Renault 5 E-Tech: The experimental electric vehicle of a legend.
The Renault 5 E-Tech electric vehicle, with its 52 kWh battery and 150 horsepower, impressed with its extremely low power consumption in real-world testing.
First launched in the 1970s, the Renault 5 was once an icon of urban mobility in Europe, especially with its award-winning Turbo versions.
More than 50 years later, Renault revived this line with the Renault 5 E-Tech, a modern all-electric model that retains its distinctive design but boasts comprehensive upgrades in technology and performance.
While the original model made its name with its Turbo versions winning rally races, the Renault 5 E-Tech today is positioned as a compact, modern, and environmentally friendly urban electric car.
Performance test results at each speed
In the real-world test, the Renault 5 E-Tech was tested on the same two-way road at a constant speed, in near-ideal ambient temperatures of 19°C.
At a speed of 60 km/h, the car achieved a fuel consumption of 8.8 kWh/100km, the lowest among all tested vehicles, thanks to its light weight and compact size, outstanding characteristics of its predecessor.
When accelerating to 90 km/h, the Renault 5 E-Tech maintains superior performance compared to its competitors. Despite its angular, retro design, which results in a less-than-optimal drag coefficient (0.32 Cd), the car still scores points with its impressive fuel efficiency.
At its top speed of 130 km/h, the Renault 5 E-Tech struggles due to low drag and limited battery capacity. The car vibrates considerably at this speed, indicating it's not suitable for sustained driving. However, with a range of approximately 240 km on a full charge, this is still a commendable result in its segment.
Urban planning
The Renault 5 E-Tech offers a combination of retro design, compact size, and modern electric performance, ideal for urban users. Despite its relatively small battery capacity, the efficient powertrain allows the car to achieve an impressive driving range.
A detailed review will be published soon, but it's safe to say Renault has succeeded in recreating the spirit of the Renault 5 in the electric vehicle era.
