Is the Renault 5 really the hit it’s touted to be?
This page is translated from the original post "La Renault 5 est-elle vraiment le carton annoncé ?" in French.
- 01/02/2025 14:39
The increasing number of Renault 5s on the streets is a good indicator for the small French car, but numbers speak volumes.
In the first month of 2025, AAA Data, the expert in augmented data, reports that new passenger car registrations are down 6% compared to the same month in 2024, with an identical number of business days. However, it is worth recalling that last year’s market was boosted by electric social leasing.
Market decline and French disinterest in electric vehicles suggest that the charming Renault 5 probably doesn’t have an easy life, but against all odds, the French model with the diamond badge is enjoying a perfect start in the automotive market. Even more surprisingly, electric vehicles are holding their ground with remarkable stability and a market share of 17%. This segment, driven by iconic models, still falls short of the levels needed to meet the CO2 targets of the CAFE standards, which are becoming stricter from 2025.
Renault shines in electric
Renault stands out notably thanks to spectacular sales figures for the R5. With 2,813 registrations in January, this model is becoming a real growth driver for the brand. The success of the Renault 5 adds to that of the electric Scenic, which ranks third in sales with 1,177 units. Citroën is also doing well with the ë-C3, the second-best-selling electric vehicle (1,548 units). Other brands are also making progress: Volkswagen shows an increase of 85%, Audi doubles its sales, while Skoda (+18%) and Cupra (+57%) record notable gains.
Simpler hybrids (HEV) and light hybrids (MHEV) confirm their momentum with impressive growth: +29% for the former, reaching 24% of the market, and +91% for the latter, accounting for 21% of sales. These electrified powertrains now represent nearly half of the market. Conversely, diesel (4% of registrations, -48%) and gasoline (26%, -28%) continue their decline.
Finally, SUVs, always popular, account for 50% of registrations (+3%), with promising models such as the Dacia Bigster and the BYD Atto 2, which set the trends for January.
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