Why the new Renault 5 is the best European EV yet

COMMENT

The all-new 2025 Renault 5 E-Tech is nothing short of a masterstroke and has been ever since its global debut almost four years ago.

It’s that rare thing – a small affordable car that’s so desirable people would buy it regardless of the powertrain buried under its pert front bonnet.

Tapping into a rich design heritage is nothing new, both Mini and Fiat have both done that to huge success – the difference with Renault is its execution.

Unlike the Fiat 500, there’s nothing cynical about the reborn 5.

It reeks of cleverness, from its dedicated all-electric powertrain to the fact it comes with expensive multi-link rear suspension for a better ride-handling balance.

It even gets disc brakes all-round… unlike the significantly more expensive VW ID.3.

Within, the retro theme is curated with astonishing attention to detail that owners will adore.

How can you not relish the dash stitching that mimics the 1972 original’s ridged plastic, or smile at the rectangle binnacle that matches the shape of the first R5?

Cold and clinical it isn’t. It feels like it’s all been crafted with, dare we say it… love. And it helps that all the tech works and doesn’t lag its rivals.

Meanwhile, the powertrains offer just brisk enough acceleration for life in the city and palatable charging times of about 30 mins for a 15-80 per cent top-up are bang on the money.

No wonder it was the winner of this year’s European Car of the Year; a small affordable EV with both style and substance, one that is well-worth considering over much cheaper rivals.

It’s already on sale in the UK, where I live, and one insider tells me they’ve been shocked by its reception.

Not by the volume of buyers, but by who is snapping up the R5 (and its Alpine A290 sibling) as they’re not the typical punter for an affordable electric car.

One dealer reports a steady queue of Porsche and Range Rover-driving owners slapping down deposits without even seeing the petite electric hatch in the metal.

Apparently, the Renault 5 is this season’s must-have automotive accessory – as desirable as a limited-run Italian supercar some owners already possess.

Of course, the excitement will eventually dull down when the roads of Milan, Paris and London become plagued by brightly coloured R5s but even then, we think the small hatch’s style, cleverness, cabin and overall quality should continue to shine through.

Renault could have made the R5 stylish and cheap, but it knows from bitter experience with its Zoe and Megane E-Tech it would soon be humbled by the likes of Tesla and the China’s BYD, GWM and MG.

So let’s hope that when the Renault 5 E-Tech eventually lands in Australia next year, buyers will overcome their innate hatred of small cars and fall in love with the new super-cinq as, from where we’re sitting, it deserves to succeed.

We just hope other legacy brands wake up and realise stylish, clever, well-priced and desirable EVs are the only way to beat the new wave of rivals.

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