We’re used to all kinds of revivals and most of the time we’re left with a bitter taste and the awareness that some things will never come back. The new Renault 5 breaks the pattern and gives birth to a new hope for electric mobility. Hey Reno, I still feel like driving!

Words Andrea Albertazzi / Photos Gian Romero

Saturday afternoon has always been my favorite moment of the week. Today, it’s for a very specific reason — that unmistakable weekend vibe in the air — but when I was a kid, it meant my father would come pick me up from my soccer match in his Renault 5. Okay, it was a completely different car from the one that’s back in the lineup today. It was the GT Turbo, better known as the Black Widow because of its wild performance combined with a road behavior that was sometimes unpredictable and other times downright risky. It’s Saturday afternoon again; I’ve got a few more years on my shoulders and I’d better not run too hard on the playing field or I might end up in intensive care. The upside is that I’ve got the key (card) to the new Renault 5 in my pocket. A risky comparison, a constant parallel with a machine that powered millions of people from the 1970s through the mid-1980s.

When it was first unveiled to the public, everyone thought the production model would look nothing like the concept car. But the French had a surprised in store and gave us an incredible gift, because the version that hit the road just a few months ago is practically identical. The styling cues that recall the original little hatchback are obvious, though now adapted to larger dimensions and all the modern active and passive safety requirements. And then there’s the engine — or rather, the lack of one — since the new R5 is available only as a fully electric model and only in a five-door configuration. That might make a few people frown, but it quickly wins everyone over once you get to know it better.

As I walk up to it, I start to feel sensations that are increasingly rare in today’s automotive landscape. A sort of goosebumps moment, the instant when memories travel back a few decades. While I playfully check off all the design nods to its ancestor, I realize how much work the designers have put in, successfully blending those nostalgic touches with a thoroughly modern context. The result is stunning: a mix of charm and pure appeal. People often categorize cars by their segment, but trust me, especially when you see it in the metal, the R5 is one of the most beautiful cars on the market today.

Its dimensions are perfectly reasonable: just under 4 meters long (392 cm), 150 cm tall and 177 cm wide, with a 254 cm wheelbase that allows rear passengers to travel (at least short distances) without too much sacrifice for head or legs. First goal achieved, thanks to the AmpR Small platform, designed specifically for compact 100% electric vehicles. But the real place you’ll want to be is up front and that’s where the R5 truly leaves me speechless. The interior design is as good as it gets: sporty seats, a squared-off steering wheel, dashboard materials with visible stitching and a headliner featuring a checkered pattern. In short, not a single detail is left to chance, perhaps with the exception of that small recess near the wireless smartphone charging pad. There are two digital displays: a 7 or 10-inch driver display (depending on version) and a 10-inch touchscreen running Android Automotive with Google Maps. It’s fast, incredibly accurate and even calculates your charging stops.

Adding to the infotainment system is “Reno,” the digital assistant activated by voice commands, a charming and genuinely useful gadget, even for “mechanical” actions like opening the windows or adjusting climate control. The driving position is excellent and worlds apart from what you might remember in your parents’ old Renault 5. The only flaw is that the left A-pillar blocks visibility at the three-quarter angle and the crowded stalks on the right side of the steering column will likely have you activating the wipers when you meant to shift into reverse: a classic Renault quirk. And then? Then you drive, because the R5 is as delightful to drive as it is to look at. Being fully electric, it glides silently and effortlessly, proving just how far driving has come since the last time anyone mentioned a “new Renault 5.”

The 52 kWh battery pack delivers 150 horsepower and 245 Nm of torque, all to the front wheels. Having 35 hp more than the GT Turbo doesn’t mean it shares the same wild personality; after all, this is a car designed primarily for everyday life. Those 150 horses move its relatively light weight — for an EV — of just 1.5 tons with ease, both from a standstill and at midrange speeds. It hits 0–100 kph in just 8 seconds, with a hint of front wheelspin that cheekily recalls its rebellious ancestor, while the top speed is wisely capped at 150 kph to preserve battery juice.

Renault claims a WLTP mixed-cycle range of around 412 km and after testing it in every possible context, I found consumption perfectly in line with that figure. The range drops on the motorway, where regeneration is basically zero, but this is still a city-focused compact, one that can handle weekend trips just fine. In terms of energy saving, there’s a Brake Mode that increases regenerative braking, allowing for an almost “one-pedal drive.” The drive modes include Normal, Eco, Sport and Perso, the latter letting you customize driving parameters. The numerous ADAS systems can be switched off via a dedicated button, a feature every manufacturer should adopt.

The R5 surprises you every single day. Every morning, when I walk into the garage and look at it, I spot a new detail, a fresh nod to the past, or a clever touch I hadn’t noticed before. Like that little square on the hood that, instead of being an air intake, lights up the number “5” according to the remaining battery charge. Charging is quick too: up to 11 kW on AC and 100 kW on DC and with a relatively small battery, that means short charging stops. Once you’ve confirmed that it’s as sweet and satisfying to look at as your first chocolate donut after months of lettuce and artichokes, you’ll discover that it’s also fun and precise to drive even when you push it harder than it was meant to go. The front MacPherson struts and independent rear suspension make for confident cornering, without betraying the fact that the setup is tuned more for comfort than for sport — a role reserved for the Alpine A290.

I used to think driving fun required a loud engine and the urge to tear up asphalt, but the new R5 proved me wrong. It also proved something fundamental that many — manufacturers included — tend to forget about electric cars: with the R5, range anxiety simply isn’t a problem. You just drive and enjoy the car for its engineering and tech. That’s why it makes far more sense than those massive sedans or coupes with thousands of horsepower, where you’re constantly holding back your right foot just to preserve range. The R5 is like a teenager, unaware of limits and still driven by emotion rather than competition. It’s not just one of the best electric cars, it’s one of the best cars you can buy, period. And that’s what surprised me most of all: for perhaps the first time ever, the return of a legend has managed to surpass its predecessor. The R5 is the ultimate tribute, the electric future we can finally breathe easy about. And even though it’s not exactly cheap (the 150-hp version starts at around €32,900), it represents what I consider a true turning point. From now on, every compact car will have a new benchmark to live up to.

RENAULT 5 E-TECH

Engine Electric with 52 kWh Batteries Power 150 hp Torque 245 Nm

Traction Front Wheel Drive Transmission Single Speed Automatic Gearbox Weight 1.524 kg

0-100 kph 8 sec Top Speed 150 kph Price from€32.900 Range 412 km (as declared by the brand)