Legacy is often seen as a burden, but Renault has turned it into an advantage. The new Renault 5 doesn’t just pay homage to its past—it leverages it. This new Renault 5 addresses today’s needs while maintaining the character of a legend.
You don’t need to know anything about its past to appreciate it, but for enthusiasts, there are plenty of hidden gems that will truly excite. Renault has masterfully blended nostalgia with innovation.
As for the HMI, I’m undecided. The steering wheel seems solid, similar to the Scenic, and I appreciate the gear selector as a lever—it frees up space on the central console, which is always a plus. However, I need to experience it firsthand to fully understand the interactions. The separation in z-axis seems well-designed, allowing for independent operation of gears and wipers, which is crucial. I suspect, though, that its position might block some of the user interface. I miss the climate controls of the Clio, and I believe that a display with more height would be advantageous for features such as navigation. I speculate that design lines were a priority, which is often the case, and understandable for such a model.
Overall, I find Renault’s approach to model revival very relevant and refreshing.