Overview

The Renault 5 E-Tech has finally been revealed at the 2024 Geneva Motor Show, following a long wait after the Renault 5 concept was revealed all the way back in 2021. Unusually, the production version isn’t all that different and features many of the same styling cues taken from the classic Renault 5 of the 1970s.

The new version of the Renault 5 will be a rival for the Fiat 500 and MINI Electric, both models that take after classic city cars and have been very successful over the years with their retro design themes. Following on from the reveal of the latest version of the smaller Renault Twingo, it’s clear now that the new 5 (or R5) will compete with the 500 and MINI for customers looking for a trendy, upmarket small electric car.

It will use technology from the Renault Clio and Renault Captur, although the new 5 uses a platform called AmpR Small that’s made for electric cars only – so it’s not just a Clio with a retro-styled body. It’s only 3.92m long, which is shorter than many of the conventional electric superminis that it will compete with.

There will be two battery options in the Renault 5, yielding versions with 121bhp and 148bhp motor outputs for UK buyers, the latter able to get from 0-62mph in under eight seconds. Range is likely to be from 186 to 249 miles depending on the battery size; read on below to see more details on the technical specifications.

Ahead of the reveal, Renault announced the ‘R5 R Pass’ for £150. It’s something like a paid pre-order, which allows you to spec your car 10 days before orders open to the general public and have a priority build slot. You also get a model of the car and some other benefits.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about the reborn Renault 5 EV in our comprehensive guide to this exciting new model.

Renault 5 price and release date
The Renault 5 will cost from 25,000 Euros in France, according to the maker, but there’s no word on a price for UK cars yet. It’s likely that British buyers won’t have access to the least powerful model in the range that will be available in France. That could push the Renault 5 price up to around £30,000 here. That kind of level would still undercut rivals such as the MINI Electric.

As for the Renault 5 release date, we expect to see cars arrive in the UK from early 2025, just under a year on from the reveal at the 2024 Geneva Motor Show.

Renault bosses have also hinted that the Renault 5 is destined for a long lifespan of up to 15 years and will get regular updates each year rather than being the same for a few years then getting a big ‘facelift’. The model will follow the lead of models like the Fiat 500, which remained almost the same for many years before a significant update. When the design is right from the start, there’s less reason to make huge changes and more incentive to continually improve the car.

The original Renault 5 concept was a delightful little EV that had us all swooning when it was unveiled in 2021. It represents the start of a new era for Renault, as it taps into its vast heritage to create what it hopes will become future classics, starting with the production version of the internet-breaking Renault 5 show car.

The good news is that the production car looks just like the brilliant concept. It shares the concept’s chunky proportions and compact five-door body, with only a few small changes to the profile. Its 18-inch wheels and short wheelbase help to keep this production version as good-looking as the concept car.