This affordable Renault 5 is ready to become a bestseller

Developing an (electric) successor to a successful model is a challenge for many manufacturers. Renault is leading the way and sending the 5 Series into the world with a double mission.

“Renault was looking for a successor to the Zoe and the Clio,” says chief designer Laurens van den Acker. However, there was no budget to develop two completely new models. The solution: a new 5.

Renault 5

It’s not just the name of the Renault 5 that is identical to the classic car, of which the brand sold around 7.3 million units. The cars also have a similar purpose: affordable and versatile transportation for the broadest possible target group. When it comes to design, Renault certainly knows how to respond to moods. Not only does the body shape resemble that of its ancestors, Renault also incorporates some design features that reference the past.

For example, the daytime running lights are modeled on the fog lights of the Renault 5 Turbo and there is a charging indicator on the bonnet, where cold air is sucked in by a petrol engine in a classic car. That is no longer necessary today.

Powertrains

Under the hood of the Renault 5 there is an electric motor that drives the front wheels. This applies to 95, 120 or 150 hp. The entry-level car is aimed primarily at the car sharing market and has neither a fast charger nor bi-directional charging. With the 40 kWh battery, the range is 300 kilometers. The 120 HP version has the same battery, but can quickly charge up to 80 kW and charge bi-directionally.

The top model, the 150 hp Performance, has a larger 52 kWh battery and 100 kilometers more range. This Renault 5 can fast charge with 100 kW and also charge bidirectionally. The model sprints from 0 to 100 in less than 8 seconds and the top speed is 150 kilometers per hour.

If you want more sportiness, you can contact Alpine for an A290. The top model Renault 5 weighs 1,450 kilograms, the versions with a smaller battery pack weigh 100 kilograms less. Regardless of the model, charging is always possible with 11 kW at the public charging station.

Affordable

The cheapest Renault 5 starts at around 25,000 euros. The price of the much more attractive 120 HP and 150 HP variants will become clear as the market launch progresses. The 5 will be launched in the Netherlands in September this year.