2025 Renault 5 E-Tech

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.

Design: retro the way it should be: playful, recognisable, cleverly evolved

The R5 looks as if it has driven straight out of the 1980s. The typical roofline, the almost square tail lights, the angular shapes: everything feels familiar and yet fresh. Renault has clearly done its homework, because even subtle nods to the legendary R5 Turbo are worked in.

• The design accents on the doors

• The air intake on the bonnet, now transformed into a clever charge indicator

• The muscular, compact proportions

The whole is fantastically coherent.

On top of that Renault offers an insane number of personalisation options. Colours for body and roof, badges, sticker motifs, various interior accents… you name it. And anyone who wants to go full retro can even choose an accessory that fits the French vibes perfectly: a baguette holder. Complete nonsense, but brilliant, and that is exactly why we love it.

Interior and space: compact, charming, functional

Inside, the R5 is modern but playful. Not too minimalist, not too futuristic, just nice. Everything feels logical, the materials are better than expected in this segment and the atmosphere is uncomplicated.

There is enough space for daily use, although it naturally remains a compact city car. Up front you sit well, but in the back it gets tight, certainly for taller people. I myself (1.86 m) just about fit for short trips, but honestly: in many cases the rear bench becomes extra boot space. And that is fine, because this is no car for crossing 1,000 kilometres.

Driving experience: an electric go-kart feeling

Do not expect a comparison with the original R5, that time is too long gone. But the new R5 drives the way a modern electric city car should: direct, lively and delightfully playful. The steering feel is surprisingly sharp, control is excellent and the car throws itself through corners with pleasure. Renault has genuinely brought back that typical French lightness of foot here.

Range and battery options

We drove the big battery (52 kWh) and achieved a little over 400 km on one charge, an impressive result for a car of this size.
There is also a smaller battery of 40 kWh for those who mostly drive in the city.

Official figures:

• 40 kWh battery - WLTP up to around 300 km

• 52 kWh battery - WLTP up to around 410 km

In reality those figures hold up pretty well.

Price: electric mobility for everyone

Renault wants to position the R5 as an affordable electric car, and it has succeeded.

The price starts (with the small battery) at €24,900 (incl. VAT) in Europe, but can differ depending on country and configuration. For the bigger battery the price logically climbs a little higher (to a starting price of €32,900 incl. VAT), but it remains in line with the market and even competitive within the EV segment.

Given the looks, the handling, the technology and above all the fun you get, this is a strong offer.

AutoNext Verdict

With the R5, Renault has done exactly what was needed: modernise an icon without losing its soul. The car looks fantastic, drives delightfully playfully, offers a usable range and feels surprisingly premium for its segment.

It is hard not to be cheerful when you drive it, and the number of thumbs-ups you get along the way only confirms that.

The new Renault R5 is not just an electric city car.
It is a smile on wheels.