Premium Motoring Echo Road Test Review…
The legend has returned… but this time it has completely lost its mind.
The Renault 5 Turbo was one of the most outrageous hot hatches ever created, and now Renault has reinvented the icon for the electric era with something that pushes the boundaries of what an EV can be.
Welcome to the Renault 5 Turbo 3E.
Filmed at the legendary Goodwood Motor Circuit, this extraordinary machine isn’t simply a nostalgic tribute to the original. Instead, Renault has engineered a 555hp, rear-wheel-drive electric monster designed with one purpose in mind — to put an enormous smile on your face.
Reviewing from a distance, we join Auto Trader’s Rory Reid for an exclusive first look, and we discover whether this wild creation deserves to be called the world’s first true electric mini-supercar.
First Impressions
One glance tells you this isn’t an ordinary Renault 5.
While the unmistakable silhouette pays homage to the iconic Turbo and Turbo 2 from the 1980s, almost every panel has been redesigned to create something altogether more dramatic.
The exaggerated wheel arches are enormous.
The body is wider.
Lower.
More aggressive.
Everything about the Turbo 3E screams performance long before it moves an inch.
It looks every bit the modern rally-bred weapon that Renault intended.
WATCH THE VIDEO REVIEW BELOW…
Built To Drift
Forget everything you know about conventional electric hatchbacks.
This isn’t designed to be sensible.
It isn’t built to maximise efficiency.
Instead, Renault’s engineers have created a purpose-built rear-wheel-drive performance machine producing an astonishing 555 horsepower.
That figure alone sounds remarkable…
…until you remember this is still based on one of the smallest cars Renault has ever produced.
The result is something that promises hypercar levels of acceleration in a compact package weighing dramatically less than many modern electric performance cars.
Riding Shotgun
Sadly, I (Rory Reid) wasn’t trusted with the keys to this priceless prototype…
…which, in fairness, was probably the right decision.
Instead, I climbed into the passenger seat alongside one of Renault’s professional factory development drivers to experience exactly what the Turbo 3E is capable of around Goodwood Motor Circuit.
Within seconds it becomes obvious this isn’t a marketing exercise.
The acceleration is savage.
The steering is razor sharp.
Every corner becomes an opportunity to unleash huge, controllable slides that would make any rally driver smile.
The instant torque delivered by the electric motors transforms every exit into an explosion of controlled chaos.
It’s outrageous.
It’s theatrical.
And it’s unlike almost anything else currently being developed.
WATCH THE VIDEO REVIEW BELOW…
The Driving Experience
Even from the passenger seat, one thing becomes immediately apparent…
The Turbo 3E has genuine personality.
Many modern EVs impress through sheer speed.
Few make you laugh.
Fewer still encourage playful oversteer.
Renault appears to have focused on delivering emotion rather than simply chasing performance figures.
That may ultimately prove to be its greatest achievement.
Technology Meets Heritage
While the original Renault 5 Turbo became a motorsport legend thanks to its mid-engined rally pedigree, the Turbo 3E embraces modern technology without losing its rebellious character.
Electric propulsion provides instant performance.
Advanced chassis engineering delivers remarkable balance.
Yet somehow it still feels unmistakably French.
Bold.
Unpredictable.
And gloriously entertaining.
Verdict
The Renault 5 Turbo 3E isn’t attempting to become another sensible electric hatchback.
Instead, Renault has created something wonderfully irrational.
A celebration of driving enjoyment.
A rolling concept that proves electrification doesn’t have to mean the end of excitement.
Whether production versions remain quite this outrageous remains to be seen, but one thing is certain…
If this is the future of performance EVs, enthusiasts have plenty to look forward to.
Motoring Echo Verdict
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
The Renault 5 Turbo 3E isn’t simply a nostalgic revival.
It’s one of the boldest and most exciting electric performance cars we’ve seen in years, combining outrageous styling, astonishing power and genuine driver engagement into a package unlike anything else on sale.
Even from the passenger seat, it’s impossible not to come away grinning.
Renault may just have reinvented the hot hatch for the electric generation.
Motoring Echo Road Test Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Exterior Design | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | ★★★★★ |
| Driver Engagement | ★★★★★ |
| Innovation | ★★★★★ |
| Value (Concept) | ★★★★☆ |
| Overall | ★★★★★ |
Motoring Echo Final Word
There are fast electric cars… and then there’s the Renault 5 Turbo 3E.
Renault hasn’t simply built another EV. It has built an experience—one that reminds us why we fell in love with performance cars in the first place. If the original Renault 5 Turbo was the hero of the 1980s, the Turbo 3E looks ready to become the cult icon of the electric age.
Watch Rory Reid and Auto Trader put the Renault 5 Turbo 3E through its paces, then let us know: is this the most exciting electric performance car yet?
