The new Renault 5 will be cheaper than the Zoe

Renault is doubling down on its commitment to make its new electric 5 hatchback cheaper than the soon-to-be-phased-out Zoe, which is currently priced from £29,995. Lovely jubbly.

Despite everything from pints of milk to cars getting more expensive lately, Renault is confident it can make good on its promise as the 5’s new platform - called CMF-B EV, since you ask - means it’s supposedly 30 per cent cheaper to make than the Zoe.

So at most the new 5 will cost… £29,994. Renault won’t commit to a figure just yet as the car isn’t due to hit production until some time in 2024.

And exactly what makes the 5 cheaper to build? Well stuff like the DC converter, battery charger and accessory box have all been packaged into a single unit, making it less costly to assemble and also 20kg lighter than the equivalent parts found in the Zoe.

Meanwhile a four-module battery pack sheds another 15kg over the Zoe’s 12-module unit.

Oh, and here’s a claim: Renault reckons the 5 “will be the benchmark for its segment in terms of driving pleasure". Which is bold. The company reckons it has unlocked driving fun that its rivals can’t touch on account of using a multi-link rear axle (see the gallery above); usually reserved for higher, more expensive segments. We shall see.

What about performance? Um, Renault won’t tell us. Although the motor will be ‘based on’ the electrically excited synchronous device found in the Megane E-Tech Electric, which generates 220bhp. So expect a bit less than that.

Range? Again, Renault won’t say. Small and large battery options? It won’t let on. Could we see a hot 5 Turbo in the future? We literally drove such a concept - the R5 Turbo 3E drift machine - a week ago. Its lips remain sealed.

So when can it tell us any more of note beyond the crumbs of info above? Cue muttering among the panel of experts assembled for an online conference call earlier this week. “Next year,” they agree. Let’s all set reminders for New Year’s Day 2024…