Renault 5 E-Tech Long-Look Review: Britain's Favourite Small EV?

> True Motion Auto Verdict: 9/10 > The Renault 5 E-Tech is that rare thing — an affordable EV with genuine desirability. Retro-charming to look at, genuinely good to drive, nicely made inside and keenly priced from £22,995 (less the EV grant). Range is merely adequate and the rear is tight, but as an all-round affordable small EV it's close to peerless. Britain's favourite small EV? Quite possibly, and deservedly. > > UK prices shown before the Electric Car Grant (£3,750 on Comfort Range / £1,500 on Urban Range).

The EV that made affordable feel desirable

Here's what the Renault 5 achieves that almost no other affordable EV manages: it makes going electric on a budget feel like a choice you want to make, not a compromise you settle for. It brings genuine "want one" factor — desirability, charm, character — to a very affordable, practical, everyday small car. That's a genuinely new thing, and it's why the accolades have piled up.

The 5 was named What Car?'s overall 2025 Car of the Year, its Small Electric Car of the Year 2026, and Parkers' Best First Car 2026. Those aren't participation trophies — they reflect a car that's exceptionally well judged. After a proper long look, we understand the fuss entirely. This is one of the best small EVs on sale, and one of the most likeable cars at any price.

Why it works: charm with substance

The 5's appeal starts with the retro styling — a clever, characterful homage to the original Renault 5 that looks fantastic and stands out in a sea of anonymous superminis. But crucially, its beauty isn't just skin deep. The 5 is genuinely good to drive — well-sorted, composed, and (in a segment where most cars are merely competent) actually enjoyable, especially around town where it excels.

The interior is the pleasant surprise. Despite the affordable price, the 5 doesn't feel cheap inside. The design is cool and characterful — air vents echoing the broken-square shape of the daytime running lights, clever use of fabrics and synthetic leathers, an absence of nasty plastics where your hands fall. It punches well above its price on cabin quality and desirability. A twin-screen setup (a larger 10.1-inch infotainment across most of the range) keeps it modern.

The numbers

| Spec | Renault 5 E-Tech | |---|---| | Price (list) | £22,995 – £30,695 (before EV grant) | | Batteries | 40 kWh (Urban Range) / 52 kWh (Comfort Range) | | Range (WLTP) | 194 miles (40 kWh) / 255 miles (52 kWh) | | Real-world | ~200+ miles (52 kWh, moderate conditions) | | EV grant | £3,750 (52 kWh Comfort) / £1,500 (40 kWh Urban) | | Trims | Evolution / Techno+ / Iconic Five+ (+ Roland Garros+) | | Dimensions | 3,922 mm long | | Sweet spot | 52 kWh Comfort Range + Techno+ trim |

The larger 52 kWh battery is Renault-built in-house, which qualifies it for the full £3,750 grant; the 40 kWh pack is sourced externally and gets only £1,500 — a meaningful reason to favour the bigger battery beyond just range.

Living with it

A brilliant town car, a capable everything-else. The 5 excels at urban driving — compact, nippy, easy to place, genuinely fun in traffic. It handles motorways and country roads competently too, though it's happiest in the city. For the commuting, errand-running, school-run life most small cars lead, it's superb.

Value that's hard to beat. From £22,995 (and as little as ~£20,940 cash with dealer savings, per Carwow) — less the grant — it's exceptional value. Spec-for-spec it shows the Vauxhall Corsa Electric and Peugeot E-208 "a clean set of heels," and undercuts a comparably-equipped Mini Cooper SE.

The grant maths matter. With the full £3,750 grant on the 52 kWh car, the value becomes genuinely incredible. Factor the grant in while it lasts — it materially changes the affordability calculation.

Where it falls short

We're honest even about a 9/10 favourite:

Range is adequate, not generous. 194 miles (40 kWh) or 255 miles (52 kWh) WLTP is fine for a small EV but doesn't lead — a Peugeot E-208 offers a touch more (~268 miles). For most buyers doing town and regional driving it's plenty; for regular long trips, look at Renault's larger models or a longer-range rival.

Rear space is tight. It's a supermini, and the rear seats and boot reflect that. If you regularly carry adults in the back or need lots of cargo, the upcoming Renault 4 reboot (roomier) or a bigger car will suit better.

The heated-seats annoyance. In the UK, heated seats require the top Iconic Five+ trim — a genuine irritation, as they're exactly what you want for short winter journeys without hammering the range via the cabin heater. Other markets offer them as a cheaper option; UK buyers are stuck upgrading.

Fiddly stalks. The column stalks are an un-ergonomic blot on an otherwise refreshingly common-sense interior — too many functions, awkwardly arranged.

The competition

Hyundai Inster / Citroën e-C3: the closest affordable rivals — the choice often comes down to which you like the look of most, as all three are rated highly. The Inster is a strong all-rounder; the e-C3 is cheaper but shorter-range (~199 miles).

Peugeot E-208 / Vauxhall Corsa Electric: the Stellantis pair — the 5 beats them spec-for-spec on value, though the E-208 edges it on range.

MG4: more space and range for the money — the practical-value alternative if charm matters less to you.

Incoming: the BYD Dolphin Surf, Fiat Grande Panda and others are arriving below the 5's price — the affordable-EV field is about to get much more crowded, so the 5's value crown may not last.

Who should buy it

Buy the Renault 5 if: you want an affordable EV you'll actually love — charming, well-made, good to drive, keenly priced — primarily for town and regional use, and you value desirability and character alongside sense. Get the 52 kWh Comfort Range in Techno+ trim (best value, full grant, best range). For a first EV or a stylish second car, it's close to ideal.

Look elsewhere if: you need maximum range or rear/boot space (bigger car or the Renault 4), you want heated seats without paying top-trim money, or you're happy to wait for the cheaper incoming rivals.

The bottom line

The Renault 5 E-Tech is a genuine landmark: proof that an affordable small EV can be desirable, characterful and lovely to own rather than merely sensible. It looks fantastic, drives well, feels far more expensive inside than it is, and starts at a keen £22,995 before a grant that can knock £3,750 off. Range is adequate rather than generous, the rear is tight, and the heated-seat policy irritates — but these are quibbles against a car that's close to peerless in its class. Britain's favourite small EV? On this evidence, deservedly so. Buy the bigger-battery Techno+, take the grant, and enjoy one of the most likeable cars on sale.

• The Renault 5 E-Tech is a multi-award winner (Car of the Year 2025, Small EV of the Year 2026) — an affordable EV with genuine desirability
• Retro-charming, genuinely good to drive (especially in town), and far nicer inside than its price suggests
• From £22,995 before the EV grant (£3,750 on the in-house 52 kWh battery, £1,500 on the 40 kWh); WLTP range 194/255 miles
• Downsides: merely adequate range, tight rear space, heated seats locked to top trim (UK), and fiddly stalks
• The sweet spot is the 52 kWh Comfort Range in Techno+ trim — best value, full grant, best range

Key takeaways

• The Renault 5 E-Tech is a multi-award winner (Car of the Year 2025, Small EV of the Year 2026) — an affordable EV with genuine desirability
• Retro-charming, genuinely good to drive (especially in town), and far nicer inside than its price suggests
• From £22,995 before the EV grant (£3,750 on the in-house 52 kWh battery, £1,500 on the 40 kWh); WLTP range 194/255 miles
• Downsides: merely adequate range, tight rear space, heated seats locked to top trim (UK), and fiddly stalks
• The sweet spot is the 52 kWh Comfort Range in Techno+ trim — best value, full grant, best range