Read Caroline’s Renault 5 review for everything you need to know about buying Renault’s chic new electric car in Ireland in 2025.
The Renault 5 is one of the hottest cars to arrive in Ireland in some time. It marks a new chapter for Renault in small electric cars – the brand that brought us the pioneering Renault Zoe all those years ago.
But the 5 leans into Renault’s extensive back catalogue of icons and gets an electric makeover for the 21st century with an all-new bespoke EV platform, traffic-stopping style and a retro-feeling cabin that truly charms.
There are two battery options and the new Renault 5 goes on sale priced from €25,995.
Let’s take a closer look.
Design
Inspired by the original chic French city car that first debuted in 1972, the 2025 Renault 5 brings all its retro charm but with a modern twist that’s completely on point. It’s hard not to be immediately enamoured by it. It’s friendly face will remind you of the original but with a few quirks like the playfully-designed headlights that ‘wink’ as you open the car, and the display on the bonnet that flashes a visual estimate of the amount of charge in the battery as you approach it.
Then there’s the colour palette. Renault hasn’t held back with the vibrant Pop Yellow and Pop Green, as well as Midnight Blue, Arctic White and Diamond Black. Bi-tone versions are available and come with a different colour roof. Special decals are also available for the roof and front doors for even more personalisation.
There are three trim levels for Ireland: Evolution, Techno and Iconic. The Evolution sits on 18-inch steel wheels, while Techno and Iconic come with 18-inch alloys with a unique design for each trim level.
Renault 5 Interior
The 5 has a retro-inspired interior with quirky material finishes and fabric upholsteries that differ depending on the trim level. For example the mid range Techno has a sort of blue denim-like fabric, while the Iconic gets a grey and yellow fabric finish trimmed with black synthetic leather that enhances the retro vibes.
There’s plenty of modern tech like a digital driver display and 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone connectivity. Opt for the Techno or Iconic and the system also includes in-built Google, with clever apps like Google Maps and Google Assistant at your fingertips.
There are some quirks however like the bewildering array of stalks to the right hand side of the steering wheel. And no P for park on the gear selector like in most automatics.
The cabin is cosy and driver-focused, but some drivers might prefer the more spacious, open feel of a Hyundai Inster for example.
Standard features include wireless smartphone charging. Techno adds a parking camera. Iconic versions are loaded up with niceties like heated steering wheel, heated front seats and adaptive cruise control.
Practicality
The 5 is a small car but has a respectable 326 litres of boot space, which compares well to rivals like the Hyundai Inster and Peugeot E-208. It is quite small in the back for passengers so legroom will be tight for anyone other than small children. An Inster is more accommodating in this regard.
On the plus side, there are three Isofix points: on the front passenger seat and the outer two seats in the back.
What is the range of the Renault 5?
There are two lithium-ion battery options available. The 40kWh offers a WLTP range of up to 300 kilometres, while the 52kWh offers up to 410 kilometres.
In real world driving during my summer test, I noted average consumption of 13.6 kWh per 100 kilometres, which bodes well for real world range.
Driving the Renault 5
The Renault 5 is a front wheel drive small car no matter which battery you go for. Where they differ is in the range they offer, but also the power on tap. The 40kWh uses a 120hp motor, while the larger 52kWh uses a more powerful 150hp motor.
On the road, the 5 feels swift and responsive to drive like most small electric cars. There’s up to 245Nm of torque and 0-100 in 8 seconds. Its compact dimensions make it ideal for nipping through traffic, manoeuvring around car parks and parking in small spaces.
The steering is light and there’s not a huge amount of feedback, but it’s still moderately good fun to drive once the roads get a little twistier. However, it does feel more unsettled over poorer surfaces on rural roads.
Motorway driving is surprisingly refined for such a small vehicle, with a comfortable ride and good noise insulation.
Charging
The Renault 5 can charge at up to 11 kW AC but can also avail of faster DC charging. However the maximum rate does differ depending on model chosen. The 52kWh has the fastest 100 kW DC rate, but no matter which version you go for you’re good for a 15-80% in 30 minutes at a suitably rapid public EV charger.
Vehicle to load charging is also possible with a special adaptor for the charging port to power other household devices.
Renault 5 Price
The Renault 5 40kWh starts from €25,995 in Evolution trim, from €27,995 for the Techno and from €29,995 for the Iconic. Opt for the 52kWh battery and you will immediately find yourself in a mid-spec Techno priced from €30,995 or the top of the range Iconic from €32,995.
Is the Renault 5 a good car?
With its eye-catching design and smart electric engineering, the Renault 5 stands out as one of the most exciting small EVs to hit Irish roads in 2025. It’s not without its quirks and space limitations, but utterly adorable all the same.
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Written by Caroline Kidd
Founder and Editor of Changing Lanes, Juror for Irish Car of the Year
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