The Renault R5 E-Tech is not secure enough: its rating has fallen

The Renault R5 E-Tech and its sports version Alpine A290 received a rating of four stars out of five from the independent organization Euro NCAP. Certainly, it is very close to perfection, but there remain problematic points in terms of the safety of electric vehicles.

A rating of 4 out of 5 for the Renault R5 E-Tech

Adult occupant protection is 80%, which is worrying for the Renault R5 E-Tech. In the event of a frontal impact, Euro NCAP judges “average” protection of the driver's torso at the steering wheel. As for the knees and shins of the front occupants, they are also vulnerable. The analysis also reveals weaknesses during side impacts, particularly for the passenger in the event of a collision from the opposite side.

Pedestrian safety is not spared from the organization's criticism. The design of the Renault R5 E-Tech with its short hood poses a problem for the protection of people traveling around the wings and windshield pillars. The emergency braking system shows its limits when children run into the back of the vehicle at night. The absence of a door opening warning for cyclists is also punishable. The weaknesses cited result in a score of 76% for the protection of vulnerable users and 68% for security assistance.

Faced with this observation, the Renault R5 E-Tech is placed behind other models from the manufacturer: the Kangoo, the Captur and the Symbioz. The four out of five star rating is below the five out of five for Austral, Rafal, Espace, Mégane E-Tech and Scenic E-Tech. Until 2022, the best ratings awarded by the independent organization Euro NCAP were held by electric vehicles such as the Tesla Model S and Model Y or the Hyundai Ioniq 6.