The New Renault 5 E-Tech Charms as an Urban EV

When the first-generation Renault 5 arrived in the U.S. in 1976, the subcompact French hatchback was something of a curio. It was tiny, even compared to other gas misers of the day, with a stark design that maximized available space within its tiny footprint. Rebranded as the Le Car, the wee hatchback helped grow Renault’s U.S. sales through the fuel-crisis era. But it eventually earned a reputation for fragility, and Renault’s spotty U.S. parts distribution was little help in keeping Le Cars on the road. Production of the first-generation model ended in 1983, and Le Cars largely vanished from U.S. roads soon thereafter. Renault bid America adieu four years later.Meanwhile, Europeans couldn’t get enough of the 5. The first of two generations racked up more than 5.5 million sales (across five continents, yes, but the 5 remained France’s bestseller for a decade), with hot hatchbacks and even a mid-engine homologation special burnishing the 5’s appeal. Unpretentious, stylish, and affordable, the 5 followed the French egalitarian tradition of the Citroën 2CV and Renault 4.Now Renault has reinvented its iconic subcompact as the electric Renault 5 E-Tech, democratizing the electric car and injecting some fun into the recipe just as prospective-EV-buyer interest wanes. Winner of European Car of the Year, the little French hatchback is creating quite the buzz. Signature colors such as Pop Yellow and Pop Green help the new 5 stand out. Our sample car is finished in Diamond Black set off with red graphics that extend up the A-pillar to the rear spoiler. It looks, as the French might say, absolument parfait and faithfully replicates the 2021 5 EV concept.The folded-paper simplicity of Michel Boué’s original 1970s design still defines the 5’s silhouette, accented with reimagined trapezoidal headlights and unmistakable vertical taillamps. But muscular fender arches and standard 18-inch wheels recall the steroidal mid-engine 5 Turbo—an illusion assisted by the new car’s artfully concealed rear door handles—and add a dash of compact-crossover flair. (The illuminated state-of-battery-charge monitor on the hood is a neat touch too.)It’s a premium retro reinvention in the mold of BMW’s Mini a quarter of a century ago, but a UK base price that converts to roughly $24,700 handily undercuts the new Mini Cooper Electric.The 5 is based on Renault’s new AmpR Small platform, and there are two powertrain options: Urban Range and Comfort Range. Both offer an 11.0-kW onboard charger; the Urban has 80-kW DC fast-charging capability, the Comfort offers 100 kW. The Comfort Range features a 52-kWh lithium-ion battery, 147 horsepower, and up to 252 miles of range on Europe’s WLTP test cycle (figure about 210 EPA miles). Our entry-level Urban Range spec, meanwhile, downsizes to a 40-kWh battery and 192 miles of WLTP range (or roughly 160 by EPA measure), although our dashboard readout suggesting a real-world range of 144 miles. The Urban Range model also musters just 120 horsepower, though by Renault’s metrics, the reduction is partially offset by being relieved of some 80 pounds compared with its 3194-pound sibling.Jump inside, and the premium-fun feel extends to the 5’s cabin. Denim upholstery in our mid-spec Techno trim is particularly appealing and pairs nicely with a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen and digital instrument cluster featuring crisp, fresh graphics.Related StoriesThe cabin is also surprisingly spacious, despite the 5 measuring almost 13 feet nose-to-tail. Partly it’s in the width (the 5’s body width stretches 69.8 inches—making it marginally wider than the new electric Mini Cooper). A substantial central storage area and a shallow dash on the passenger’s side also contribute to the feeling of space. But it’s also because you can crank the exceptionally comfortable and supportive seats so far down that even this six-foot-one driver has plenty of headroom—unusual for a car with a battery tucked under the floor.The cargo hold is also pretty spacious at 12 cubic feet. Physics dictates something has to give, and sure enough, don’t expect to get six-footers into the back seat behind a similarly sized driver, despite a raised rear-seat cushion.On the road, the 5 is as enjoyable to drive as its playful design suggests. The steering has a direct, consistent, and connected feel; the accelerator tips in smoothly; and braking is nicely progressive, whether you’re easing into the firm pedal or letting regen slow the car. This is expert-level calibration, and first impressions focus on just how easy everything feels. Handling is agile and responsive, with the weight of the battery set low in the chassis to help create a neutral response when tossed into a roundabout.If we’re nitpicking, we’d point to a few lumps in the low-speed ride and mention that mid-corner bumps could be better isolated, particularly when the 5 is loaded into a turn on over-enthusiastic acceleration. But mostly, it rides very nicely, with those imperfections you do feel rounded off rather than thudding through the cabin.No, it is not quick, but the progression of the power delivery actually feels more natural than the giddy EV surge we’ve become accustomed to. That also limits torque steer (try hard, and you’ll find some), and the 5 is perfectly quick enough to merge energetically onto a freeway. Perhaps more surprising for a small, affordable car with little powertrain noise is just how incredibly refined the 5 E-Tech is at a 70-mph cruise.All in, we’d call Renault’s 5 E-Tech the most appealing city car since BMW reinvented the Mini. Sadly, it’s unlikely ever to set sail for the States. It’s too bad that Americans lost their taste for French automobiles years ago. “Le Car Électrique” has a nice ring to it.SpecificationsSpecifications
2025 Renault 5 E-Tech
Vehicle Type: front-motor, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback
PRICE (C/D EST)

Base: Urban, $24,700; Comfort, $28,900
POWERTRAIN

Motor: permanent-magnet synchronous AC
Power: 120 or 147 hp
Torque: 165 or 180 lb
Battery Pack: liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 40 or 52 kWh
Onboard Charger: 11.0 kW
Peak DC Fast-Charge Rate: 80 or 100 kW
Transmission: direct-drive
DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase: 100.0 in
Length: 154.4 in
Width: 69.8 in
Height: 59.0 in
Cargo Volume, Behind F/R: 39/12 ft3
Curb Weight (C/D est): 3150–3250 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)

60 mph: 7.6–8.7 sec
1/4-Mile: 16.1–17.1 sec
Top Speed: 93 mph
Source: caranddriver.com