New Renault 5 revealed as retro-styled electric supermini

The covers have finally come off the hotly anticipated Renault 5 supermini, with the retro-styled EV arriving as the French brand’s answer to the Mini Cooper E and Fiat 500e.

Set to arrive early next year, the Renault 5 is the first of several new electric models, which bears a near identical design to the concept that was first shown in 2021 as part of the firm’s new Renaulution plan, spearheaded by Renault Group CEO Luca De Meo.

When the 5 launches in the UK, the entry-level car should cost less than £25,000, making it one of the most affordable electric cars on sale and cheaper than the BYD Dolphin (£26,140). 

The 5 will soon be followed by Renault 4, which takes inspiration from the original car from the 1960s, 70s and 80s, but will launch as an electric SUV that will do battle with the Peugeot e-2008, Vauxhall Mokka and MG ZS EV.

Renault’s crucial new supermini sits on the firm’s new electric architecture called AmpR Small, which is based heavily on the platform that underpins the Nissan Juke and Renault Clio.

Being shorter in length than the Clio, Renault focussed heavily on reducing weight and space for the 5. As such, the electric supermini's new electric motor features a new inverter which saves 15kg and around 3cm in length. 

Renault has also reworked the layout of the car’s battery modules in order to shave further kilograms. The standard 40kWh power pack is arranged using three modules, which each use 31 cells, resulting in a weight of 240kg.

The larger 52kWh pack gets an extra module, and 46 cells in each, which means the overall weight comes in at 300kg.

All in, the new 5 (fitted with the 40kWh battery) weighs just 1372kg; that’s less than the Fiat 500e and Mini Cooper E. 

The 52kWh version is heavier, weighing 1449kg, making it marginally lighter than the Vauxhall Corsa Electric (1469kg). 

The weight-saving engineering process has been key to Renault’s focus on driver engagement, with the firm stating early in the 5’s development that the car must offer a high dynamic ability. 

Beyond the weight-saving, Renault has fitted the 5 with multi-link rear suspension to broaden the car’s handling ability. 

Performance-wise, the 5 is available with a choice of power outputs: 94bhp, 121bhp and 148bp. Both batteries will be offered in the UK, with the entry-level 40kWh version offering a range of 186 miles, while the larger 52kWh model will promise a range of up to 249 miles. 

Cars fitted with the smaller battery will be able to charge at speeds of up to 80kW, while the 52kWh battery can accept up to 100kW – that’s the same as the Fiat 500 and Mini Cooper E. 

In terms of design, the Renault 5 stays true to the concept that was first seen in 2021, taking significant inspiration from the original 5 that was sold between 1972 and 1996. 

Only a few styling tweaks have been made for production: the front headlights now feature a square LED signature when the main beam is off. 

At the rear the 5 now features black trim instead of a light bar, which also gains the Renault 5 logo in full rather than the firm’s iconic diamond logo. 

Renault has also integrated a charging indicator on the bonnet, which is a reference to the cooling vent on the original car. The charging indicator fills up with light, allowing drivers to check the range of their vehicle without getting inside. 

Inside, the 5 neatly blends modern Renault design with cues to the classic 5 turbo. The main event is the large 10.1in digital driver display and infotainment screen, which sits high up in the dashboard. 

Pleasingly, Renault has retained some physical buttons for some functions, which sit below a pair of air vents.

The dashboard takes inspiration from the Renault 5 rally car and is finished in a number of different fabrics depending on the chosen trim level. 

You won't be able to spec leather trim, however, with Renault opting for more sustainable fabrics instead. In fact, 18% of the car's material content is recycled.

The new Renault 5 will be built at the French brand's ElectriCity hub in northern France from mid-2025, with the firm's smaller Twingo EV set to follow in 2026.