Renault 5 E-Tech Owner Review: Living with the 52kWh Iconic Five

Making the switch to my very first electric car came down to a combination of head-turning style and everyday financial common sense. First and foremost, it was the look of the new Renault 5 E-Tech that caught my eye. Renault has done an incredible job blending retro charm with a sharp, modern stance. Once I took stock of how sky-high petrol and diesel prices were getting, the decision to ditch the pumps and go electric became a total no-brainer.

I opted for the range-topping Iconic Five specification in striking Pop Yellow with a contrasting black roof and red roofline trim, finished off with an optional Union Jack decal on the roof. Mine is powered by the larger 52kWh ‘Comfort Range’ battery (54kWh gross) paired with the punchy 150 hp electric motor, and I also specified the Driver Assistance Pack and the upgraded Harman Kardon sound system.

On the Road: The Positives & Best-Kept Secret

Having covered between 1,000 and 5,000 miles since picking up the car in 2026, I can honestly say I don’t have a single negative to report about living with it! What I love most boils down to three things:

• Show-Stopping Styling: Between the vibrant yellow paintwork, the 18-inch Chrono diamond-cut alloys, the illuminated ‘5’ charge indicator on the bonnet, and the Union Jack roof graphic, the car puts a smile on your face before you even open the door.

   

• Effortless Speed & Fast Getaways: If you ask me what the best-kept secret of the Renault 5 is, it’s how fast it gets away from the start line. Thanks to the instant torque of the 150 hp motor, the nippy acceleration off the mark and the speed on tap whenever you need to overtake make it a joy to drive.

   

• Favourite Cabin Tech: The dual OpenR screens with Google built-in are super intuitive, and my standout tech feature is the voice control system. Being able to effortlessly adjust the radio volume and the air conditioning purely with voice commands means you never have to take your eyes off the road.

Battery Performance & Real-World Range

For day-to-day driving, I charge the battery to 80%, which gives me a solid real-world average range of around 170 miles.

Like all electric cars, the battery is mildly affected by the British seasons. Even though the car is fitted with a standard heat pump, as the colder autumn and winter weather approaches, I’ve noticed I get roughly 20 miles less range per charge compared to milder days—which is still more than enough for all my daily journeys.

Reliability & Dealer Support

Aside from the car performing brilliantly on the road, there has only been one minor hiccup since delivery: an issue with the car’s alarm sensor. Fortunately, my local Renault dealership tracked down the fault and has completely fixed the problem under warranty, leaving the car running faultlessly.

Home Charging & Running Costs

I haven’t needed to touch the public charging network once, as I do 100% of my charging at home on the driveway. We have a dedicated home wallbox charger installed, which has been completely reliable with zero issues.

To keep running costs to an absolute minimum, I pair our home charger with the Intelligent Octopus Go EV tariff. By plugging in at home and letting the smart tariff schedule the charging during ultra-cheap overnight off-peak hours, the cost of travel is a fraction of what I used to pay at the petrol station. Is the Renault 5 saving me money compared to my previous combustion car? Absolutely, yes!

What EV Is Next For Me?

Even if you offered to swap my keys tomorrow, I wouldn’t want to change a thing.

The Renault 5 Iconic Five suits my needs down to the ground—I’m completely sold on it and plan on sticking with it for a long time to come!

Review by JaneF