Buying guide
Renault 5 Overview: Specs, Generations and Best Versions
Renault 5 generations explained: a micro car built from 1972 to the present, with 34–160 hp across three generations, including the electric 2024 revival.
The Renault 5 is a micro-class car produced from 1972 to the present, with outputs ranging from 34 to 160 hp. Anyone comparing renault 5 specs will find three distinct generations: two classic front-wheel-drive hatchback eras and an all-electric revival from 2024. It suits city drivers who want a compact footprint, and the modern version adds electric power in the same small format.
Renault 5 generations
1 generation (1972–1985)
The first generation ran from 1972 to 1985 as a micro car with front-wheel drive, offered with manual and automatic gearboxes across 23 modifications. Power spanned 34 to 160 hp, topped by the 1.4 MT (160 hp) with a 1397 cc engine and 0–100 km/h in 6.9 seconds. The 1.6 MT (55 hp) diesel with a 1595 cc engine used just 5.7 l/100km, while the 1.3 AT (54 hp) with a 1337 cc engine was the mass-market automatic choice.
2 generation (1984–2002)
The second generation was built from 1984 to 2002, again as a front-wheel-drive micro with 17 modifications and 41–115 hp. The 1.4 MT (115 hp) with a 1397 cc engine reached 100 km/h in 8.0 seconds, the 1.4 AT (64 hp) was the common automatic, and the 1.7 MT (73 hp) with a 1721 cc engine closed out the range.
3 generation (2024–present)
The third generation launched in 2024 and is still in production: a fully electric micro car with automatic transmission, front-wheel drive and just 2 modifications. The AT Comfort Range delivers 150 hp and accelerates to 100 km/h in 8.0 seconds; the AT Urban Range offers 120 hp and a 9.0-second sprint.
Which Renault 5 to buy
- AT Comfort Range (3 generation): 150 hp electric drivetrain with 0–100 km/h in 8.0 seconds — the strongest version of the current car.
- AT Urban Range (3 generation): 120 hp and 9.0 seconds to 100 km/h, the entry point into the electric generation.
- 1.4 MT (115 hp) (2 generation): 115 hp from a 1397 cc engine and an 8.0-second sprint — the quickest of the classic second-generation cars.
- 1.6 MT (55 hp) (1 generation): 5.7 l/100km from the 1595 cc diesel, the most economical version in the data.
On the used market, the practical split is by age: first-generation cars (1972–1985) are now collector territory, second-generation cars (1984–2002) are the youngest classic examples, and the 2024–present electric generation is the only one available nearly new.
Which Renault 5 to avoid
Within the first generation, the 1.3 AT (54 hp) is dominated on paper by the 1.6 MT (55 hp) diesel: the diesel offers 1 hp more from its 1595 cc engine plus a documented 5.7 l/100km figure, while the 1337 cc automatic has no recorded acceleration or consumption advantage. Choose the automatic only if the Automatic gearbox itself is the requirement.