The Renault 5 E-Tech is The Car Expert’s Best Small Car 2025!
Summary
The Renault 5 (officially the Renault 5 E-Tech) is a small, five-door hatchback electric vehicle. It was launched in summer 2024 in Europe, with first cars set to reach UK dealers in early 2025.
Technically, the new Renault 5 replaces the Renault Zoe, which was discontinued last year. However, the 5 is a far more sophisticated model, despite its 1980s retro-style styling that harkes back to the classic Renault 5 of old. The new 5 is safer than the Zoe as well…
The hype for the reborn Renault 5 has been enormous over the last couple of years, ever since Renault first showed a concept version of the car back in 2021. Fortunately, the production car has lived up to expectations, with reviewers praising it highly since being given access to the car earlier this year.
Like the Fiat 500 and Mini Cooper, the Renault 5 plays heavily on its retro-inspired styling. But motoring journalists have rated the driving experience highly, as well as its value for money. Charlie Harvey from Carbuyer says, “The long-anticipated Renault 5 serves up retro charm in spades and is great to drive,” while Will Dron from the Sunday Times describes it as “very welcome and superbly executed”. However, Holger Preiss from Auto Express points out that the “interior space, range and charging times” are not as good as some similarly priced EVs.
As of January 2025, the Renault 5 E-Tech holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 81%. It gets top marks for its impressive media reviews and zero tailpipe emissions. However, we don’t yet have independently verified running and ownership costs, and we won’t have reliability data for some years yet.
Key specifications
Body style: Small five-door hatchback
Engines: Single electric motor
Price: from £22,995
Launched: Autumn 2024
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Renault 5 plays heavily on nostalgia, and to some, the retro design might tread a little too closely to pastiche, but there’s so much joy in this little package that it’s impossible not to be impressed. It feels like a more compelling posh supermini than rivals like the Mini Cooper and the Peugeot e-208, and it has just enough space inside, a decent electric range across both powertrain and battery options, plus a competitive price.”
Author: Alex Ingram, Jordan Katsianis
Read review
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Early signs suggest the new Renault 5 E-Tech is a successful homage to its historic predecessor. The classic R5 and its era are referenced with many stylish details, and the car is good fun to drive. That said, interior space, range and charging times aren’t its strongest suits.”
Author: Holger Preiss
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Auto Trader
Score: 9 / 10
“Delightfully, little has changed from the conceptual rendering of this futuristic city car, so the bold design remains inside and out, with eye-popping colours. Buyers have the choice of two batteries with different power outputs and ranges, and three trim levels. Those thinking this is a Zoe replacement will be pleasantly surprised: the Renault 5 is an altogether more grown-up and composed car.”
Author: Erin Baker
Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: Techno 52kW
Score: 8 / 10
“Ultimately, the new Renault 5 largely delivers on its promises and deserves its likely fleet success. It is a good-looking, keen driving EV, that’s excellent value for money.”
Author: Martyn Collins
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Car
Model reviewed: 52kWh Iconic
Score: 10 / 10
“Rarely has a new car carried such a weight of expectation as the new Renault 5. But, d’you know what? It really is brilliant: Cheerful, easy and fun to drive, yet also comfortable, surprisingly useful and brilliant value. And all in a car that really does have presence on the road.”
Author: Vicky Parrott
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Carbuyer
Score: 8.2 / 10
“The long-anticipated Renault 5 serves up retro charm in spades and is great to drive.”
Author: Charlie Harvey
Read review
Electrifying.com
Score: 9 / 10
“I love the Renault 5. Because it’s not only a useful, affordable small electric car that’s fantastic value and perfectly judged in terms of the way it drives. It’s a sensible small electric car that’s attainable to a sector of the car market that’s been poorly served by electric cars until this year. And it’s an electric car that people want! Regardless of its sensible-ness, the 5 is an aspirational car. And to do that with such an affordable and well-packaged little EV is a bit magic, really.”
Author: Vicky Parrott
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Evo
Score: 8 / 10
“Retro EVs aren’t in short supply but Renault has pulled-off the transition better than most with its electric 5.”
Author: Antony Ingram
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The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: R5 Iconic Five
Score: 10 / 10
“The new Renault 5 is a burst of sunshine in the small EV market, and not just when painted in the bright yellow hue of my test car. Time will tell if it will be the “weapon” that bursts through into the mainstream but it gets a strong recommendation from me: fun to look at, fun to drive, relatively practical and at the right price. This is a very welcome and superbly executed return for a beloved motoring nameplate.”
Author: Will Dron
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The Telegraph
Score: 10 / 10
“This charming EV is destined for greatness thanks to its retro styling and detailing, comfortable ride and all-round joie de vivre.”
Author: Andrew English
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Top Gear
Score: 9 / 10
“This isn’t just a retro pastiche. The Renault 5 is almost as joyful to use as it is to look at. Strong value cements the appeal.”
Author: Paul Horrell
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 4 stars
Date tested: December 2024
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 80%
Child protection: 80%
Vulnerable road users: 76%
Safety assist: 68%
The Renault 5 was assessed by Euro NCAP in December 2024 and scored a four-star safety rating. While it meets the 80% threshold for five stars in adult impact protection and child impact protection, and the 70% threshold for five stars for vulnerable road user protection (pedestrians and cyclists), it fell short of the 70% threshold for accident-avoidance technology.
However, it should be noted that Euro NCAP testing gets tougher almost every year, so a four-star score in 2024 can possibly be a better result than a five-star score from five years ago, depending on results from each test.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of December 2024, the Renault 5 has not been assessed by Green NCAP.
The Green NCAP programme measures exhaust pollution (which is zero for an electric car) and energy efficiency. Electric cars are much more energy-efficient than combustion cars, so the Renault 5 is likely to score very highly in Green NCAP testing whenever it ever takes place. Check back again soon.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
No data yet
As of December 2024, we don’t have independently verified data available for the Renault 5. Check back again soon.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of December 2024, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Renault 5 to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.
As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Renault 5, we’ll publish the results here.
Recalls
Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Renault 5 E-Tech
As of December 2024, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Renault 5. However, this information is updated very regularly so this may have changed.
You can check to see if your car has any outstanding recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local Renault dealer.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Renault 5 has received
2024
- The Car Expert Awards – Best Small Car
- Best Cars of the Year Awards – Car of the Year + Best Electric Car
- Business Car Awards – One to Watch
- Car Design News Awards – Best Production Car Design
- Electrifying.com Awards – Best Value for Money EV
- London EV Show Awards – Car of the Year
- News UK Motor Awards – Best Electric Car
- Top Gear Awards – Car of the Year
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Renault 5, you might also be interested in these alternatives.
BYD Dolphin | Citroën ë-C3 | Fiat 500e | GWM Ora 03 | Mini Cooper Electric | Peugeot e-208 | Vauxhall Corsa Electric
The market for small electric cars was slow to get moving, but has been accelerating in the last couple of years. The Renault 5 is not the only retro-themed small EV available, with the Fiat 500e and Mini Cooper Electric also trading heavily on nostalgia for previous models.
More information
More news, reviews and information about the Renault 5 E-Tech at The Car Expert
Buy a Renault 5 E-Tech
If you’re looking to buy a new or used Renault 5 E-Tech, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.
Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more
Find your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more
Find your next new or used car with Carwow. Find out more
Lease a Renault 5 E-Tech
If you’re looking to lease a new Renault 5 E-Tech, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.
Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Select Car Leasing. Find out more
Subscribe to a Renault 5 E-Tech
Subscriptions are becoming a very popular way for consumers to try an electric car for a few weeks or months to help decide whether it’s a suitable alternative to a petrol car. If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)
Car subscriptions from Wagonex.
Find out more
Car subscriptions from DriveFuze.
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Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
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