Many cheaper electric cars have hit the market recently, but the Renault 5 is undoubtedly the most anticipated.

When Renault unveiled the concept version, in 2021our interests have been piqued. The production-ready version now sits before us, just as beautiful as that original concept.

The price is even more intriguing. Even after numerous price cuts, the Vauxhall Corsa Electric still costs almost £30,000. The Renault 5 E-Tech arrives a hair under 23k.

And don’t think you’ll be short of change either. The base model – dubbed Urban Range – uses a 40 kWh battery, providing a range of 190 miles. Step up to the Comfort Range model, £26,995, and you can enjoy 248 miles of driving between charges.

Models in the Urban range are equipped with a 120 hp engine, while the Comfort range produces 150 hp. The extra capacity comes from its larger 52 kWh battery.

With less than four meters in length, the Renault 5 E-Tech has a slightly smaller footprint than a Clio. From the inside, however, the space seems just as spacious. There’s a decent amount of head and legroom up front, while space in the rear is adequate for a compact model.

The trunk has a smaller capacity than most cars in this segment, at 277 liters. There is, however, additional storage space under the trunk floor for charging cables.

The concept car’s eye-catching styling turns a lot of heads, especially if you opt for one of the bolder color choices. Our test car was finished in Pop Yellow, which really accentuates the car’s retro styling.

Inside, Renault continued the retro theme with seats inspired by those in the original Renault 5. There’s also a two-tier padded dashboard that sets the 5 apart from other Renault models.

The Google-powered infotainment system is more familiar. Although in the 5, Renault has opted for a landscape orientation for the touchscreen. There’s a handy row of physical switches for the car’s climate control, but most functions are controlled via the screen.

We were impressed by the user interface, which was easy to use and had crisp graphics. The digital instrument cluster mirrors the main screen with an easy-to-read layout and customizable displays.

There’s a generous range of standard equipment across the three-tier range. The base “Evolution” benefits from keyless entry, LED headlights, smartphone integration and rear parking sensors.

The Techno is our favorite version. It comes with a larger 10-inch instrument cluster screen, compared to the base model’s seven-inch version, Google Connected Services, adaptive cruise control, a rearview camera and a ‘5’ pattern. » light on the hood which lights up when the car is moving. charge.

The top-of-the-line Iconic gets a heated steering wheel, heated front seats and blind-spot monitoring.

The Renault 5 is based on a new compact car platform for the brand. Called AmpR, it will equip a wide range of compact electric models from the Renault group.

It shares some suspension components with the Clio, although the calibration has been changed to handle the 5’s extra weight.

The refinement work is noticeable from the start. There’s very little noise intrusion at speeds below 60 mph and the 5 rides smoothly in urban environments. At highway speeds it remains composed and is a good long-distance cruiser.

The car’s agility benefits a more urban environment, where its very quick and direct steering allows for fun and agile progress. You can dart in and out of traffic gaps with ease, thanks to the responsive and immediate electric powertrain.

In rural areas the 5 remains pleasant to drive but the ride becomes a little harsh on hilly and rougher surfaces, such as typical British B-roads. The quick steering also feels slightly disconcerting in these conditions as the weight of the car causes it to wiggle a bit.

We only drove the more powerful 150 hp version. It’s set up well for city driving but feels a little dull at high speeds. Out of town, the throttle mapping seems dull, clearly calibrated to minimize wheel spin from the front-wheel-drive setup. We’re confident that a sportier version will eventually join the lineup, and considering the 5’s price and pool of competitors, it’s easily the best in class, currently.

Our tests returned 3.5 mi/kWh, which isn’t bad considering the colder temperatures of a winter afternoon in High Wycombe and the demanding nature of automotive photography. This puts the actual range at just under 190 miles. Under better conditions, we’d be comfortable putting at least 200 miles out of the car.

Charging speeds are 80 kW for the Urban range and up to 100 kW for the Comfort range. This should allow for a mid-trip recharge in around half an hour in either model.

As a company car, the Renault 5 exudes the same high level of appeal as the “new” Mini in 2001. It will be the “must-have” accessory of 2025 and, coupled with its benefits in kind tax rate by 2%, acquiring one through a company car program or salary sacrifice agreement will make financial sense.