A hit from the 80s, the Renault 5 takes a leap into the future with a modernized, 100% electric model with strong appeal. The city car, unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, hopes to make a resounding return to a hyper-competitive market.
[Mis à jour le 26 février 2024 à 11h10] It was in Switzerland, as part of the Geneva Motor Show, that Renault lifted the final veil on its new R5, returning in 2024 forty years after it left the manufacturing plants having marked the minds of millions of motorists. Definitive because the French manufacturer has multiplied the teasers, particularly since December, to give a taste of its future city car and fuel impatience among its customers. It even unveiled, in May 2023, a special Roland-Garros edition during the French Open Tennis Championships which was to be 95% faithful to the production model.
Assembled in its factory in Douai, in Hauts-de-France, this 21st century R5 will be 100% electric, part of the diamond brand’s project to release six “green” models by 2030 with its new Ampere entity. In an increasingly competitive market, the R5 E-Tech, which will replace the Zoé in the Renault catalog, will try to find a place for itself, alongside the new Peugeot e-208 (more expensive) and Citroën ë-C3 (cheaper) while trying to counter competition from Asia and mainly China. Set to become the new queen of electric city cars at Renault, the R5 E-Tech was undoubtedly the most anticipated release of the year. Let’s go and discover this revisited model.
What information do you need to know about the new electric R5?
- Launched in 1972, the R5 remains recognizable almost 50 years later by its characteristic features. We find the DNA of its elder, star of the 80s, starting with its very compact size – it measures only 3m92 in length. To perfectly match its neo-retro style, the city car, which clearly stands out from the brand’s other models, will be available in five colors (pop yellow, pop green, night blue, pearly white and starry black) while special series will be offered later.
- The front of the vehicle transports us to a futuristic era with a light signature which gives a quite original 3D effect. The hood ventilation grille of the R5 of yesteryear has been replaced by a large charging indicator which fits perfectly with the city car’s new electrical identity. The iconic number 5 lights up when the driver approaches the vehicle and fully appears when the battery is fully charged.
- The shape of the optics on the front of the future R5 has changed somewhat. Less rectangular than on its 80s predecessor, they take the shape of an eyebrow but don’t fool anyone: the nod to the headlights of the first version is quite obvious.
- Reminders of the original R5 are found absolutely everywhere. From the side grille to the wheels via the rear trunk, fans of the cult city car will be delighted by admiring the flat hood like the roof line and the straight, inclined tailgate. Note also the roof strip colored in black and a red border which begins at the level of the front pillar of the car and surrounds the roof (it is presented in gray on the night blue model).
- The wide wheel arches, symbols of the Renault 5 of yesteryear, will always be a marker of the famous model of the diamond brand. For the French manufacturer, “they broaden the silhouette of the R5” and “reinforce its unique and immediately recognizable character, like the R5 Turbo.”
- The rear lights of the new R5, very thin, are placed horizontally as an extension of the sides of the bodywork. “This element contributes to the aerodynamic performance of R5, avoiding penalizing air swirls,” indicates the brand. These optics also incorporate aerodynamic deflectors, enough to give a real modern look to this 21st century Renault R5!
- As for the exterior, the interior of the new R5 contrasts with that of the latest releases from the diamond brand (Scénic, Rafale, Clio). The furniture had never been seen before and Renault chose to install the central screen in the extension of the meter. Slightly inclined towards the driver, this 10.1 inch panel is positioned horizontally (quite rare for the manufacturer). As is now fashionable in the automobile, the interface includes a new voice assistant which accommodates ChatGPT to be able to answer any questions passengers may have during journeys.
- Renault plays the originality card to the fullest with upholstery that contrasts with the usual cold colors of our vehicles. The R5 E-Tech offers two colors for its seats, either in “jean” blue or yellow. The manufacturer is also pleased to use fabrics made from 100% recycled material on the Techno and Iconic Cinq finishes.
The engines on the electric Renault R5
Renault had already communicated on the city car’s engines even before its appearance on its stand in Geneva. The manufacturer will offer two NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) batteries. At its launch, the R5 E-Tech will be equipped with a 52 kWh battery, which will give it a range of up to 400 km in the WLTP cycle. It will then be available with a smaller battery, 40 kWh, which should allow it to travel 300 kilometers on a single charge. The electric motor, made in Cléon in Normandy, will be offered with three power levels: 150, 120 and 95 horsepower. The maximum speed is electronically limited so as not to exceed 150 kilometers/hour.
When will the new Renault R5 be released?
The small electrified city car, presented at the end of February as part of the Geneva Motor Show, will be marketed from September. The version with the 52 kWh battery will be the first to be delivered, followed by the version with the smaller 40 kWh battery. For its most impatient customers, Renault had opened its pre-orders even before its official presentation with the possibility of purchasing a “R5 R Pass digital queue jumper” for 150 euros.
What will the price of the electric Renault R5 be?
If the prices are not yet official, at the end of November, Renault announced that the Renault R5 E-Tech would cost “around 25,000 euros” at entry level, namely without additional options and with the smaller 40 kWh battery. With the 2024 ecological bonus set at 4,000 euros, the price of the city car will therefore barely exceed 20,000 euros. For the most modest households, eligible for a discount of 7,000 euros, you will have to pay around 18,000 euros to get behind the wheel of the new R5.
Initially, Luca Di Meo, boss of Renault, wanted to display a base price below 20,000 euros, excluding bonuses. This is what Citroën has managed to do, which will offer, only in 2025, another version of its ë-C3 from 19,900 euros before deduction of the ecological bonus. The R5 E-Tech will however evolve a notch above in terms of its equipment but will still come up against competition from the small Citroën, as well as that of the Fiat 500e and the future Dacia Spring as well as the very successful Peugeot e-208 at a much higher price (34,000 euros).