Auto Test: Renault 5 E-TCH in the streets of Bratislava

Do you remember when you really liked a small car? That you look at it for a while when you see him in traffic and tell you how good design.

There were not many such opportunities in the two smallest car segments in recent years on the new models. Renault 5 E-TCH is ready to change the situation. We tried it for the first time at home, in the streets Bratislava.

When the French brand introduced the original Renault 5 in 1972, it was a breakthrough model. The small hatchback had a nice modern design, vibrant body colors, it was the first large -scale car with composite plastic bumpers and especially the low fuel consumption came in handy during the oil crisis.

An alternative drive was also considered for her, and at that time there were approximately a hundred electric Renault 5. It is no longer an oil crisis, but an effort to reduce emissions and approach the production of more environmentally friendly.

More than nineteen percent of components make up in the car recycled Materials, only plastics that have found second use is over 40 kilograms.

The electric drive in this case does not require mining of rare minerals and the production of R5 itself is France, so cars do not need to be transported through half the world. Apparently there were also the reasons why a small Renault happened European car of the year 2025.

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Not only to drive around the city

There are two versions to choose from. The urban environment is R5 Urban Range with an electric motor of 90 kW (122 hp) and a torque of 225 Nm. Only the front wheels are powered.

The 40 kWh battery is to be enough for a range of 312 kilometers, the maximum charging power is 80 kW, from 15 to 80 percent the R5 is charged in half an hour. Acceleration from zero to one hundred lasts 9 seconds and the maximum speed is 150 km/h.

The stronger version of the R5 Comfort Range we have tried has an 110 kW (150 hp) electric motor and 245 Nm of torque. The larger battery capacity of 52 kWh is to cover a range of 410 kilometers. Acceleration from zero to one hundred lasts eight seconds, but when starting from traffic lights is enough to fifty 3.3 seconds.

The maximum charging power of 100 kW is also higher, thanks to which the battery is charged from 15 to 80 percent in the same 30 minutes than the R5 Urban Range.

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Rich equipment for all versions

Recall that in the case of Renault 5 E-TCH there was no intention to do the cheapest car, this task will be done by the upcoming electric Twingo, which will have similar dimensions. This is one of the reasons why it has not been spared in the case of R5 in comfort.

The standard is a heat pump, automatic air conditioning, 10-inch infotainment, full-LED lights, keyless access and navigation, where you can activate the automatic battery preheating when entering your destination. This is important in electric carriers especially in the cold the weatherOtherwise, you will charge low power and therefore significantly longer.

It is also interesting that all versions have 18-inch wheels with aluminum discs and a multi-link axle at the rear, which is not seen in small cars. The AMPR Small chassis platform relies exclusively on the front wheel drive and with a synchronous electric motor with a winding on the rotor.

So much for technology and equipment, but it is time to sit behind the wheel and travel around Bratislava. The interior with quality workmanship looks like in at least a class of larger cars, we have already experienced something similar at HondaHowever, which was a project that ended with a fiasco because of the high price, because it started just below 35,000 euros five years ago.

Renault 5 e-tech is from 27 500 euros. It is still not enough for a small car, but at the same time three thousand less than in competitive Peugeote E-208.

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A good companion to the city with small reservations

Driving with a small electric Renault is a pleasant experience. The cabin is well soundproofed, precise control and chassis also well tuned. It is a bit harder to enjoy the cornering, but at the same time it also dampens unevenness even on 18-inch wheels. The rear multi -link axle also has a share in comfort, so the car’s ass does not jump.

What we liked less is the recovery options, we would expect more levels of settings, it must be enough to switch lever from D to B (Braking), which today offers any hybrid with cheaper technology.

Also, the city lacks the possibility of driving with one pedal, ie functions when the car stops completely when the foot is folded from the accelerator. Maybe it is that we have too high requirements from a small electric car, no Hyundai Inster It offers these features, but it has a more specific design that everyone may not like.

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What is the Korean competitor better despite its modest width is the interior space. In Renault 5 e-tech it in the rear seats, unfortunately, you will not find much, especially the feet is a problem to insert under the front seats, it will help if the passengers get a little lifted.

Little Renault did not disappoint us even consumption, without trying to drive it was 15 kWh per 100 kilometers, some colleagues from other editors reached 13 kWh.

It is not often that the market offers such a strong motivation to move out of the car with an internal combustion engine into an electric car, as Renault shows at the new five. Not cheap And for the needs of the family car, it is simply a small but strong character of the car and the desire to own it helps to make it easy to make it easier.