Aero tweaks, LFP battery and fresh options for retro electric supermini’s second birthday
The Renault 5 has received a range boost and a choice of new colours as part of a light update aimed at boosting its competitive edge against new rivals.
After two years on sale, the retro electric supermini has been made more efficient with slicker new mirrors and lower trim, which means both versions now crack slightly more miles per charge.
The entry-level Urban Range car, with a 40kWh battery, now manages 196 miles officially (up three miles), while the more popular 52kWh version has had its 255-mile range boosted to 267.
Renault has also announced that the entry-level car will swap its 40kWh battery for the smaller Twingo‘s 36.5kWh LFP unit in the coming weeks – as previously reported by Autocar – which is said to be more energy-dense than the current lithium-ion unit so will concede just six miles of range.
It will be capable of charging at up to 6.6kW domestically, or up to 80kW at a public fast charger – slightly slower than the other variants.
LFP batteries are cheaper than lithium-ion, but Renault has yet to confirm whether this new entry-level model, dubbed Five, will cost less – if it comes to the UK – than the current cheapest R5, which starts at £21,495.
The technical tweaks come alongside the addition of new personalisation options, including a new shade of red borrowed from the closely related Nissan Micra, alongside which the R5 is built in Douai, France.
Buyers can also now specify a star-pattern roof and have the choice of a grey roofline, in addition to red. Techno and Iconic trims also come with the option of gold wheels, which in combination with the midnight blue paint (below) are reminiscent of those fitted to the old Clio Williams.
Inside, the seats in Iconic cars are now finished in blue and grey, rather than yellow.
There’s also a new wireless phone charger, said to be capable of adding 50% of battery to your phone in an hour, while preventing overheating.
Plus, the Multi-Sense drive mode selector button has been removed, as the R5 now gets a ‘Smart’ function which adjusts the driving mode according to throttle inputs. You can still change between Sport, Eco, Comfort and Individual using the touchscreen or voice control.
A Renault spokesperson told Autocar that plans to launch the updated R5 in the UK remained “under review”, with no timings or specific trim details given at this stage.
