Charming and electric Zoe successor has arrived.
Are we now showing photos of the 2021 Renault 5 concept again? No, because this is the Renault 5 as you can actually buy it later this year!
Anyone who does not know that the Renault 5 is returning can probably be found on the internet for the first time in years. The first rumors about this car came before the unveiling of the concept car, which in turn was followed by the promise that the market introduction would follow in 2024. In the meantime, we were able to provide you with spy images, teasers, patent plates and all kinds of bits of information, so the Vijfje has been keeping people busy lately. The wait has now come to an end, because this is definitely the production-ready Renault 5.
Appearance
The newcomer is officially called ‘Renault 5 E-Tech Electric’, but ‘Renault 5’ also suffices and we also see Renault using the historically correct ‘R5’ here and there. Everything is allowed, reports the importer. According to its makers, the appearance of the new EV is inspired by both the original 5 and the later ‘Supercinq’ and even the powerful 5 Turbo from the 1980s. We recognize the seats and the (fake) opening of the latter, among other things. the outside of the rear light units, while the Supercinq served as a source of inspiration for the front and the rear is reminiscent of all appearances of the 5. For example, the sloping tail and high, vertical rear light units are typically ‘5’, but now completely modern. LED technology and a smart fusion of materials make these units true pieces of art, with the opaque black parts seamlessly transitioning into the illuminated parts and the ingenious ribbed shape smoothly guiding the wind to the rear. There is also creative play with lighting at the front. The pupil-like LED elements in the headlight units are striking, but the ‘window’ in the hood is even more striking. It refers to the air intake that the first Vijfjes had here and shows how full the battery is, at least with an attached charging cable, by means of a glowing ‘5’.
The 5 in this ‘air grille’ gives an indication of the charging status when the charging cable is connected.
Size and space
Unlike the Fives of old, the new one is always a five-door hatchback, although the rear door handles are discreetly concealed. It will not surprise anyone that the newcomer is much larger than before. However, with a length of 3.92 meters, it is 9 centimeters shorter than a Clio and even 16 centimeters shorter than the Zoe, which replaces the 5 as a compact EV in Renault’s range. The wheelbase is 4 centimeters shorter than that of a Clio, which means the overhangs at the front and rear are still nice and short. The Renault 5 has 18-inch wheels as standard, uniquely large for this segment.
The luggage compartment is not uniquely large at 326 liters, if only because both the Zoe and the Clio (if non-hybrid) are more spacious. However, it is quite usable. If you want to take more with you, you can attach a trailer of up to 500 kg. Sitting at the back is just fine with a height of 1.84 metres, but it certainly doesn’t help. The high floor also creates a somewhat uncomfortable seating position, so the rear seat is especially suitable for children.
Interior
With vertical stitching on the right side of the dashboard and a special motif in the headliner, an attempt has clearly been made to give the interior of the 5 some retro elements, but the car still looks modern on the inside. Renault opts for a striking cockpit layout with a center console clearly facing the driver. Although we recognize various parts from other Renaults, the atmosphere on board is very different from, for example, a Megane E-Tech. This is partly due to those nods to the past, but also to the horizontal orientation of both screens and the striking ventilation grilles, which are also placed horizontally. The use of color can be safely called creative and varies greatly per version. For example, the top version Iconic Cinq has largely yellow upholstery as standard, while the Techno has many blue accents. The multimedia system runs on Android Automotive technology from Google and therefore has Google Maps, supplemented with other apps as desired. Compared to other Renaults with this system, it has a playful layer, including in the form of avatar ‘Reno’. That digital assistant has the shape of a Renault wybertje and is a kind of digital embodiment of the voice assistant.
Contrary to what is said in the video, chairs with this striking shape are indeed standard.
Platform and drivetrain
The Renault 5, which is simply built in France, is the first car to use the AmpR-Small platform. This was previously also called CMF-B-EV. This basis is not completely new, because to reduce costs, Renault has used the front suspension of the Clio and the Captur, among other things. According to the French, the battery pack is much simpler in design, especially because it consists of only four large modules. In all cases it concerns an NMC battery with maximum energy density and Renault is therefore leaving the LFP solution without rare earth elements for what it is. With four modules, the 5 has 52 kWh, good for a yet to be specified driving range of about 400 kilometers. There will also be versions with 40 kWh, which is achieved by mounting only three of the four modules within the same housing. With this smaller battery, the Renault can travel about 300 kilometers.
The front-mounted electric motor is very similar to that of other electric Renaults, but is available in different power variants. The basic version has 95 hp, but the stronger 120 hp variant also has the 40 kWh battery. The provisional top version has 150 hp and the larger 52 kWh battery. Fast charging is possible here with a maximum of 100 kW; the 40 kW version keeps it at 80 kW. Due to the smaller battery capacity of the latter, the battery is full again in half an hour in both cases, at least if you see 80 percent as ‘full’ and the starting point was 15 percent. ‘One-pedal driving’ is initially not available on the Renault 5, but that will soon change. During the unveiling we learn that the Renault 5 will at a later stage get paddle shifters like the Megane E-Tech. With these paddles you can adjust the degree of recuperation while driving, with the most intense version bringing the car to a complete stop without the intervention of the brake pedal.
Prices and introduction moment
The charger of the Renault 5 is also interesting. As promised, the Renault can charge bidirectionally, with V2L and Vehicle-to-Grid functionality. Your energy supplier must also be ready for that, but still. The entry-level version with 95 hp does not have this charger, but what is worse is that this version also does not have a DC fast charging option. Anyone who occasionally has a longer journey should therefore continue saving. The good news: the 5 does not have to be expensive after all. The party starts at 25 grand, making the new Renault 5 one of the cheapest EVs on the market. This basic version only follows a few months after the more expensive versions. They will appear this year: the market introduction of the Renault 5 is planned for September 2024.