![\"Renault](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Renault-5-E-Tech-2025.jpg\")
\t\tThe plan is to spend three months with a Renault 5\t<\/p>\n\t\t\tSaturday 18 July 2026 6:26 am
\n\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0Updated:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\t\t\tFriday 17 July 2026 1:33 pm\n\t<\/p>\n
\t\tThe plan is to spend three months with a Renault 5\t<\/p>\n
My first rendez-vous with the Renault 5 was at a rain-lashed EV charging hub, just off the A1(M) in Stevenage. Not the most auspicious start, you might think, but somehow this little car seemed to prise the sunshine out from between leaden clouds. I was smitten.<\/p>\n
The occasion was a driving day for UK Car of the Year<\/a>. Some of Britain\u2019s top motoring journalists (and, ahem, yours truly) had gathered to test all the contenders for the 2026 title. There were eight vehicles in total, each already a winner in its class, from the Citroen C3 Aircross (small crossover) to the Audi A6 Avant (estate car).\u00a0<\/p>\n Interestingly, the Renault 5\u2019s sportier sibling, the Alpine A290<\/a> hot hatchback, was also among the finalists; it represented the performance car category.\u00a0<\/p>\n I voted for the Renault that day, charmed by its chic styling, lively performance, nimble handling, good build quality and compelling value for money. And evidently I wasn\u2019t the only one. A few weeks later, the 5 was announced as the overall UKCOTY 2026 winner.\u00a0<\/p>\n Still, a whirlwind first date is one thing. A long-term relationship is quite another. Would those initial rays of sunshine fizzle out like a holiday romance? That\u2019s what I aim to find out.<\/p>\n \t\tLiving with a Renault 5 The plan is to spend three months with a Renault 5, then a further three with an Alpine A290. The cars will be driven daily, used for everything from school runs to weekends away. I\u2019ll share my honest, unvarnished thoughts on how they drive and what they\u2019re like to live with \u2013 plus keep a close eye on energy consumption, running costs and how battery range stacks up in different conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n As it turned out, the arrival of the 5 was remarkably well-timed. Firstly, the Pitts have moved to a new home with a) a driveway, and b) a wallbox charger installed. We previously had a terraced house with on-street parking only, which meant relying on the public charger network whenever I tested an electric car<\/a>. The result was some very elongated and stressful journeys, along with charging costs similar to refuelling a petrol car. It\u2019s been said before, but unless you can charge at home, buying an EV really doesn\u2019t make sense. At least, not yet.<\/p>\n Secondly, our (t)rusty family car, a Mk5 Volkswagen Golf GTI<\/a>, was recently side-swiped by a truck, forcing it off the road to await repairs. So the Renault really is our only transport for the time being. Will it truly be practical enough for a family of four?\u00a0<\/p>\n Electric Car Grant savings Putting aside the Roland-Garros<\/a> \u2013 a special edition with clay-coloured details and gear lever inspired by a tennis racket handle \u2013 there are three tiers to the new Renault 5 range.<\/p>\n Base spec is called Evolution, costs from \u00a321,495 (or typically \u00a3229 per month) and uses a 40kWh battery for 120hp, 0-62mph in 9.0 seconds and 192 miles of range. It comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone connectivity, cruise control, rear parking sensors and a heat pump.<\/p>\n Stepping up to Techno+ costs \u00a323,495 (or \u00a3249 per month) and gets you a larger 52kWh battery: good for 150hp, 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds and 252 miles between fill-ups. Extra equipment includes an LED \u20185\u2019 charge indicator on the bonnet, a reversing camera, a wireless charging pad, Google Maps navigation and ambient interior lighting.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tRead more<\/p>\n \t\t\tRenault Scenic E-Tech 2026 review: An electric SUV for our times<\/a><\/p>\n My car is fully loaded Iconic Five+ spec: yours for \u00a325,945 or \u00a3269 a month. With the 52kWh battery and 150hp, performance figures are identical to the Techno+, but this range-topper gains diamond-cut alloy wheels, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, blind-spot monitoring and hands-free automatic parking.<\/p>\n Interestingly, when it comes to the UK Government\u2019s official Electric Car Grant, the 40kWh Evolution model only qualifies for a \u00a31,500 incentive, whereas Techno+ and Iconic Five+ versions with the 52kWh battery \u2013 which is locally sourced from Renault\u2019s factory in Douai, France \u2013 are eligible for the full \u00a33,750 discount. In other words, the more powerful, longer-range R5<\/a> is actually better value. Tr\u00e8s bon.<\/p>\n Inside the Renault 5 E-Tech Pop Green! (exclamation mark very much included) is the only \u2018free\u2019 paint colour on the Renault 5. Otherwise, the disappointingly limited range of hues comprises Diamond Black (\u00a3650), Midnight Blue (\u00a3750), Arctic White (\u00a3750) and Pop Yellow! (\u00a3900).\u00a0<\/p>\n My test car is Midnight Blue, with a Diamond Black roof framed by Warm Titanium pinstripes. It\u2019s a relatively subtle spec\u2026 until you open the door and see inside. The vibrant yellow upholstery is made from 100 percent recycled textiles, with a matching colour for the stitching, light-up \u2018Renault 5\u2019 script and retro graphics on the driver\u2019s digital display.<\/p>\n Again, there are knowing nods to the classic 5 in the shape of the big-bolstered seats and sculpted dashboard, even if few of today\u2019s buyers will spot them.\u00a0<\/p>\n Unlike the Renault 5 GT Turbo<\/a> I lusted after in the 1980s, though, the plastics no longer seem to be off-cuts from a yoghurt pot factory. Only the column stalk drive selector \u2013 used to switch between neutral, drive and reverse \u2013 feels a bit flimsy.<\/p>\n Easter eggs all year round So far, I\u2019ve enjoyed discovering the 5\u2019s surprise-and-delight details<\/a>: the Tricolore flags in the headlights, for instance, or the French cockerels tucked in the corner of the windscreen and inside the boot closure. It feels like more than simply a car built down to a cost.\u00a0<\/p>\n My favourite detail so far, however, is the fabric tag hidden inside the driver\u2019s seat-back pocket, which depicts four generations of R5: the 1972 original, 1980 mid-engined Turbo, 1984 \u2018Supercinq\u2019 and current E-Tech. I only discovered it when clearing out my son\u2019s packed lunch leftovers, which had been considerately stuffed into the seat in front. Still, every cloud\u2026<\/p>\n These are early days with the R5 and I\u2019ll report back in more detail soon. Yet it\u2019s fair to say that, after that promising start at UKCOTY, the honeymoon period isn\u2019t over yet.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Tim Pitt writes for Motoring Research<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tRead more<\/p>\n![\"Renault](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image_bbb7f8.png\")
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