Renault 5 Turbo 3E Review – Electric Mini-Supercar Specs, Price, Range & Is It Worth It?
The Renault 5 Turbo 3E is one of the wildest electric performance cars announced in recent years. Renault itself calls it an electric mini-supercar, and that is not just marketing fluff. This machine combines retro rally inspiration, a lightweight carbon-heavy structure, rear-wheel drive, two rear in-wheel motors, and performance figures strong enough to put it in serious enthusiast territory.
In this premium review, we break down what the Renault 5 Turbo 3E really is, how much power it makes, how fast it is, what kind of range and charging it offers, how much it costs, and whether this limited-run electric icon is actually worth the hype.
Quick Verdict
The Renault 5 Turbo 3E is not meant to be a normal hot hatch. It is a limited-run collector EV with true halo-car ambition. On paper, it offers 540 hp, under 3.5 seconds from 0–100 km/h, over 400 km WLTP range, rapid 800V charging, and a production run capped at 1,980 numbered units. If you want practicality, this is not the answer. If you want rarity, drama, heritage, and electric performance with a rebellious personality, it looks very special.
Table of Contents
What Is the Renault 5 Turbo 3E?
The Renault 5 Turbo 3E is a modern electric reinterpretation of the legendary Renault 5 Turbo and Turbo 2 from the 1980s. But Renault did not simply make a nostalgic EV body kit. It built a dedicated performance machine with a carbon superstructure, bespoke architecture, rear-wheel drive layout, and in-wheel motors designed to deliver extreme response and aggressive driving character.
Renault openly positions it as a “mini-supercar,” which is a bold label, but the specs justify the claim. This is not a mainstream Renault 5 with extra styling. It is a highly specialized, limited-production EV developed with input from Alpine and other Renault Group entities to be one of the brand’s most dramatic road cars ever.
Renault 5 Turbo 3E Specs & Performance
| Specification | Renault 5 Turbo 3E |
|---|---|
| Powertrain | Two rear in-wheel electric motors |
| Power | 540 hp (2 x 200 kW) |
| Torque | 4,800 Nm at the wheels |
| Drive Layout | Rear-wheel drive |
| 0–100 km/h | Under 3.5 seconds |
| Top Speed | Up to 270 km/h on track |
| Weight | Under / around 1,450 kg |
These numbers are the reason the car feels genuinely different from a normal electric hot hatch. A power-to-weight ratio around 2.7 kg per horsepower puts it in serious territory, and Renault says the instant torque from the rear motors helps deliver an especially explosive driving response.
The in-wheel motor setup is one of the most unusual parts of the package. It removes the need for some traditional drivetrain components and helps Renault create a car that is both compact and mechanically dramatic. It also supports the rear-driven, drift-friendly character that made the original turbo Renault icons so memorable.
Battery, Range & Charging
The Renault 5 Turbo 3E uses a 70 kWh battery and an 800-volt architecture, which is a very serious setup for a compact performance EV. Renault says the car is targeting more than 400 km of WLTP range, pending final homologation.
Charging is another headline feature. Renault says the car can support DC charging up to 350 kW and charge from 15% to 80% in around 15 minutes. For a limited-run enthusiast EV, that is extremely competitive and helps the Turbo 3E feel more like a modern supercar-grade product than a retro toy.
Renault also cites about eight hours for a full AC charge with the onboard 11 kW charger. So while this car is obviously built for excitement first, it still has enough real EV usability to feel modern and usable beyond a showroom collection piece.
Design & Build – Why Renault Calls It a Mini-Supercar
The Renault 5 Turbo 3E earns the mini-supercar label through more than just acceleration. The car uses a bespoke platform, a carbon-heavy superstructure, aggressive proportions, and a wide-body look inspired by the classic Renault 5 Turbo lineage. It is compact in footprint, but its attitude is much closer to a supercar than to a small city EV.
Renault’s official material also emphasizes that the car was developed with expertise from multiple Renault Group brands and entities, including Alpine for engineering and the Alpine plant in Dieppe for assembly. That matters because it gives the Turbo 3E more depth than a one-off styling exercise.
In simple words, this is a collector-grade electric performance machine wearing the shape of a rally legend. That blend of nostalgia and advanced EV engineering is exactly why it stands out.
Price, Reservations & Delivery Timing
Renault opened reservations for the Renault 5 Turbo 3E in April 2025. Renault UK said the car would be available from £135,000 including VAT, while Reuters reported a starting price around €155,000 and noted strong early demand, with 850 orders in the first week. These figures place it firmly in premium collector-EV territory.
Production is limited to 1,980 numbered units, a direct nod to the year the original Renault 5 Turbo launched. Deliveries are planned from the first half of 2027, and Renault has also highlighted customization opportunities for buyers.
That means this is not a value performance EV. It is a high-priced halo model designed for enthusiasts, collectors, and brand loyalists who want something rare and highly distinctive.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Wild retro-inspired design with real collector appeal
- 540 hp and under-3.5-second acceleration
- 800V architecture and very fast charging
- Limited to 1,980 units, adding exclusivity
- More character than many performance EVs
Cons
- Very expensive for a compact Renault-branded car
- Limited production means limited accessibility
- Not designed for mainstream practicality
- Range is solid, but not huge by luxury EV standards
- Many buyers will see it as a collector toy rather than a daily car
Is the Renault 5 Turbo 3E Worth It?
Yes—if you understand what it is.
The Renault 5 Turbo 3E is not meant to compete on practicality or value. It is meant to deliver emotion, rarity, heritage, and electric performance in a package no other brand is really offering in quite the same way. For collectors and enthusiasts who love the original Renault 5 Turbo story, it makes a lot of sense.
For ordinary buyers, though, the answer is very different. At this price, you could choose from many faster, bigger, or more luxurious EVs. The Turbo 3E wins because it is bold, weird, limited, and unforgettable—not because it is rational.
So the honest conclusion is this: if you want one of the most exciting and characterful electric collector cars coming in 2027, it looks worth serious attention. If you want pure value, look elsewhere.
FAQ – Renault 5 Turbo 3E
How much power does the Renault 5 Turbo 3E make?
It makes 540 hp from two rear in-wheel motors.
How fast is it from 0–100 km/h?
Renault says it can do 0–100 km/h in under 3.5 seconds.
What battery does it use?
It uses a 70 kWh battery.
What is the claimed range?
Renault says the WLTP range will be over 400 km, pending homologation.
How much does it cost?
Renault UK listed it from £135,000 including VAT, while Reuters reported a starting figure around €155,000.
When will deliveries begin?
Renault says first deliveries are planned from the first half of 2027.
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Final Thoughts
The Renault 5 Turbo 3E looks like one of the most characterful electric cars coming this decade. It mixes retro motorsport soul with advanced EV engineering in a way very few brands would dare attempt. It is expensive and irrational—and that is exactly why it could become iconic.
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