An ongoing question in Australia is ‘will they/won’t they’ bring the new Renault 5 E-Tech to Australia. It’s a question often asked about any EV model and on the Renault Australia website, Glen Sealey (the general manager of Renault Australia) has to date been lukewarm on whether they will bring it here.
However, in the more advanced battery electric vehicle market in the UK, it is full-steam for sales of the new Renault 5 to begin in January 2025. To that end, the UK branch of Renault has just released full UK pricing and specifications.
As a note to Australian readers as to why I am covering an overseas launch (which I generally don’t do):  the UK is both an English speaking and a right-hand drive (RHD) vehicle market.
As such, RHD BEV models sold there are easily transferable to our market … provided the Australian importer wishes to do so.
The Renault 5 E-Tech has already been awarded with several European Car of the Year awards, as well as receiving plaudits from almost every motoring reviewer who has driven one regarding its handling, styling and pricing.
So, it would be a welcome addition to the Australian market, which seems to be served with an almost ubiquitous diet of oversize (and mostly overpriced) electric SUVs.  It will also be Renault’s first BEV capable of both V2G and V2L, making it a prime candidate for Renault to become an Australian first-mover in Australia’s coming V2X revolution.
Hopefully these factors will weigh positively on Glen Sealey’s mind when making the final decision.
In the UK, the Renault 5 E-Tech will be offered in three trim levels and two motor/battery combo options. On the road pricing there (including 20% VAT) starts at £22,995 (approx. AU$44,600) for the 40 kWh, 70 kW motor version and ranges up to £28,995 (approx. AU$56,300) for the 52 kWh, 110 kW motor version.
Like the Renault Megane E-tech sold here, should the Renault 5 E-Tech be brought to Australia it will likely be offered in one trim with the largest battery/motor combo. Going by the offering of the mid-spec Techno Megane E-tech here – at a guess, we are most likely to see the £26,995 (approx $A52,400) Techno version of the Renault 5.
That would make it significantly dearer than the cheapest BEVs on our market – but it would be a significant step-change in price for a fully European built BEV. (The Renault 5 E-Tech is built in the northern French town of Douai).
Full UK specifications for the Renault 5 E-Tech:
evolution standard equipment
- 18-inch diamond cut alloy wheels
- 10.1-inch central OpenR Link display
- 7-inch digital driver information display
- auto air conditioning
- wireless smartphone replication (Apple CarPlay + Android Auto)
- cruise control, driver attention alert and traffic sign recognition with speed alert
- my safety switch
- rear parking sensors
- hands free card
- full LED front and rear
- 11kW bidirectional charger + rapid charger
techno standard equipment (in addition to evolution)
- 10.1-inch OpenR Link with Google built-in and DC charge preconditioning
- 10-inch digital driver information display
- adaptive cruise control with stop & go
- wireless phone charger
- ‘5’ bonnet charging indicator
- shark fin antenna
- multisense, with different driving modes and ambient lighting
- rear-view camera
- central armrest with storage
- two-tone paint options
iconic five standard equipment (in addition to techno)
- chrono 18-inch diamond cut alloy wheels
- heated steering wheel
- heated front seats with lumbar adjustment
- active driver assist; combining adaptive cruise control with lane centring
- hands-free parking
- blind spot warning
- rear occupant safety alert
Bryce Gaton is an expert on electric vehicles and contributor for The Driven and Renew Economy. He has been working in the EV sector since 2008 and is currently working as EV electrical safety trainer/supervisor for the University of Melbourne. He also provides support for the EV Transition to business, government and the public through his EV Transition consultancy EVchoice.