Renault 5 review: Is it more desirable than a Mini?
At the centre of the 'Renaulution' plan to lift the French brand's desirability levels among customers sits the new 5 supermini.
With a design based heavily on the original car that was introduced in 1972, Renault wants the new one to evoke some kind of nostalgic spirit among new and returning customers.
But it needs to achieve this with much more than just a quirky new design. Therefore, the new 5 will be one of the most affordable electric cars in Europe, with a starting price of around £23,000 in the UK and €25,000 in Europe.
And since the original 1972 car also brought affordable mobility to the masses, it only makes sense for the new car to continue that legacy.
But is the most anticipated electric car of the year actually any good? Can it really call itself a rival to the Mini Cooper SE and Abarth 500e, or is it just a skin-deep attempt at nostalgia? Let's find out.
There is no denying that the new 5 is a striking car, and one that is perhaps more interesting to look at than the Mini and Abarth. In fact, you can see some evidence of the Renault 5 Turbo in its overall proportions.
Yet in spite of its looks, underneath it is quite conventional.
It is the first car to sit on Renault's Ampr Small platform, which will also play host to the Twingo EV when it arrives in 2027.
Elsewhere, the front suspension is from a Renault Captur, while the rear is a multi-link set-up from the Dacia Duster.
Drivetrain options are also quite normal. You can have a 40kWh battery with a 118bhp front-mounted electric motor, or a 52kWh unit with a more punchy 148bhp electric motor, also front-mounted. Their electric ranges stand at 190 miles and 250 miles respectively. Peak charging speed, meanwhile, is 100kW.
Which brings us to performance. The 5 is certainly no slouch, with the 148bhp car achieving a 0-62mph time of 8.0sec. Despite this, it doesn't have the jarring, overly-rapid response of many other electric cars. Its power is delivered generously, and it is evenly metered out.
But there is definitely more room left for the hottest version - Alpine's A290 - that is set to arrive next year with a sharper, more responsive chassis and bigger power reserves.
As for the car's handling dynamics, the 5 is as agile as its short wheelbase would have you believe. At town speeds, it darts around and is easily manoeuvrable. However, when you're pushing on it will eventually understeer and begin to feel numb as your speed rises.
Ride quality is equally agreeable, and makes you want to drive in a way that it is most comfortable: normally. It's smooth around town and over speed bumps and potholes, but remains settled at motorway speeds. In many ways, you can compare it with the Clio, which is high praise indeed.
Inside, you'll want to take advantage of those agreeable road manners with a good driving position and comfortable seating. What's more, because the front seats are mounted quite low down, you feel like you're very much part of the driving experience.
There is a trade-off to this low seating position, however - legroom for rear occupants is very tight.
Elsewhere inside, you can have blue denim trim on the dashboard and the large 10in touchscreen gives it a crisp, modern look. It is integrated into the Google Ecosystem, too, which makes it quite a slick and intuitive system to use. You also get a 10in display in front of the driver, which is quite well integrated and clear to read.
Overall, the interior of this car is a pleasant place to be, with a good amount of character to match its striking exterior looks. What's more, its interior screens are not the most dominant feature - a refreshing characteristic in 2024.
The 5 is clearly a car that values comfort and agreeable road manners over sportiness, but because that is what customers are looking for, this isn't an issue at all.
Could it eventually become more desirable than a Mini? Only time will tell, but the 5 certainly has what it takes…
