Long-term test: Renault 5 month 5: Mum's the word

Matt’s mum takes the wheel of her first EV in the name of science and nostalgia

It’s widely accepted that your family cars from childhood stick with you.

The whole “we used to have one of those” nostalgia is a common theme and the reason that some people get all misty-eyed about bland mid-spec repmobiles with cloth seats.

I’m as guilty of that as anyone. I’m 100% sure that part of the reason I’ve been such a fan of the Renault 5 since it was first unveiled is because my parents had one when I was little.

I have fond memories of being strapped into my brown and orange car seat and taken here, there and everywhere (including Belgium) in our 1981 R5.

(Image: Matt Allan)

Providing a particular hit of nostalgia is the fact that my current long-termer is white with a black roof, just like the car from my childhood. Yes, the black roof this time isn’t vinyl, and the wheels are 18-inch diamond-cut alloys rather than 13-inch steelies, but in my rose-tinted vision, they could just about be the same car.

It’s not just me, though. My mum said something similar, which of course led me to suggest she gave the new car a whirl to see how they compare and to drive an EV for the first time.

I’ve spoken to some people, young and old, who are terrified at the idea of driving an electric car. They seem to think there’s some massive leap in driving skill required. Not my mum, though. As she pointed out: “It’s just a car, at the end of the day”.

So as soon as I’d pointed out the column-mounted drive selector, she was off as if she’d been driving EVs for decades.

“It’s pretty zippy, isn’t it?”, she quickly opined which, from a woman with a notoriously heavy right foot, should be seen as a compliment.

Instantly, she was completely at ease with the feel and response of the R5. Even the braking regen – sometimes an odd sensation to EV newbies – didn’t phase her and within minutes she was using it to help decelerate rather than diving for the brake pedal.

“It feels really solid, it doesn’t meander like little cars used to,” she pointed out, before praising the comfort and quietness – a major improvement over our old X-reg original. Quelle surprise!

She was slightly dubious about the range, especially when I mentioned the impact of winter, but admitted that 200 miles was still more than enough for her largely local usage.

What I found pleasing was that, beyond how much she enjoyed the driving experience, the things that stood out to my mum were largely the same things I like so much about the car.

As soon as she got in, she wanted to know where the lights and wipers were and was delighted that they were exactly where she’d expect them.

Within minutes she had the reckoning of all the major physical and screen-based controls. “It’s just normal and easy”, was her observation. She was also thoroughly in favour of the My Perso Safety button to silence the bings and bongs, and the electronic indicator tone – not something I think I’ve ever noticed.

As motoring writers sometimes we worry about minutiae that “regular” drivers don’t care about. So it was reassuring that the wee Renault’s qualities really are the things the everyday driver cares about.

So, was her spin in our long-termer enough for her to consider swapping out her hybrid Toyota for an EV? Yes, but not for a Renault 5. Sadly, its low entry height and limited rear space didn’t suit her ageing back or need to regularly transport grandchildren. Perhaps a Renault 4 instead…