Renault offers a four-year warranty on its latest EVs – 12 months longer than the warranty for its combustion engine-equipped cars – and this runs up to 100,000 miles.
The French marque offers a selection of service plans for the 5, too, with a three-year agreement priced at around £12 a month for 36 months.
Renault 5 alternatives
The fight in the small, desirable supermini segment is between three retro-inspired models. MINI is the brand that Renault will want to emulate most, and there’s a new generation of models in both electric and petrol forms that represent the R5’s biggest rival.
Both the bigger-battery R5 and Cooper SE feature similarly sized 50kWh-ish packs, front-mounted motors and around 250 miles of range. The MINI has three doors compared with the Renault’s five, and while an electric five-door MINI isn’t yet on the cards, there is an alternative in the MINI Aceman to consider.
The key difference is that the R5 significantly undercuts the MINI, which is quite a feat at this end of the marketplace. It’s not as if Renault has skimped on standard equipment in order to achieve this, and while the R5 is relatively compact inside, it still beats the MINI for both rear-seat and boot space. The MINI is the more engaging drive, but it also rides more firmly, which ultimately limits its appeal as a daily driver.
Sitting below both R5 and MINI is the Fiat 500, a model that’s more aligned with the smaller 40kWh R5. It still can’t get close to the R5’s circa-190 mile range, sitting at around 140 miles, and is more than a tad under-nourished when it comes to standard equipment. Spec it up, and it’ll cost more than an equivalent R5.
The Renault’s vital statistics also compare well to those of more mainstream electric superminis such as the Vauxhall Corsa Electric and Peugeot E-208. Spec-for-spec, the R5 definitely shows the Stellantis pair a clean set of heels.
So the R5 is great value, and as such, it also stands as one of the first in a new era of more affordable EVs that will rapidly come on stream. This includes cars such as the BYD Dolphin Surf, Citroen e-C3 and Fiat Grande Panda, all of which have a price of entry below the R5. So while the R5 looks on point right now, things will change.
Renault 5 pictures
Frequently Asked Questions
We love it. The combination of retro-inspired looks, grown-up driving dynamics, a punchy electric powertrain and decent range mean it’s a very convincing small EV.
