Renault 5 E-Tech on a long drive: a consumption test to Târgu Neamț and back, under 12 kWh/100 km
I took the 52 kWh Renault 5 E-Tech on a real 210+ km day trip with hills, air conditioning and two people on board. Consumption settled at 11.2 kWh/100 km.
In the second episode with the Renault 5 E-Tech I left the city and picked a tougher route: a Sunday trip to the bison reserve near Târgu Neamț and back. There were climbs and descents, normal traffic, the air conditioning on and two people on board, me and my little daughter, Nicole. The result made me happy: after more than 210 km, the displayed consumption settled at 11.2 kWh/100 km.
The start: 82% battery and 325 km displayed
I set off with the battery at 82%, 20°C outside and the climate set to 22°C. I reset the consumption and trip counters. The car estimated 325 km of range, and the destination was about 119 km away. I drove in eco mode the whole time, as in all my tests, and kept up with traffic, with no hypermiling. The car was the fully equipped version, which at the time of filming cost, as I say in the video, €26,633 through the Romanian Rabla scheme. According to "Renault Romania", the 52 kWh (comfort range) battery comes with a 150 hp motor and now offers up to 430 km WLTP.
On the road: the numbers that matter
After 25 km I was at 12.3 kWh/100 km, and after 47.8 km at 12.4. In Pașcani, after 71.8 km, it was 12.7 kWh/100 km, the same figure I had on arrival at the destination. I arrived with 49% battery, although at the start the car had predicted 41%. On the way back the descent helped. In Târgu Frumos, after 189 km, I was at 11.2 kWh/100 km with 36% left.
I noticed a few good things along the way. The car has curve and roundabout assistance: on cruise control it slows down by itself when the roundabout sign appears and speeds up again on exit. The overspeed chime can be switched off with two presses of a button on the left. The climate control has physical buttons. In eco mode top speed is capped at 115 km/h, but if you press the pedal all the way through the detent, you get full power.
Arrival: cautious estimates you can trust
In total I covered about 217 km. When I left Târgu Neamț, the navigation predicted I would get home with 20%, and I arrived with 26%. At 210 km the trip computer showed 132 km remaining, while by my own calculation, at my consumption, I could still do about 168 km. My conclusion is that the Renault 5's estimates are cautious, which is a good thing: no unpleasant surprises. I also got a warning on one tyre, which I'll check, probably caused by the rough road.
What it means for drivers
If you wonder whether a small EV can handle trips outside the city, this test shows it can. At around 11–13 kWh/100 km, the 52 kWh battery lets you do a full-day round trip without hunting for a charger. Most importantly, the dashboard estimates lean pessimistic, so you can plan with peace of mind. In a future video I'll show you my driving style, which gets these numbers without going slower than the rest of the traffic.
