Without fast charging, is the Renault 5 Five worth its 20,000 euros?

The Renault 5 is undoubtedly a well-deserved commercial success. So why this discount offer, and especially for whom?

The new Renault 5 Five, offered starting at 22,680 euros (with a bonus of 2,000 euros and a CEE Premium of 310 euros deducted), aims to democratize electric cars with an appealing retro design and an announced WLTP range of 312 km. However, a surprising technical choice is made: it forgoes DC fast charging, which has become almost essential for versatile use.

Indeed, the electric city car only comes with an 11 kW AC charger. As a result, charging from 15% to 80% takes, at best, 2 hours and 37 minutes. As for a full charge, it can only be done in a minimum of 4 hours. One might say that long journeys become impractical without complex, even discouraging logistics.

A Renault 5 for enthusiasts

So, what kind of clientele might turn to this Renault 5 Five? The answer is clear: an urban or suburban audience, with daily use limited to a few dozen kilometers. For this target, the 312 km range is more than sufficient. But this equation only makes sense if the user has a personal charging point — at home or at work. Otherwise, they will have to rely on public charging stations, which are often crowded, sometimes distant, and especially costly. This model, therefore, cannot be relevant for city dwellers without a private charging solution.

In summary, the Renault 5 Five targets a very specific niche: sedentary drivers equipped to charge in AC and willing to organize their daily lives around the vehicle’s real range. This industrial gamble is bold, as it relies on an existing but very limited clientele. Without DC fast charging, the Renault 5 Five cannot appeal beyond this circle of perfectly equipped insiders. Those who are not well informed may quickly become disillusioned…

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