Renault 5 E-Tech vs Volvo EX30

Tight in the back, but a riot to drive
2026
Urban Living Award
Winner
Carwow’s own expert rating out of 10 - how our reviewers rate this car overall for value, comfort, kit and driving experience
wowscore
9/10
Compact and minimalist, with serious city charm
Carwow’s own expert rating out of 10 - how our reviewers rate this car overall for value, comfort, kit and driving experience
wowscore
8/10

AI overview

Choosing between the Renault 5 E-Tech and the Volvo EX30 comes down to whether you prefer a retro hatchback or a minimalist electric SUV. Both cars offer head-turning styling and plenty of charm, though each comes with compromises in rear passenger space. The Renault 5 leans into its 1970s design influences with a fun interior and sharp handling that feels like a hot hatch, while the Volvo EX30 delivers a sleek, downtown studio apartment vibe with super-soft suspension and effortless comfort around town. Both models have tight back seats, but they reward you with distinctive personalities and standout road presence.

AI results may contain inaccuracies. Please check the details before making any financial decisions.

From prices stated are for the lowest priced version of the car. Price may vary based on the selected version.

From prices stated are for the lowest priced version of the car. Price may vary based on the selected version.

Choose it for

  • Its fantastic retro styling inside and out, darty steering, and a fun character that makes every city commute and country lane drive genuinely entertaining.

Worth knowing

  • The back seats are cramped for grown-ups and the entry-level model gets a smaller screen that misses out on the Google-based system.

Choose it for

  • Its super-comfortable ride, stylish minimalist looks, and a cool interior aesthetic that gives it plenty of badge appeal.

Worth knowing

  • All cabin controls run through the touchscreen, which can be irritating to use on the move.

AI results may contain inaccuracies. Please check the details before making any financial decisions.

Standard kit

  • Android auto
    Mirrors your Android phone's apps, like maps, music and messages, onto the car's touchscreen.
  • Apple CarPlay
    Mirrors your iPhone's apps, like maps, music and messages, onto the car's touchscreen.
  • Climate control
    Automatically keeps the cabin at a set temperature, rather than a manual heater dial.
  • Cruise control
    Holds a steady speed on the motorway without keeping your foot on the accelerator.
  • Parking Sensors
    Beeps that get faster as you get closer to something while parking.
  • Touchscreen infotainment
    A touch-operated screen for media, settings and (often) navigation.
  • Android auto
    Mirrors your Android phone's apps, like maps, music and messages, onto the car's touchscreen.
  • Apple CarPlay
    Mirrors your iPhone's apps, like maps, music and messages, onto the car's touchscreen.
  • Climate control
    Automatically keeps the cabin at a set temperature, rather than a manual heater dial.
  • Cruise control
    Holds a steady speed on the motorway without keeping your foot on the accelerator.
  • Parking Camera
    A rear (sometimes 360°) camera that shows what's behind you while parking.
  • Parking Sensors
    Beeps that get faster as you get closer to something while parking.
  • Touchscreen infotainment
    A touch-operated screen for media, settings and (often) navigation.

Key information

Body type Hatchbacks Body type SUVs
Available fuel types Electric Available fuel types Electric
Number of seats 5 Number of seats 5
Boot space, seats up 277 litres - 2 suitcases Boot space, seats up 318 litres - 2 suitcases Best
Boot space, seats down 959 litres Boot space, seats down 1,000 litres Best
External dimensions (L x W x H) 3,922 mm x 1,774 mm x 1,498 mm External dimensions (L x W x H) 4,233 mm x 1,953 mm x 1,573 mm
Towing capacity 500 kg Towing capacity 1,000 kg Best
First year tax rate £10 First year tax rate £10
Efficiency
Efficiency refers to how far an electric car travels on a given amount of energy, based on official tests. It is measured in miles per kilowatt-hour (mi/kWh).
4.3 miles / kWh
Efficiency
Efficiency refers to how far an electric car travels on a given amount of energy, based on official tests. It is measured in miles per kilowatt-hour (mi/kWh).
Battery range
This refers to how many miles an electric car can complete on a fully charged battery, according to official tests.
192 miles
Battery range
This refers to how many miles an electric car can complete on a fully charged battery, according to official tests.
209 miles Best
Battery size 40 kWh Battery size 51 kWh Best
Drive type Front wheel drive Drive type Rear wheel drive
Insurance
The insurance group the car sits in, from 1 to 50. The lower the group, the cheaper it usually is to insure.
Group 18 · good Best
Insurance
The insurance group the car sits in, from 1 to 50. The lower the group, the cheaper it usually is to insure.
Group 33 · high
Show full specs Hide full specs

Drivetrain & power

Engine name 90kW Urban Range 40kWh Auto Engine name 200kW P5 51kWh Auto
Engine size Electric • 120 BHP Engine size Electric • 272 BHP
Body type Hatchbacks Body type SUVs
Fuel type Electric Fuel type Electric
Transmission Automatic Transmission Automatic
Drive type Front wheel drive Drive type Rear wheel drive
Forward gears 1 Forward gears 1
Acceleration 9.0 s (0-60 mph) Acceleration 5.7 s (0-60 mph) Best
Battery size 40 kWh Battery size 51 kWh Best
Battery range
This refers to how many miles an electric car can complete on a fully charged battery, according to official tests.
192 miles
Battery range
This refers to how many miles an electric car can complete on a fully charged battery, according to official tests.
209 miles Best

Dimensions & space

Number of seats 5 Number of seats 5
Number of doors 5 Number of doors 5
Boot (seats up) 277 litres Boot (seats up) 318 litres Best
Boot (seats down) 959 litres Boot (seats down) 1,000 litres Best
Length 3,922 mm Length 4,233 mm
Width 1,774 mm Width 1,953 mm
Height 1,498 mm Height 1,573 mm
Wheelbase 2.54 m Wheelbase 2.65 m
Turning circle 10.3 m Turning circle 11.2 m

Full features list

  • Additional Metallic paint
  • Fabric - Mixed grey / black with tricolour stitching
  • Special metallic paint
  • Alarm
  • Keyless entry
  • Locking wheel nuts
  • Remote central locking
  • Thatcham approved immobiliser
  • 3x3 point rear seat belts
  • Active emergency braking system - Urban and pedestrian/cyclist
  • Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
  • Approaching vehicle sound for pedestrians
  • Automatic emergency braking system with intersection function
  • Curtain airbags
  • Driver airbag
  • Electric child locks
  • Electric parking brake
  • Electronic Stability Programme (ESP)
  • Emergency brake assist with collision avoidance braking (braking on impact])
  • Front and rear seatbelt pretensoners
  • Front side airbags
  • Height adjustable front seatbelts
  • Isofix child seat anchor points [2x rear + 1x front passenger]
  • Manual passenger airbag deactivation function
  • Passenger airbag
  • Seatbelt reminder
  • Traction control
  • Tyre pressure monitor
  • 7" digital driver information display
  • Bluetooth
  • Connected services including over the air updates
  • Cruise control + speed limiter
  • Driver attention alert system
  • Ecomode function
  • Engine start button
  • Exterior temperature display
  • Front safe stopping distance warning
  • Intelligent speed assist with speed sign recognition and overspeed warning
  • Lane departure warning system
  • Lane keeping assist with front and rear sensor
  • Miles per hour configuration
  • My safety switch: shortcut to personalise configuration of driving aids
  • OpenR link 10.1" central touchscreen multimedia system
  • Power assisted steering
  • Qrescue
  • Rear parking sensors
  • Service interval indicator
  • Speed alert
  • Speed limiter
  • Steering wheel mounted cruise control
  • Tailgate
  • Traffic sign recognition
  • Trip computer
  • Wireless smartphone replication and integration via Apple carplay and Android auto
  • e-Call (emergency call)
  • 1x LED 3rd brake reversing light
  • Automatic LED daytime running lights
  • Automatic LED front headlights
  • Automatic headlight levelling
  • Automatic high / low beam
  • Automatic windscreen wipers with rain sensor and sensitivity setting
  • Black door mirrors
  • Body colour roof with black roofline
  • Body coloured bumpers
  • Day and night rear view mirro
  • Electric adjustable door mirrors
  • Front and rear electric windows with one touch
  • Heated rear window
  • Heated windscreen washer nozzles
  • LED fog lights
  • LED indicator signal
  • LED rear lights
  • Manual folding door mirrors
  • Metallic paint
  • Rear band with "RENAULT" in grained black and satin chrome "5"
  • Rear side wing doors
  • Rear wiper
  • Variable intermittent front wash/wipe
  • Whip antenna
  • 12V socket in front
  • 2x Front interior lighting
  • 3 rear headrests
  • 3 seat bench in 2nd row
  • 6 way lumbar support
  • 60/40 split folding rear seat
  • Automatic air conditioning with climate control
  • Black urethane coating steering wheel
  • Cabin air filter
  • Fabric upholstery
  • Front door panel - Grained white/light grey plastic
  • Front fixed centre storage console
  • Front head restraints
  • Front seats with manual height adjustment
  • Heat pump
  • Luggage compartment light
  • Multifunction steering wheel
  • Pollen filter
  • Reach adjustable steering wheel
  • Single front passenger seat
  • Waffle roof lining
  • 2 front USB-C ports
  • Arkamys audio system
  • Digital radio
  • Steering wheel audio controls
  • 18" black diamond-cut alloy wheels
  • Tyre inflation kit
  • AC 11kW + DC 80kW
  • Bi-directional functionality - power to object [V2L]
  • Fireman access - hatch designed to flood the battery quickly if needed to contain and control battery fire
  • Home wallbox cable [mode 3, 6.5m]
  • SD pyro switch - disconnect the battery from high-voltage network to ensure safety as needed
  • Dashboard - Grained white / light grey plastic
  • Textile and Nordico - Indigo + Charcoal Headlining + Denim Deco Panel + Blue Air Vent Trim
  • Auto folding heated frameless power door mirrors
  • Automatic LED Headlights + Active high beam incorporating daytime running lights
  • Black door mirrors
  • LED 3rd brake light
  • Metallic paint
  • Rain sensor with automatic windscreen wiper activation
  • Rear side wing doors
  • Rear wiper
  • Variable intermittent wiper
  • 3 point rear seatbelts
  • Child locks on rear doors
  • Collision avoidance and mitigation by braking and steering
  • Door opening alert
  • Driver and passenger airbags
  • First aid kit
  • Hill descent control
  • Hill start assist
  • IC (Inflatable Curtains) - Full Length
  • Inner driver seat side airbag
  • Passenger airbag cut-off switch
  • Post-impact Braking
  • Rear collision warning and mitigation (RCWM)
  • Road sign information display
  • Run off Road Mitigation
  • SIPS (Side Impact Protection System)
  • Seatbelt pretensioners and load limiters (Front and Outer Rear Seats)
  • Tyre pressure monitoring system
  • WHIPS whiplash protection system - front
  • Warning triangle
  • 2 x NFC Access cards
  • Anti-theft alarm including immobiliser/volume sensor + level sensor
  • Digital key
  • Locking wheel nuts
  • Remote door locking and unlocking
  • 12.3" centre console portrait touch screen
  • 3 x Front and 2 x rear radars plus front vision camera
  • Adaptive cruise control
  • Android auto wireless
  • Blind spot information system with steer assist (BLIS)
  • Bluetooth handsfree system
  • Collision avoidance at intersection
  • Cross traffic alert with brake support (Front and Rear)
  • Driver alert control with lane keeping aid
  • Driver understanding system
  • Emergency call service
  • Forward collision warning
  • Front and rear park assist
  • Google automotive services - Enabled entertainment apps, navigation with google maps, voice recognition with google assistant
  • Intelligent speed assist
  • Power assisted steering
  • Rear park assist camera
  • Speed limiter
  • Volvo cars connect
  • Volvo cars services with app
  • Wireless apple carplay
  • 1 Zone electronic climate control
  • 12V socket in luggage compartment
  • 3 seat bench in 2nd row
  • Central glovebox and storage
  • Fixed lumbar support
  • Flexible load floor
  • Floor mats
  • Fore/Aft, height and backrest recline adjustable driver and front passenger seats
  • Front cupholders and storage
  • Front head restraints
  • Front load compartment (19 litres)
  • Height/reach adjustable steering column
  • ISOFIX attachment on outer rear seats
  • Mid level illumination (central tunnel light, front and rear cabin and reading lights, front door panel pocket light, luggage light)
  • Multifunction steering wheel
  • One pedal drive
  • Removable rear headrests
  • Single front passenger seat
  • Textile and Nordico upholstery
  • Vehicle 2 load capability
  • Versatile split folding rear seat - 60/40
  • 11kW 3-Phase On Board Charger
  • 5m 3 phase 32 amp type 2 / mode 3 charge cable
  • Comfort chassis
  • Plug and charge
  • Recharging port located in nearside rear wing
  • DAB Digital radio
  • External couple subwoofer
  • High performance audio 100W, (2 front type C USB sockets, dashboard soundbar with 4 speakers)
  • Low speed exterior sound speaker
  • 18" 5 Spoke aero alloy wheels with summer tyres
  • Tyre sealant kit and compressor

From prices stated are for the lowest priced version of the car. Price may vary based on the selected version.

From prices stated are for the lowest priced version of the car. Price may vary based on the selected version.

*Please contact the dealer for a personalised quote, including terms and conditions. Quote is subject to dealer requirements, including status and availability. Illustrations are based on personal contract hire, 9 month upfront fee, 48 month term and 8000 miles annually, VAT included.