The retro theme of the surface extends to the inside, the place the designers selected basic design parts with a cherry and mixed it with Twenty first-century know-how to create one thing that’s instantly recognizable as a Renault 5, but in addition authentic, fashionable and straightforward to make use of.

The passenger aspect of the dashboard, with its ribbed stitching, clearly takes inspiration from late variations of the primary technology Renault 5, however the giant instrument inside which now integrates two 10in screens is paying homage to mid-engine Renault 5-turbos, similar to the unusually formed seats, with their seemingly free aspect.

Renault additionally deployed colours and supplies to an excellent impact. All seat upholstery within the 5 is material product of recycled plastic bottles. Some individuals miss the choice of studying (the associated Alpine A290 does supply it), however most testers have discovered the delicate materials very welcoming, particularly if they’re specified within the hanging yellow of our check automotive. It’s a contemporary air in comparison with the usually thorn coloration schemes of latest automobiles.

Very costly new automobiles are stripped by an inside stripped of high quality supplies and complex particulars, by which you spend all of the money. The Renault 5 is the other. With the value tag down, you’d assume that it is likely one of the dearer automobiles in his class. As an alternative, it is one of many least expensive.

In fact, you will discover more durable, scratchy plastic within the 5, however it’s a given on this section. Even these supplies really feel of top of the range. If there’s a decay in perceived high quality, it’s the small sound of the door panel for those who open it and shut it.

Renault additionally didn’t climb on bodily controls. It isn’t that the designers like Ineos or Hyundai (an method to which we aren’t opposed) have hampered, however the controls there are rigorously chosen and laid out, and work very effectively with the contact display to create a consumer interface that you just should not have to assume twice in a day.

It’s simply as intuitive to make use of. There are typical controls for the mirrors, and there are a row of rocker switches for the local weather management, supplemented with a everlasting management bar on the contact display.

A slight annoyance is the column stalk-type slice for the stem. This association works effectively in a Mercedes, however within the Renault, the driving force on the fitting aspect of the steering column is linked by the window liver and the media management widget, which might trigger confusion. The 5 additionally doesn’t have a ‘park’ setting, although you get used to easily placing on the handbrake while you’re achieved.

The benefit of a column shift is that the center console stays free for storage. Within the Renault 5 it’s not a really large house, but it surely features a wi-fi phone load bakkie, two beneficiant cup containers and a good measurement armrest cubby.

All of it contributes to an exquisite driving atmosphere, and the final piece of this puzzle can also be current and proper: the 5 has a pleasant dissolved using place. Renaults previously have typically suffered from a brief -lived bone room and thigh assist, however this isn’t the case within the 5. Though the seats should not have pillow angle adjustment, their commonplace place is semi-inhibitly. It helps the bones of bigger drivers very effectively, however it may be much less snug for shorter drivers. The steering column additionally affords a variety of handbook adjustment.

Rear seats

The 5 is unapologetically a small automotive. At 3922 mm it’s shorter than a clio (4053 mm), and regardless of small overhangs, the 5’s wheelbase can also be shorter than the Clios.