Ah, the humble hatchback. You know the type – the sort of car that slips into your life like an old friend who turns up unannounced with a bottle of wine and a decent playlist. It's not trying to impress with leather-lined ostentation or turbocharged histrionics; it's just there to get you from A to B without fuss, maybe with a cheeky grin in the rear-view. And now, Renault's brought back the 5 E-Tech electric, a pint-sized powerhouse that's just clocked 100,000 units off the production line. That's not just a number; it's a quiet revolution, the kind that whispers "told you so" to every skeptic still wedded to the growl of a petrol engine.
Picture this little beast rolling out of the Ampere ElectriCity plant in Douai, France – a factory that's been reborn as the beating heart of Europe's electric dreams. Launched back in October 2024, the Renault 5 hit that six-figure milestone in a brisk 15 months, with the 100,000th example being the ever-popular Techno trim packing a 52kWh battery. That's two-thirds of the plant's daily output of 900 cars, all humming along on the same line that churns out siblings like the Mégane E-Tech, Scénic, and even a Nissan Micra or two. It's "Made in France" through and through, with batteries baked nearby and supply chains short enough to make a logistics manager weep with joy. No wonder it's leading the B-segment electric sales in Europe, topping charts in France, the UK, Netherlands, Spain, and popping up as far as Turkey, Israel, and Morocco. This isn't some fleeting fad; it's the car that's making city streets a little less smoky and a lot more sensible.
But let's talk about what makes this thing tick – or rather, hum silently under your right foot. At its core, the 5 E-Tech is built on Renault's AmpR Small platform, a clever bit of engineering that's as efficient as it is unpretentious. You've got two battery options: a nimble 40kWh unit for the urban warriors, delivering up to 310km of WLTP range (that's about 193 miles if you're converting for the imperial crowd), or the beefier 52kWh for those who fancy a weekend jaunt without the range anxiety sweats. Power comes in three flavors – 70kW (95hp) for the light-footed, 90kW (122hp) for everyday zip, and 110kW (150hp) that catapults you to 100km/h in under eight seconds. Not exactly a track-day terror, but then again, who needs one when you're threading through rush-hour traffic like a polite assassin?
Charging? It's a doddle. Plug into a 100kW DC fast charger and you'll bag 80% in about 30 minutes – enough juice for a full day's escapades. And the regen braking is smooth as a well-poured espresso, blending seamlessly with those electronic brakes that feel more progressive than a politician's promises. Renault's even teasing updates for 2026: one-pedal driving to make stop-start city life even lazier, plus a clever camera in the pillar that watches for weary eyes, nudging you with a gentle alert before you nod off mid-motorway. Cosmetic tweaks too, like those sporty PoweR5 decals on the arches, because why not add a dash of flair to the functionality?
Now, step inside, and it's like the 5 has remembered its roots while peeking at the future. Retro cues nod to the original 1970s icon that sold 5.5 million units – think boxy charm meets pixel-perfect screens. The OpenR dual-screen setup (a 10.1-inch infotainer and a 10.4-inch driver display) is intuitive enough to avoid menu-induced rage, and Reno the virtual assistant fields your daft questions like "How do I pair my phone?" with the patience of a saint. Seats? A mix of recycled denim (from plastic bottles, no less) in funky yellows or navies, with space that's surprisingly generous for a car under four meters long. It's got 326 liters of boot room, expandable to 940, and – get this – it can even tow a 500kg trailer. In a segment where most rivals wouldn't dare lift a wheelie bin, that's proper utility.
Driving it? Pure delight. The steering's sharp without being twitchy, the ride absorbs potholes like a diplomat dodges scandals, and at 70mph, wind noise is minimal – though those optional 18-inch alloys do let a bit of tyre chatter sneak in. It's not silent perfection, but it's honest: a car that rewards you with a grin when you flick it through a roundabout, all while sipping electrons instead of guzzling gallons. And in a world where electric motoring is finally shedding its "niche toy" skin, the 5 proves you don't need a seven-figure budget to go green. It's affordable, accessible, and – dare I say – fun in that understated way that leaves you wondering why you ever bothered with the faff of fill-ups.
This milestone isn't just about bolts and batteries; it's a testament to what happens when passion meets production. The Douai teams have turned a factory into a fortress of innovation, crafting vehicles that aren't just cleaner but cleverer, zippier, and yes, cheaper to run. Over its life, the 5 E-Tech will save owners a small fortune in fuel and maintenance, all while cutting tailpipe emissions to zero. It's the electric car for the rest of us – the daily driver that doesn't demand you sell a kidney or compromise on character.
If you're itching to join the charge, pop over to our marketplace at https://volty.be/nl/buy/cars/overview/ – where you can browse and snag a 100% electric ride that's ready to roll. Why wait for the future when it's already parked outside?
