The Renault 5 occupies a rare place in European motoring culture. More than just a small hatchback from the 1970s, it became a symbol of freedom during fuel crises, offering affordable, efficient transport with just enough flair to lift the national mood.

Cheap to buy, easy to run and quietly stylish, it sold in vast numbers and embedded itself into everyday life across France, Europe and further afield.

That legacy is exactly why the arrival of an all-electric Renault 5 has carried so much weight. Retro revivals are nothing new, but this one had to get the fundamentals right. It needed to be accessible, desirable and, crucially, fun. The good news? Renault appears to have nailed it.

The new Renault 5 E-Tech Electric is instantly recognisable. Compact, squat and unapologetically playful, it borrows heavily from the original car and the iconic Renault 5 Turbo, blending nostalgia with sharp modern detailing. It’s the sort of car that causes people to stop, point and smile — something that can’t be said for most small EVs.

“Renault has clearly spent time thinking about how the car should feel, not just how it should function”

Pricing is equally important to the story. The range starts at £21,495, rising to just under £27,000 at the top end. That places it firmly in “attainable” territory, especially in a market dominated by increasingly expensive electric crossovers.

Cabin curiosities

Renault has clearly spent time thinking about how the car should feel, not just how it should function. The seats are supportive and trimmed in fabrics that reference the original Turbo models, while the overall cabin design is clean, cheerful and far more upmarket than the price suggests.

Two digital screens handle driver information and infotainment duties, but they don’t dominate the interior or make it feel void of a personality.

Plus, the infotainment runs on Android, so a constantly-connected Google Maps is the native navigation system and it’s possible to download all manner of apps. A solid offering at this price.

There’s character woven throughout the experience, too. The front lights perform a subtle welcome animation as you approach, and an external battery indicator — styled like the Turbo’s old air intake — gives a quick visual readout of charge.

Optional extras include a bespoke wicker basket designed to carry a baguette, which sounds ridiculous until you realise it perfectly sums up the car’s charm. It knows exactly what it is.

Plus, a little digital Renault logo, dubbed Reno, takes care of voice control, meaning you can change key car functionality using voice prompts. It looks a little bit Microsoft’s Clippy from Microsoft Office (remember that?) and it’s about as useful, but cool nonetheless.

Warmed through

On the road, the Renault 5 feels like a small car should. It’s light enough to be engaging, nimble enough to enjoy on a twisty road and compact enough to make urban driving genuinely easy.

At just under 1.5 tonnes, it avoids the bloated sensation that plagues so many electric cars, and its short overhangs make tight parking spaces far less stressful.

It’s not a hot hatch, but it doesn’t pretend to be. Instead, it delivers a balanced, confidence-inspiring drive that suits its role perfectly.

There’s enough poke to keep things entertaining, while the suspension setup gives it a planted, composed feel that encourages you to point it towards a twisting mountain pass, rather than avoid it.

Alpine arguably offers the full-fat RS version in the A290, which not only looks more purposeful, it also packs some seriously racy technology. But that’s a lot more expensive. The charm here is how fun it is, without the outlay. Proper old-school hot hatch vibes.

Crucially, the R5 E-Tech also works as an everyday car. Five doors make access easy, the rear seats are usable for adults on shorter trips, and the boot is deep enough to handle weekend bags or a decent food shop. Remarkably, it’s also rated to tow up to 500kg — something almost unheard of in the electric city car segment — which only adds to its sense of versatility.

Range is pegged at around 250-miles on a single charge in the large battery variants, which is perfectly fine for casual use but will likely be a drain for those commuting larger distances. Max charge speed is also 100kW, so expect to hang around a bit during top-ups.

Power to the people

Renault has resisted the urge to overcomplicate things. Physical buttons remain for climate control and key functions, and there’s a simple shortcut to disable intrusive driver aids. Everything feels intuitive and well judged, avoiding the frustrating learning curve that comes with many modern EV interiors.

“Optional extras include a bespoke wicker basket designed to carry a baguette”

What makes the Renault 5 special isn’t any single feature, but the way it all comes together. It’s affordable without feeling cheap, modern without being sterile and nostalgic without relying on gimmicks. In a market dominated by oversized, expensive electric cars, it feels like a welcome return to something more human.

It’s a small electric car that’s fun, approachable and genuinely desirable . If electric motoring is going to win over the masses, this feels like exactly the kind of car to do it, so long as you can live with the regular recharging.