It's striking how many electric cars look exactly the same. Considerations such as battery capacity, wind tunnels and artificial intelligence help shape new cars in the same vein. Over time, brand identity can disappear, and with it customer loyalty.

 
When Renault launched an electric car with similarities to one of its biggest successes ever, the motive may have been to entice previous customers to choose Renault again when they switch to electric driving. If the company had chosen to make a completely ordinary electric car, the risk of losing customers to Chinese automakers increases.
 

What kind of car is the new Renault R5?

No one needs to fear Renault's electric cars. Renault, together with Nissan, has had success with its previous models. Moreover, the Renault 5 is not much more special than its competitors. It looks like a passenger car in the B-segment, but is built as a small Crossover/SUV on the Ampr/Small platform also used by Nissan and Mitsubishi. You sit so high that you can look down on many other cars. The battery pack is large for its class and is located under the passenger compartment. “Our” car has 55 kWh gross and 52 kWh net. This gives a WLTP range of 410 km, which is on par with similar cars from other manufacturers.
 
Before Easter I noticed that Motor Forum Oslo prepared cars for the car sharing service RentNow all the colorful cars are placed out in the city so that those who wish can unlock one of them and drive away via an app.
 

I've already studied the 5 up close several times before. One of the visual impressions that lingers is how poorly the two screens on the dashboard work together and how cluttered the information is presented. This surprises me because the software was developed in collaboration with Google.
 
When I previously drove the larger Renault Scenic E-Tech, I was annoyed that the volume knob for the radio was hidden, while a huge button for multisense – driving mode selection – was centrally located on the steering wheel. It is in the same place on the R5 as well. You can press sequentially through all the driving programs, with associated light changes and mood lighting in the car. But how often do you really need to change driving modes?

Encourages active driving

Inconsistent information is typically French. What is fortunately not typically French is how the Renault 5 behaves on the road. It is very stable in the corners. The steering is sharp, and can bring more driving pleasure than I expected. I would like a little more steering feel in the steering wheel – especially around the middle position. Nevertheless, you can feel the power from the wheels through the steering wheel when you let off the gas out of the corners. The chassis is well suited to active driving on winding country roads – and in my opinion this is the car's greatest strength. In return, you have to accept that it feels a little blunt over vertical bumps in the road – which is typical of small cars.

Small car feeling?

The high seating position and quiet interior give the feeling of driving a larger car. However, I often got the feeling of a French small car in the way the car moved from a standstill and at parking speed – even when the Comfort driving mode was selected.
 

In a car with a total length of 3.92 meters, compromises are required to make use of the space. The luggage compartment is 326 liters including a small compartment for charging cables. There was plenty of room in the driver's seat, but there was no room for me to sit behind myself. In this case, I couldn't get my shoes properly under the seat. Men's shoes in size 46 are considered very unusual in France.
 
“Our” Renault 5 has equipment level Techno w/ Pack Parking, Driving and Safety Assistant. This equipment package is required to get blind spot warnings in the mirrors. An important safety feature, especially if several people in the household drive the car. The same package also offers automatic parking. We were also followed by voice-controlled “Reno” on the road. He could find radio stations and destinations for us. Ask him about Terje's cars, he happily tells it with support in ChatGPT.
 

We took the car for a ride, among other things Oslo Fashion Outlet in Vestby to renew the summer wardrobe. In summer temperatures, consumption and range should not give any surprises. Nor did they. Even with a few miles on the highway, consumption did not exceed 13,28 kWh/100km. That would have given a total range of 390 km. Renault does not support single-pedal driving, but driving with regenerative braking provides an approximate function where you only need the brake pedal to a full stop.
 
The batteries can be preheated when you select a charging station in the navigation system that is registered by Google Maps. The maximum charging speed is 100 kW. According to Renault, you should then be able to charge from 15% to 80% in 30 minutes. With the on-board charger, the charging speed is 11 kW. When I plugged in the charger right after a trip in lovely summer weather, it quickly went up to 11 kW.
 

Standard or optional equipment?

I mentioned the competition from China earlier. Several car manufacturers are now focusing on retaining customers through retro design and brand loyalty. But at one point they may run into a wall in relation to their Chinese competitors. Much of what is standard in Chinese cars is optional equipment in European cars.
 

Below the VAT threshold?

The Renault 5 is a good candidate for cars that can be purchased below the VAT threshold of 300.000 kroner. There is a variant with a smaller battery and a range of 310 km, but I am sure that most people will prefer the large battery. A car in the “Evolution” equipment level barely crawls under the limit with the large 52 kW battery. Equipment such as a heat pump, non-adaptive cruise control, rear parking sensors and climate control are still standard. What you do not get, and cannot order additionally, is Google Maps and preheating of the batteries. Most of the relevant safety equipment is also in place. Unfortunately, the blind spot warning package cannot be ordered either, since the Evolution has simpler exterior mirrors.
 
What will cause the price to tip over 300.000 is the following:

• Any color other than “Pop Green” costs 12.375 kr (!)
• Winter wheels.
• Many people will probably buy alloy wheels for their summer tires and put their winter tires on the included steel wheels.
• Baguette holder (price unknown) 🙂

 
"Our" car is in the "techno" equipment level with a 52 kWh battery. This is a car that meets all the requirements for a good life with an electric car. It costs 339.900 kroner without paint surcharge and winter wheels. That's the price you have to pay for a Renault 5.

Facts Renault 5 E-Tech

See

Renault.no