Think Carefully Before Splurging on the Small Renault 5 at €23,990!

The Renault 5 E-Tech electric in the “urban” version with a 40 kWh battery is now available for order.

First of all, if you want to buy a Renault 5 that can take you across France for your holidays, this model is definitely not for you! This version with Urban Range, annoyingly, these Anglicisms everywhere, is equipped with a 40 kWh battery and offers a maximum mixed range of 312 km in WLTP cycle. So, it is not a long-distance car at all, but a model suitable for urban and peri-urban use.

Before shouting that the range is pathetic and that you’ll spend more time at charging stations than on the road, you need to understand that this model is not meant to be driven! Yes, it’s surprising, but Renault’s calculation isn’t wrong. There is a category of drivers who need a vehicle daily. Not everyone is lucky enough to live in a big city with a good public transportation network. Likewise, not everyone works 20 minutes from home by scooter. Taking children to school by car is sometimes the best solution to avoid sacrificing hours in transportation. Yes, using a car every day is not always a luxury.

But when choosing a car with a limited range, you must think about recharging. To avoid sacrificing your lunch breaks at fast-charging stations, a domestic charger at home or at work is essential. The charger comes with the car; just make sure it can be installed quickly. If you tick all these boxes and have the means, as the model is not inexpensive, why not be tempted?

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