Why is everyone buying the Renault 5?
Car changing is a big deal
There are loads of options for small electric cars nowadays, but one model dominates the sales charts. So why is the Renault 5 proving so popular?
It’s fair to say the Renault 5 E-Tech hit the ground running when it went on sale in the UK at the start of 2025. A slew of positive reviews soon translated into impressive sales, which any car journalist will tell you isn’t always the case.
The Renault 5 has done so well that in July 2026 it was the best-selling fully electric car in the UK, shifting more than 1,800 units. That’s a really impressive number for an EV.
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So why is it capturing the hearts, minds and most importantly wallets of the British public? Here’s why I reckon the Renault 5 is so popular.
It’s retro in a good way
The styling is the first thing about the Renault 5 that catches your eye – it just looks brilliant. It’s inspired by the classic Renault 5 of the 1980s, so it hits all the right retro buttons, but it doesn’t look old-fashioned. Instead, it’s just as futuristic as a 2026 EV should be.
That means it appeals both to people old enough to remember the classic model, as well as young buyers who just want something that looks cool. It’s retro done right, in the same way that has brought the Mini hatchback such success.
It’s affordable to buy, finance or lease
The Renault 5 is absolutely cracking value. The range starts from just under £23,000, but thanks to the government’s EV grant you can knock £1,500 off that, so it costs just under £21,500. That puts it in line with some of the most popular petrol-powered hatchbacks.
Even stepping up to the larger of the two batteries (giving you 250 miles of range), the Renault 5 still costs around £23,000 after the EV grant and Carwow discounts. That’s brilliant.
It’s cheap to lease, too. On a three-year, 10,000 miles per year lease deal, you’ll pay just over £250 a month for a model with the larger battery.
You can even save a little bit of money buying used. A 2025 model with the large battery in plush Iconic Five trim can be yours for less than £22,000 with less than 8,000 miles on the clock – it’s basically a new car, but without the wait for a factory order.
It’s a brilliant car to drive and to live with
The good value and the stylish looks would be nothing if the Renault 5 wasn’t a good car under the skin. Thankfully, it’s more than that – it’s a fantastic one.
It’s fun to drive, whether you’re nipping round town or giving it some beans down a country lane. But it’s still really comfortable on a long journey too, where you can make the most of that electric range. In the real world you’ll see more than 200 miles per charge from the big-battery model, which is a good figure for a small EV.
The interior is also brilliant. It’s stylish, comfortable, and thanks to a Google-powered infotainment system actually interacting with the car feels slick and easy as well. It’s not perfect – while the boot is big, the back seats are quite cramped, and storage for odds and ends in the front could be better too. But those are real nit-picks for what’s otherwise one of the best electric cars you can buy.
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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.
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