A budget electric car available to buy for just over £20,000 is scooping up Car of the Year prizes with experts branding it a “game-changer”. The new Renault 5 looks the business, handles well and comes in at an attractive price point - a perfect recipe to genuinely cut through the noise and become a market leader in 2025.
In October, the Renault 5 was officially the UK’s best-selling electric car, outselling the Tesla Model Y. Outside of sales figures alone, the EV hatchback, named after the original Renault 5 which launched in 1972, is causing a stir among industry leaders. The Renault 5 E-Tech picked up the ‘Best Electric Small Car’ prize at the 2025 What Car? Electric Car Awards in September.
This has followed further success with the model scooping the European "Car of the Year 2025" award, as well as similar prizes from Top Gear.com and Business Car magazine. Car magazine even described the E=Tech as a “fab game-changing EV” en-route to a five-star review.
So why has the Renault 5 E-tech been so well received? A dose of nostalgia has certainly helped, but also because the car is genuinely fun to drive. WhatCar? said the model was a “brilliant all-rounder” that simply proves why motorists “don't need to spend big money to go electric”.
They praised the model for its light and accurate steering and comfortable ride, which copes well with poor surfaces. The E-tech is fitted with a 150hp electric motor which can achieve a top speed of 93mph and hit 0-62mph in around eight seconds.
Inside, the Renault 5 E-Tech boasts a retro design while embracing the benefits of modern comforts and technology. The centre console is equipped with a large infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto also installed.
Higher trim models come with added extras such as heated seats and even a heated steering wheel. According to Carwow, the Renault 5 E-tech is “one of the most affordable electric cars you can buy” with road users able to get their hands on the car for just over £20,000.
Renault’s RRP price for the model varies depending on trim, with costs likely to range between £22,995 and £30,195. However, it is possible for motorists to get behind the wheel of the French EV for just £208 per month.
