Renault 5 E-Tech Techno+ (2026) Owner Review: From EV Sceptic to £7-a-Month Electric Convert

Back in May, I vowed that I would never contemplate owning—or even driving—an electric car. My wife kept chatting to EV owners at a local public charging point while I continued to voice my objections. Eventually, thinking that if we actually carried out a test drive she would finally give up on the idea, I volunteered to take the new Renault 5 E-Tech out for a spin.

It was the biggest “mistake” I ever made!

I immediately loved the car—the retro-modern styling, the punchy 150 hp performance, and the way it handled. Four months into ownership of my first-ever EV, I still thoroughly enjoy it and genuinely look forward to every drive. Strangely enough, I even enjoy plugging it in and charging it. The only other cars I have ever enjoyed this much over the years were my various old Citroëns!

Positives, Negatives & Daily Life Behind the Wheel

Look at my car on the driveway in its eye-catching Pop! Green paintwork with the contrasting black roof, red roof-arch detailing, signature bonnet charge indicator, and 18-inch diamond-cut alloys, and it has bags of character.

• What I Love Most: Honestly, just sitting in it! The standard Techno+ cabin (complete with its signature recycled denim trim and dual 10-inch screens) feels special every time you open the door.

   

• The Best-Kept Secret: Quite simply, it makes me smile every single day.

   

• Favourite Tech: I love the speed limiter—it is genuinely intuitive and very useful on today’s roads (and not only for me!).

   

• The Only Frustration: If there is one downside to the cabin layout, it is the restricted over-the-shoulder visibility caused by the width of the B-pillars. Aside from that, the large 195/55 R18 tyres fitted as standard across the Renault 5 range mean replacement tyres are quite pricey for a compact car.

   

Real-World Range, Efficiency & Reliability

My car is fitted with the larger 52 kWh Comfort Range battery. Over my first 1,000 to 5,000 miles on the road, both the battery and build quality have been faultless:

• Average Range (80% Charge): Around 225 miles.

   

• Real-World Efficiency: I haven’t noticed any battery degradation at all. Even with the recent drop in ambient temperatures reducing the overall range slightly, the car is still returning an impressive 4.8 miles per kWh.

   

• Reliability: I have experienced zero issues or faults since taking delivery.

   

Home Charging Setup & £7-a-Month Running Costs

Because I do all of my charging on my driveway at home, I haven’t needed to use the public charging network once.

• Home Wallbox: I have a myenergi zappi GLO unit installed on the wall. It was very easy to set up and is refreshingly simple to live with—it uses a single multi-colour LED to show where the car is in its charge cycle, backed up by a straightforward, uncomplicated smartphone app.

   

• Energy Supplier & Tariff: We are with Utility Warehouse (UW Club). Setting up their overnight EV tariff gave us a very good off-peak rate (depending on your bundle of home services). The only hiccup we had was an initial delay getting the tariff activated because their internal system was being upgraded, though UW refunded all the additional electricity costs once the tariff went live.

   

• Insurance: I insure the car through the AA. There were no downsides at all, and the premium wasn’t much different from insuring our previous car (the Renault 5 Techno+ sits in UK Insurance Group 21E–23E).

   

• The Savings vs Diesel: My average home charging energy cost is approximately £7 to £8 per month! Our previous car was a 2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class diesel; even though it was frugal on fuel, it still cost us around £60 to £70 a month in diesel on top of expensive servicing bills. (Prices correct as of November 2026)

   

Final Verdict: What’s Next on My EV Radar?

Nothing else comes close.

If I had to look at the rest of the electric car market tomorrow, there are no other EVs on my radar—the vast majority of modern electric cars are far too large and bulky, while other small EVs simply don’t attract me.

At 3.92 metres long, the Renault 5 E-Tech hits the sweet spot, and this former EV sceptic is thoroughly smitten.

Review by Fred