Renault 5 E-Tech will win you over with its French charm
Renault is mining its back catalogue for inspiration from its greatest hits, and now it has another one on its hands in the shape of the new R5, an EV with joie de vivre in abundance.
This is the latest in modern small car technology from a manufacturer that knows how to make great small cars, and it looks as good as it performs.
We took it on a short spin to Lough Ennell last week, and straight away it put us at ease. The fact that it’s an EV wasn’t the first thing that struck us – it was a design that manages to look like it belongs in 2025, and also has a clear lineage to the original Renault 5 from 1972.
Ritchie Hickey, sales manager at O’Briens in Mullingar, summed it up well: “The new Renault 5 appeals to all age segments. It taps in to some nostalgia for drivers of my own sort of age group, and it has brought in great interest from the younger generation as well, who see something that’s vibrant and fresh.
“It’s a movement forward for electric vehicles, with 150 brake horsepower, 350 kilometre range, fast charging capability, and something to suit everybody’s budget.
“We have hire purchase, we have PCP options, so there’s something there for everybody, and the specs range from the entry model Evolution car right up to the Iconic 5 top of the range, which has heated seats and adaptive cruise control and front and rear parking.”
The car we drove was the “Iconic in pearl white with a diamond black roof and the warm titanium finishing”.
It looks fantastic and it’s a lovely drive. It’s practical too, as it has five doors, though the design makes it look like a three-door, and decent space for a small car – but it must be said that more space for rear seat passengers’ feet would be welcome.
The range Richie quoted is a realistic one that reflects real driving conditions (the official figure is 410km, pending WLTP certification), and that’s much further than anyone would want to go without stopping.
If you do long journeys, you should be able to charge the car on the way or when you get there, and for regular use around a town like Mullingar, 350km should get most drivers through a couple of weeks at least.
Inside, the new R5 is comfortable and the controls are well laid out and logical. As it’s a battery electric car, performance is lively, as fast as anyone would want, and it’s smooth and comfortable.
It’s fun to drive and has huge appeal. It’s great value too, at prices from €25,995.