Overview

Should you buy a Renault 5 E-tech?

Ideally, you should buy two – in different finishes using the circa-200 different ways that Renault says you’ll be able to spec and personalise the 5. Then we’d all get to see this rather special little electric car on the road as much as possible. It sweeps to the top of our best small electric car rankings thanks to its many talents and keen pricing.

Okay, so it’s not faultless. The driving range is a touch disappointing, rear space could be better, the stalks are an annoyingly un-ergonomic feature in an otherwise refreshingly common-sense interior, and some may wish for greater versatility with the brake regen. But otherwise, it’s very hard to fault the little Renault, which really does feel like it’s breaking new ground by bringing real desirability and ‘want one’ factor to a very affordable, practical, everyday electric car.

What is it?

The Renault 5 E-Tech represents a defining moment in automotive history – the point at which the affordable small electric car became cool, chic and, curiously, desirable. That’s quite a pompous way of saying it’s important, but rarely has anything with four wheels come along that’s caused such a stir, let alone a car that’s cheap and battery powered.

Time for a short history lesson: the Renault 5 E-Tech is an electric reboot of the Renault 5 supermini. Depending on the strength of gallic national pride in whomever you’re talking to, you might hear that it was the original supermini – the one that pipped the Honda Civic, VW Polo and Ford Fiesta to it.

Back to the 2025 5 E-Tech. With its quirky design, commendable build quality and agreeable price, Renault is once again on a warpath of democratisation, only this time for the electric car.

But the French marque isn’t the only one at it. Strong competition is out there in the forms of the revamped Mini Cooper E – the latest version has a much-improved driving range – and the Fiat Grande Panda, launched in 2025. Both offer a similar package of modernism-cloaked-in-nostalgia to the 5 E-Tech, albeit at different price points. The Fiat is cheaper, the Mini more expensive, leaving the Renault in a potentially happy middle ground.

The 5 E-Tech is available with two power outputs and two battery sizes. The entry level is the EV40, which produces 120hp with a 40kWh battery. The other is the EV52 – 150hp with a 52kWh battery.

Trims are split three ways: Evolution – paired to the weaker power unit only – Techno and Iconic Five. Evolution is a little frugal but does include a 10.1-inch infotainment display and a suite of safety systems. Techno is probably the sweet spot, starting from £24,995, as it features the wireless smart phone charging, LED headlights and reversing camera among many other features.

We’ve given the Renault 5 E-Tech a proper going over. Read on for the full review from Parkers, as we dive into the quality of the 5’s interior, the way it drives and where it sits in the class before coming to a final verdict. Want to know how we conducted our examination? Head over to our how we test cars page to find out everything you need to know.

Watch our Renault 5 E-Tech video review