Renault 5 E-Tech review: Retro charm meets everyday hero

Has Renault, as a European manufacturer, finally understood what people want? A compact car under 4 meters, five doors, good software, and a long range. After around 1.500 kilometers in everyday testing, we're taking a look at whether the electric Renault 5 E-Tech is truly ingenious or just relies on its retro design.

tl;dr: Convincing in almost all areas

The Renault 5 E-Tech impresses as an excellent, fun electric car for the city and everyday use, scoring particularly high marks for its ingenious retro design with clever details like the charging indicator on the hood. Among its major strengths are the extremely smooth Google Automotive OS, comfortable and sporty front seats, a very efficient consumption of around 14 kWh/100 km, and the great sound of the Harman Kardon system. However, compromises have to be made regarding space: the rear seats and the 277-liter trunk are rather cramped, and there's a lot of hard plastic used in the rear. Other minor criticisms include the lack of true one-pedal driving, significant wind noise from the large side mirrors at higher speeds, and a solid but not outstanding DC charging capacity of 100 kW. However, for those who don't need a lot of space, the Renault 5 E-Tech offers a brilliant, more affordable alternative to upcoming competitors like the electric VW ID. Polo, thanks primarily to its powerful software and efficiency.

Video report:

Design: A successful homage to the past

From the outside, the R5 is a real eye-catcher. Renault has perfectly translated the classic lines into a modern design. The headlights with their subtle square shape and small French flags look really stylish. But the absolute highlight is on the hood: where the air intake used to be, there's now an illuminated charge level indicator that displays cool animations when unlocked.

The vehicle rolls on 18-inch alloy wheels and features 3D taillights at the rear that are visually very similar to the original (even if they are real dust magnets). A nice touch: Retro stickers can even be optionally applied to the doors or roof. The only technical drawback on the exterior: While the large side mirrors look striking, they generate noticeable wind noise on the motorway.

Interior: Great in the front, terrible in the back?

Taking a seat in the driver's seat, you're greeted by very comfortable seats with excellent lateral support and a great look (faux leather with yellow stitching). The materials in the front are perfectly acceptable for the price range, even if the top of the dashboard is made of hard plastic. There are clever details like an optional baguette basket or 3D-printed inserts for the center console. For tech enthusiasts: there are two USB-C ports in the front and a rubberized charging pad for smartphones. A definite plus is the "My Safety" button, which allows you to deactivate annoying driver assistance systems (like the speed limit warning chime) with a double-click.

However, once you get into the back, the compact dimensions (under 4 meters) become quite noticeable. For people around 1,80 meters tall, legroom and headroom are extremely cramped. The materials in the rear also deteriorate significantly (lots of hard plastic), and there's no center armrest or dedicated USB ports. The trunk holds a modest 277 liters (approximately 1.000 liters with the seats folded down) – so this French car isn't exactly a space miracle. On the plus side, there's a cool Easter egg hidden in the rear footwell featuring silhouettes of classic Renault 5 models.

Infotainment: Google shows how it's done

The absolute game-changer in this vehicle class is the infotainment system. Renault is focusing on Google Automotive OS, with two approximately 10-inch displays. This means: Google Maps is natively integrated and runs extremely smoothly, sometimes even better and without stuttering than via Apple CarPlay, which is of course still supported wirelessly.

Charging route planning via Google Maps is lightning fast and reliably schedules charging stops, including battery preconditioning. The only drawback is that the filter for charging providers isn't quite perfect yet and seems to focus more on payment providers.

Renault's own voice assistant, "Reno," is currently more of a nice gimmick that can tell jokes but hasn't yet reached the level of other AI assistants. A major highlight, however, is the optional [feature/feature/etc.]. Harman Kardon sound system (approx. 700 euros) – the bass is incredibly powerful thanks to the subwoofer in the compact interior!

Driving & Assistance: The Little Cornering Carver

With its 150 hp at the front axle, the Renault 5 E-Tech is a real joy to drive. It accelerates confidently, and the chassis strikes the perfect balance between comfort and sportiness. Renault has built a car here that displays true cornering prowess on country roads.

Fuel consumption is a definite strength: In everyday testing, the average was an excellent 14,1 kWh/100 km. This makes it easy to forgive the fact that the recuperation mode ("B-mode") unfortunately doesn't allow for true one-pedal driving down to a standstill – Renault should definitely address this with a software update.

The driver assistance systems operate at a high level. The "Active Assist" (adaptive cruise control + steering assist) performs almost as well as VW's Travel Assist. It reliably recognizes signs via camera, gently reduces speed before curves or town signs, and keeps the car well centered in its lane.

Store: Solid average, in its price range

The 52 kWh NMC battery can be charged via CCS at up to 100 kW (DC) and at a wallbox at 11 kW (AC). In our tests, we observed peak charging speeds of around 70 to 75 kW (reaching 68 kW at over 60% state of charge). Renault promises a charging time from 15 to 80% in just under 30 minutes. While not an absolute record-breaker, this is perfectly acceptable for this vehicle and price class. A particularly cool feature: the R5 is slated to be available with... Vehicle-to-Home and Vehicle-to-Grid Support via the AC wallbox.

My assessment

With the Renault 5 E-Tech, Renault has created a fantastic electric car that is far more than just a retro-designed object. The superb Google operating system, efficient drivetrain, and agile handling make it a perfect first or second car for everyday use. Those seeking ample rear passenger or trunk space won't be satisfied, but for those looking for a characterful, fun-to-drive car with excellent software, this is a very strong contender that certainly holds its own against upcoming competitors like the electric VW Polo.