Those of you who regularly read our column know that we have been following the new Renault 5 since the French showed it as a concept. In the spring of this year, they also demonstrated the serial version, and now, in Nice, they conducted the first dynamic tests of the model. Our team was at the location of the event, and our impressions of the new electric car are mainly positive.
Exterior
The new Renault 5 E-Tech is the first in a series of retro-inspired electric cars from the French manufacturer, unashamedly taking design inspiration from the original from the early 1970s. However, the details and technology under this cute shell are extremely up-to-date. The main thing that made a strong impression on us is that the French have managed to make an electric car that is extremely pleasant to drive, which is mainly due to the fact that its weight (for an electric car) is quite low.
The romantic and at the same time super modern look of its car has only two direct rivals - Fiat 500e and Mini Cooper Electric. And without hesitation, we can say that Renault has coped with the difficult task of making a modern car with a retro look. We drove the new Renault 5 at its European media launch in and around the city of Nice in France, battling city traffic, spending some time on a fast-moving motorway and quite a bit of driving on the fun twisty roads along the Cote d'Azur.
Interior
Generally speaking, the interior of the "five" is a combination of modern technologies and materials with some retro details. The front seats are the most comfortable, which should come as no surprise in a compact car like this. They deserve a special mention as their H-backs mimic those of the original R5 Turbo with decent side bolsters that keep you in place without pinching your kidneys.
The seat upholstery varies depending on the version, although it is always made from recycled materials. But to the touch it does not feel cheap at all. Upholstery has a denim-like quality on lower trims, or a gray finish with bold yellow panels on top trims. The fabric is tactile to the touch, as an interesting solution is that it is also present on the padded instrument panel in front of the passenger. This, as well as the textured roof lining, is in keeping with the retro design inside, although the rectangular air vents do reference the distinctive light signature up front, seen in the protruding fog lights.
Behind the massive steering wheel is a fully digital dashboard with a 10-inch display in front of the driver and a 10.1-inch touchscreen for the multimedia. The multimedia system itself is the latest generation of our well-known Renault OpenR, supported by Google software, which makes it much easier to work with. Assuming you use Google Maps and already have a Google account, the car seamlessly connects to the rest of your online life.
Fortunately, not everything on the dashboard is touch sensitive. There's a separate set of physical switches underneath that are used to control the heating and air conditioning. Along the steering wheel and mainly on its right side, there are also physical joysticks, so not everything is done via the touchscreen, which is good, at least in our opinion.
While the buttons on the steering wheel are solidly made and easy to use, the space around the steering wheel is a little crowded, especially on the right, as there is an individual lever for the volume and music controls, as well as one for the wipers, and there's also the role-playing selector on a gear lever. Its position is not the most comfortable, but the owner will probably get used to it quickly enough.
Positioning the drive selector, however, frees up space between the front seats, and there the French have fitted space for a wireless phone charger, cup holders and a bit of extra storage.
As for the driver's position, the seat and steering wheel are particularly comfortable and have all the necessary adjustments, so most sizes and shapes of drivers should find a suitable driving position. The seats also proved to be comfortable after a long day behind the wheel.
It is worth remembering that with a length of less than four meters, the Renault 5 is a compact mini. Judging by this, the rear legroom is more than acceptable, with the new electric platform playing a major role in this. The cabin has a completely flat rear floor, with the downside of the back row being that there are no air vents or charging ports to be found there. And there are three seat belts in the back, but the middle seat is only for children. However, two feel completely comfortable.
To compensate, the trunk is decently sized, holding 326 liters of cargo. It's more than what the direct competitors offer, and it's also functional with its neat "pocket" on the floor that is large enough to accommodate the charging cable as well. In addition, the rear seats split 60:40 and fold down if you need to fit a longer load.
Engine and driving characteristics
Renault 5 is only built on an EV platform, so don't expect a petrol version in the future. The electric motor is mounted in the front, making this car exclusively front-wheel drive, but there is a choice of power and battery capacity. Here is a brief overview of the specifications of the car we tested:
Drive Single-motor electric
Battery 52kWh lithium-ion
Power 110 kW
Torque 245 Nm
Drive wheels Front
Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h 8.0 seconds
Energy consumption - during our test 16kWh/100km
Requested range – WLTP 410km
Max. AC charging speed 11kW
Maximum DC charge 100kW
The battery is located under the passenger compartment floor between the wheels and comprises four separate modules. They can be replaced individually in case of cell failure or damage. There is also a firefighter access hole at the top of the battery to allow it to be fully flooded in the event of a fire.
And when you drive this car, you will realize that the chassis of the Renault 5 has that particular playfulness that we have only encountered in the Mini Cooper and that brings a smile to the face at any speed. However, the R5 is not as bold and has a "flabby" steering wheel. The steering feels light and a bit unresponsive at low speeds and normal driving modes. However, this advantage is compensated by the Sport mode, in which the steering becomes direct and responsive.
Renault has worked hard to keep the weight under 1,500kg, and that's admirable in a world seemingly dominated by two-tonne electric cars. And of course, the biggest weight – that of the battery – sits low under the cabin floor, which definitely benefits the ideal distribution and low overall center of gravity. This is immediately apparent in the way this car handles a series of corners, feeling nimble yet stable. With minimal roll in corners and a more neutral stance than most front-wheel drive cars.
The instant torque of the electric motor also adds to the fun as the car quickly recovers any lost speed. This is especially useful in busy urban environments, as you can weave in and out of traffic jams with the dynamics of a motorcycle.
Button on the steering wheel labeled “Multi Sense“ allows quick selection of Comfort, Eco, Sport or Perso driving modes (this is the individual mode you can customize), but these modes only change the throttle response and steering. However, the feeling is different and tangible.
With a power of 150 horsepower, the performance gradually runs out as the speeds increase, but this is felt only after 140 km/h and we can safely say that the new Renault R5 E-Tech has enough power for normal and fun driving at the same time. In fact, regardless of weight and power, it is the torque that, when pressing the right pedal, can overcome most difficulties on the road in an instant.
However, the car is not unruly and the stability control works perfectly. And the brakes deserve special attention. Many electric and hybrid vehicles suffer from inconsistent brake pedal feel due to the complex requirements of balancing braking energy regeneration to charge the battery and traditional friction brakes. And in this respect, Renault engineers could teach others, as the R5's pedal is incredibly well judged.
In other words, the new R5 manages to combine fun with versatility, so even those who just want to get from point A to point B will find it fun and comfortable at the same time. The suspension is surprisingly comfortable for such a small car, making the ride comfortable, smooth and exceptional at absorbing bumps. The car is also quiet, even by EV standards, with little road noise, barely audible whispers from the front-mounted electric motor, and well-repressed aerodynamic noise.
Conclusion and prices
Renault 5 E-Tech electric will be available in our country in five equipment levels: Five, Evolution, Techno, Iconic Five and a special Roland-Garros series.
The first cars that can now be ordered in Bulgaria are in Techno and Iconic levels. Both levels are equipped with a 52 kWh battery with a comfortable range of up to 410 km according to WLTP (real about 350 km), as well as a system that allows charging up to 80% in under 30 minutes with up to a 100 kW DC charging station.
The prices of the new Renault 5 E-Tech electric in Bulgaria start from BGN 66,490 for the Techno level and BGN 70,490 with VAT for the Iconic level. But subsequently, a cheaper, but also less powerful and smaller battery version will appear, which, according to the preliminary statements of the representatives of the brand, will cost 25,000 euros or less than 50,000 BGN.
From everything said so far, we can conclude that considering the prices of electric cars, the new R5 E-Tech is an attractive proposition, impressive with a different look, driving pleasure and last but not least - excellent comfort for a car of this size.
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