two. And more than that: a serious contender for Car of the Year 2026.

Renault is playing it smart. At a time when car brands are sprinting en masse towards the future, Renault takes a quick look in the rear-view mirror and breathes new life into one of its most iconic models. The new Renault 5 E-Tech is instantly recognisable, charmingly retro and at the same time surprisingly modern. It is exactly that mix that appeals to so many people. Because admit it: retro simply stirs emotions. And the R5 does that brilliantly.