Long-term test: Renault 5 month 6

So, after six months, it’s time to bid farewell to my long-term Renault 5.

There’s always a bit of a wrench when a long-term test car leaves. After many months, they inevitably become a fixture of day-to-day life.

But the R5’s departure isn’t just affecting me. My wife has fallen in love with “her” commuter car, which she’s nabbed regularly when I’ve been driving something else. And the eldest child has asked why we can’t just keep it to sit alongside the ID Buzz as the perfect two-EV garage.

The wee Renault has charmed its way into our lives and it feels like a genuinely ideal fit for us.

It has flaws. Some of the interior plastics are a little shiny and brittle. There’s really not much space in the back, and the low, dark roof means it doesn’t feel as airy or spacious as the similarly sized Grande Panda. And you have to be prepared for the stark difference in summer and winter range, when it drops to under 180 miles.

But those minor points aside, it’s been a phenomenal day-to-day companion. It’s coped with everything I’ve asked of it, and been my default choice of transport for virtually every trip.

Time and time again, when presented with a choice of cars to nip to the shop in, or to slot into the multi-storey at the airport, the Renault has been my go-to choice. Its compact size makes it perfect for supermarkets and the school run. Its lively platform and nippy motor make it a pleasure to drive. And its onboard tech – from the one-touch ADAS deactivation to the route planner that uses real-time battery data – makes it a doddle to use. On top of that, its retro styling still puts a smile on my face every time I look at it.

Yes, the 250-mile range means long trips will require charging stops. And the variation between summer and winter range is quite pronounced. But as a day-to-day family runaround, part-time commuter car it has performed brilliantly.

And it’s getting better. My car was an early model. Since it was built, the price has come down and Renault has added multi-stage regenerative braking and a one-pedal mode. What’s more, from next year it’s getting new, more efficient motors, which should push up the range of both battery variants.

As I write this, VW has just opened orders for its ID. Polo and Geely has just launched the EX2, both of which are direct rivals to the Renault 5. The Fiat Grande Panda has also finally arrived in the UK, the Cupra Raval is due any day now, and next year we’ll get the MG2.

That’s on top of the likes of the Mini, Citroen E-C3 and BYD Dolphin Surf, which are already on sale.

So there’s plenty of competition out there, some of it very capable indeed.

But after living with it for six months, the Renault 5 remains the small EV to beat for me.

Long-term log

• Arrived: January 2026
• Price as tested: £30,045 (excl. ECG)
• Mileage since arrival: 2,968
• Average consumption: 4.2m/kWh
• Monthly charging costs: £7.96
• Costs: None
• Faults: None