The Renault 5 was the UK's best-selling electric car in July, with 1,805 registrations, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The car also impressed a reviewer so much that it was ranked above a Rolls Royce in a personal ranking of 11 cars driven.
Reviewer's impression
Christopher Sharp, a news reporter, drove the Renault 5 earlier this year at the Goodwood Media Day. He noted that the car had won multiple awards, including UK Car of the Year 2026, What Car? Car of the Year 2025, and Top Gear's Car of the Year for 2024.
Sharp described the driving experience as impeccable, despite some quirks like the stalks around the steering wheel resembling insect wings. He praised the car's handling, saying it rotated around the hips at road speeds and felt like a smaller car on the move, a trick he had only previously experienced in the Hyundai Santa Fe SUV.
Sales performance
The Renault 5's sales performance comes as the SMMT announced that Britain's new car market grew by 11.7 percent in July, driven by electric car sales. The SMMT's Chief Executive Mike Hawes said: "July's record EV performance is a great achievement, reflecting industry’s huge investment in zero emission mobility."
However, some experts have highlighted the importance of the used electric car market. James Hosking, Managing Director of AA Cars, said: "Continued growth in new car registrations should also support the used market. As more motorists change their vehicles, additional part-exchanges will return to dealer forecourts, improving the supply of younger used cars that has remained constrained in recent years."
He added: "That should give second-hand buyers more choice, but value will remain critical. Consumers are comparing models, fuel types and total ownership costs more carefully, so dealers will need to price competitively and give buyers confidence that the vehicle represents good long-term value."
