Renault · 1972–1996

Renault 5

The Renault 5 is a supermini car produced by the French manufacturer Renault from 1972 to 1996 over two generations. It is a hatchback with either three or five doors and seating for five passengers. The first generation (also known as the R5 or Le Car), which was made from 1972 to 1985, has a front mid-engine, front-wheel-drive layout. The second generation (also known as the Super 5 or Supercinq), which was produced from 1984 to 1996, has a front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout. The R5 was marketed in the United States and Canada as Le Car, from 1976 until 1983. Renault marketed a four-door saloon car variant, the Renault 7, manufactured from 1974 until 1984 in Spain by Renault's subsidiary FASA-Renault and exported to select markets. The Renault 5 became the best-selling car in France from 1972 until 1986, with a total production exceeding 5.5 million over 14 years, making it France's most popular car.

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Predecessor: Renault 4 · Successor: Renault Clio

All Renault 5 data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

First generation (1972–1985)

The first images and details of the Renault 5 were published on 10 December 1971, and the car's formal launch followed on 28 January 1972. The Renault 5 was styled by Michel Boué, who designed the car in his spare time, outside of his regular duties. When Renault executives learned of Boué's work, they were so impressed by his concept that they immediately authorized a formal development program. The R5 featured a steeply sloping rear hatchback. Boué had wanted the tail-lights to go all the way up from the bumper into the C-pillar, in the fashion of the much later Fiat Punto and Volvo 850 estate, but the lights remained at a more conventional level. It was launched onto the right-hand drive U.K. market in the autumn of 1972, where alongside the recently launched Fiat 127 it competed as an imported but more modern alternative to British Leyland's Mini and Chrysler Europe's Hillman Imp — and without competitors from Ford or Vauxhall. The Renault 5 narrowly missed out on the 1973 European Car of the Year award, which was instead given to the Audi 80. Boué died of cancer at the end of 1972, just a few months after the car he designed was launched. The R5 borrowed mechanicals from the successful Renault 4, using a longitudinally-mounted engine driving the front wheels with torsion bar suspension. OHV engines were the same as the Renault 4 and larger Renault 8. At the car's launch, the 782 cc and 956 cc versions were available depending on the model level. A "5TS/5LS" with the 1,289 cc engine from the Renault 12 was added from April 1974. As on the Renault 4, entry-level Renault 5s had their engine sizes increased to 845 cc in 1976, and at the top of the range, later models included the 1,397 cc version. It was one of the first modern superminis, which capitalized on the new

Second generation (1984–1996)

The second generation R5, marketed as the Renault 5 (or Supercinq, Superfive), launched in October 1984 — within 18 months of Ford, General Motors, Peugeot, Fiat and Nissan launching competitors in the supermini sector. Initially, It was only available with a three-door body, leading to a somewhat slow introduction. Right-hand drive models for the UK market were launched in January 1985. Although it closely resembled the first generation car, the bodyshell and platform were completely new (the platform was based on that of the bigger Renault 9 and 11 models); the styling was by Marcello Gandini. The new body was wider and longer with 20 percent more glass area, more interior space, and a lower drag coefficient of (0.35), as well as 4.10 L/100 km; 68.9 mpg‑imp (57.4 mpg‑US) at 90 km/h (56 mph) in the economy models. The most significant changes were the adoption of a transversely-mounted powertrain from the 9 and 11 and MacPherson strut front suspension. The five-door version arrived in May 1985, with a 60 mm (2.4 in) extended wheelbase. The second generation launched in four trim levels: TC, TL, GTL, and Automatic. The entry-level TC had the 956 cc engine of ((31 kW (42 bhp), while the TL had the 1108 cc engine of (35 kW (47 bhp), and the GTL, Automatic, TS and TSE had the 1397 cc engine (rated at 44 kW; 59 hp (60 PS) for the GTL, 50 kW; 67 hp (68 PS) for the Automatic, and 53 kW; 71 hp (72 PS) for the TS and TSE). The TC and TL had four-speed manual gearboxes, while the GTL, TS, and TSE had five-speed manual gearboxes (optional on the TL), and the Automatic had a three-speed automatic gearbox. 1987 saw the introduction of the 1721 cc F2N engine in the GTX, GTE (F3N), and in July also in the luxurious Baccara . The Baccara was sold as the Monaco in the United Kingdom,

Revival

The Renault 5 nameplate returned in February 2024 as an electric-powered hatchback bearing design cues inspired by the original design and the Renault 5 Turbo. An Alpine version is said to be in development as well. The Renault 5 E-tech has won the European Car of the Year award in 2025.

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