Style and substance: we compare the Renault 5 to the MG4 Urban

The new MG4 Urban is an interesting car – it’s a cheap electric vehicle that focuses on its interior space. It’s cavernous in the back seats and has a huge boot.

The Renault 5 is one of our favourite EVs and its focus is somewhat different. It has a smallish boot and cramped back seats, but it’s fantastic to drive and almost as good to look at with its cool retro styling.

The two cars are pretty evenly matched when it comes to price and to driving range, but is one notably better than the other? Let’s compare them and see.

Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.

Renault 5 vs MG4 Urban: price and specs

	Price (after grants)	Power	Range	Charge speed
MG4 Urban	From £21,995	148/158hp	201–258 miles	82/87kW
Renault 5	From £21,495	120/150hp	192–251 miles	80/100kW

It feels as though MG took the Renault 5 very carefully into consideration when deciding how to position the MG4 Urban – the two cars are really well aligned.

MG4 vs MG4 Urban: what’s the difference between these two cars?

The Renault 5 range starts at just £21,495 when you take the government’s EV grant into consideration – all versions of the 5 qualify for it.

The MG4 Urban has a slightly higher starting price at £23,495, but with MG’s own government grant-matching £1,500 price reduction it’s only £500 more expensive than the 5. Both cars get alloy wheels, two screens, wireless smartphone connectivity and climate control in their basic specs – but the MG4 does tip the balance with built-in navigation and a reversing camera, plus vehicle-to-load capacity.

The MG4 Urban is more powerful, with 148hp beating 120hp in the Renault 5. It also has the edge for range, with 201 miles claimed versus 192 miles in the Renault 5.

Step up to the more powerful, large-battery versions of each car and you’ll find there’s again about a £500 price difference. Here the Renault 5 gets some extra kit though, including ambient lighting and a reversing camera, more closely matching the MG4.

The Chinese car once again pips it with 158hp versus 150, and 258 miles of range versus 252 miles in the Renault 5.

The top-spec versions of each car are once again closely matched but now the Renault starts taking points with nice touches like a Harman Kardon sound system, larger alloy wheels and some nice styling touches. The MG4 Urban by contrast looks a little more staid.

Renault 5 vs MG4 Urban: styling and interior

No questions here – the Renault 5 is without a doubt the more stylish car. The MG4 Urban isn’t bad looking, but its bodywork looks a bit blobby and bloated next to the sharp-edged and nicely-proportioned Renault 5.

The 5’s just packed with neat touches – the bonnet-mounted charge indicator, stacked taillights and square daytime running LEDs all look seriously cool. It helps, of course, that the Renault 5’s styling is inspired by the iconic model of the same name from the 1980s – so there’s a bit of nostalgia going on.

The MG4 Urban does get some nice touches too. The creases on the bodywork are inspired by the Cyberster roadster, and the taillights look a bit like a deconstructed Union Jack if you squint. But it also looks like quite a tall car riding on very small wheels, and that’s just not a cool look.

It’s much the same story inside. The Renault 5’s stacked dashboard design and fabric trim just looks really good – the MG4 Urban’s dashboard is neat, but dull. And while the MG4 uses one of MG’s best touchscreen infotainment systems yet, it’s nothing like as easy to use or as full-featured as the Android-powered setup on the Renault 5, which has native support for things like Google Maps as well as the ability to install third-party apps with ease.

Renault 5 vs MG4 Urban: practicality

The Renault 5 isn’t a particularly good family car – you’ll need the larger, but closely-related Renault 4 if that’s your goal.

While its 326-litre boot is a reasonable size, it has a high loading lip to hoick items over. As for the back seats, well, you won’t want to carry adults back there for anything but very short journeys.

That’s not an issue you have in the MG4 Urban. We found a 6’2 passenger could easily sit behind his own driving position, and the cabin’s even wide enough that you could squeeze three abreast without too much difficulty. The doors open wide, there’s a totally flat floor, and the seats are pretty comfy – in fact, it makes some so-called family SUVs look positively pokey.

The MG4 Urban also has a much bigger boot, with 479 litres of space and a further 98 litres under the floor.

Renault 5 vs MG4 Urban: performance and driving

Both of these cars are front-wheel drive and have similar power outputs, but they feel very different to drive.

The MG4 Urban, as its name suggests, is at its best around town. It has a tight turning circle and it copes alright with lumps and bumps at low speeds, but it feels like a bit of a struggle getting up to motorway pace. Once you’re there, it’s a little noisy – and as for having fun on a twisty road, forget it. The skinny tyres, tall body and lifeless steering ensure you’ll be nothing if not sensible.

The Renault 5 quite quickly reminds you that Renault is the company that’s built some of the greatest hot hatchbacks of all time, such as the Clio 182 or the Clio Williams. Of course, it’s not as sporty as those cars, but you can feel their influence in the Renault 5’s quick, darty steering or the way it stays totally flat in the corners.

It’s not even bad for a trip on the motorway, with decent sound insulation and enough speed. And round town, it’s endless fun to chuck around – while actually being a little comfier than the MG4 Urban too.

Renault 5 vs MG4 Urban: which one should I buy?

Both of these are great-value small cars, and they’ll suit different people. If you want a small EV that’s incredibly practical, because you regularly carry rear passengers and their luggage – well, you’ll want the MG4 Urban. Its interior is so spacious it puts cars from the class above to shame, and it does so for a bargain price.

The Renault 5’s back seats are nothing like as practical – but it’s better to drive, has a posher and more stylish interior, and just looks so much cooler too. It’s our pick of these cars – especially when, thanks to the government’s EV grant, it’s actually cheaper to buy in the first place.

What else could you consider? Well, we love the Fiat Grande Panda Electric – it’s cheap, incredibly cheerful and good to drive, but its maximum range is poor compared to either of these cars. You could also consider the BYD Dolphin, which is a little bigger and pricier but very spacious and packed with tech.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

Click here to follow us on WhatsApp, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, advice guides and videos.