Battery size: 27.5kWh
Miles per kWh: 5.9
E-Rating™: A++
Max charge rate: 50 kW
Range: 163 miles 
Renault Twingo E-Tech - Introduction
Concept cars are a bit like online dating - they offer loads of promise, but the reality often disappoints. Not this time. The Renault Twingo E-Tech Electric turns its adorable show-car looks into a genuine, usable city EV without losing any of the fun. It revives one of Renault’s most-loved badges with a modern twist: small on the outside, surprisingly roomy inside and filled with cheerful character.
This fourth-generation Twingo is an all-electric reboot developed at record speed - just 100 weeks from project green light to sign-off - on Renault’s AmpR Small architecture. The car was engineered between France, and China - and will be built in Novo Mesto, Slovenia. It is expected to arrive in the UK in 2027 with pricing from under £20,000 (final UK specs will follow). Two trims are planned, Evolution and Techno - both five-door models with clever sliding rear seats.
Its natural rivals are affordable small EVs such as the Citroen e-C3, Fiat 500e and BYD Dolphin Surf and Dacia Spring. The Twingo’s pitch is straightforward: make electric driving affordable again, without feeling like a compromise. And because it will be made in Europe, it should qualify for the UK electric car grant - if there’s any money left in the pot by the time it goes on sale.
Range, battery and charging
Under the bonnet sits a 27.5 kWh (usable) LFP battery paired with a 82 horsepower motor, delivering up to 163 miles of WLTP range. That’s ideally pitched for urban drivers, Renault reckons typical owners cover around 22 miles per day and in the real world you can expect between 110 and 140 miles depending on temperature and driving style. LFP battery chemistry is tough and cost-effective, while cell-to-pack construction improves energy density and cuts weight and cost. A built-in pre-conditioning system helps protect winter range by preparing the battery to the ideal temperature to take a charge, but the Twingo doesn't come with a heat pump.
Charging options are straightforward. A 6.6 kW AC charger comes as standard and will replenish the battery from 10 to 100 per cent in around four hours and a quarter on a home wallbox. An optional upgrade adds 11 kW AC and 50 kW DC capability, reducing AC charging to about two and a half hours and allowing a 10–80 per cent DC fast charge in roughly half an hour. Those figures put the Twingo among the best in its class. With the 11 kW onboard charger the car also supports bidirectional charging: a V2L (vehicle-to-load) function can power appliances at up to 3.7 kW, and full V2G (vehicle-to-grid) capability will be available through Mobilize hardware in some countries.
Compared with its rivals, the Fiat 500e is slightly quicker off the line but offers similar range; the Citroën e-C3 has a larger battery but costs more; and the BYD Dolphin Surf offers less range.
Practicality and boot space
This is where the Twingo really shines, not least because (unlike the original car) the Renault Twingo E-Tech now offers five-door flexibility. At 3.8m long and with a 2.5m wheelbase and 9.87-metre turning circle, it's nice and compact on the outside but inside it feels a size up. Rear passengers get a surprising amount of legroom, so I can sit comfortably in one of the two rear seats that the Twingo offers, although I reckon lanky teens and adults that are getting towards six-foot will find headroom tight. It's still really spacious by the standards of the A-segment class it sits in, and the two independent sliding rear seats can move 170 mm back and forth, so you can choose between extra legroom or a larger boot.
With the seats pushed forward, boot capacity reaches 360 litres; fold the backrests and you get more than 1,000 litres of space. A 50-litre under-floor compartment stores charging cables neatly and remains accessible even when the boot is full. Around the cabin there are about 19-litres of handy storage, including deep door bins and a large central console. Charming touches like the original Twingo slogan printed on the seat straps add character. Compared with rivals, the 500e feels more boutique but is less versatile, and while the ë-C3 offers a bigger boot overall, it can’t match the Twingo’s clever rear-seat layout. You have to look to the Hyundai Inster for a similar level of versatility in such a small car, and that's a much more expensive car. Mind you, you could always see if there's a used Hyundai Inster that suits your needs!
As with the Renault 5 there’s a range of accessories on offer, everything from Chanel lipstick inspired gear selector covers to colour coded key covers and hooks to hang your handbag on. There's also the 'You Clip' system that we've already seen in Dacia cars (Dacia is also a Renault Group brand) also makes an appearance in the Twingo E-Tech offering practical options for charging cable ties or shopping bag holders. Joining the accessories down the like will be a range aimed at dog owners to keep their four footed friends happy. For pure city-car flexibility, this is one of the smartest designs on the market.
Interior, design/styling and technology
Renault has successfully translated the concept’s cuteness into a production car. The horseshoe-shaped LED lights front and rear, smiling grille and wheels pushed to the corners give it a playful stance, while bright paint choices, including three that are bespoke to Twingo - Absolute Green, Absolute Red and Mango Yellow - underline its fun personality.
Inside, an oval dashboard appears to float across the cabin and features the classic red hazard button in a clear surround. Every model gets two screens: a 7-inch driver display and a 10-inch touchscreen in the centre, both with friendly graphics and animations. Entry-level Evolution models use Renault’s connected multimedia system with wired or wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Step up to the Techno and you get the OpenR Link system with Google built-in, complete with Google Maps EV route planning, Google Assistant voice control and access to over a hundred apps from the Play Store. There’s also Reno, an animated avatar that acts as your virtual co-pilot and EV expert, handling voice commands for charging and climate while answering common questions.
As with the Renault 5, heated seats may only be available on the top-spec Techno, but we can only hope Renault doesn’t repeat that mistake when it finalises UK specifications.
Safety and driver assistance are unusually comprehensive for this size of car, with up to 24 systems available depending on trim. Adaptive cruise control with a traffic jam assist so that the car stops- and starts with the flow of cars, hands-free parking, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic emergency braking and blind-spot warning all feature - and even the entry level Twingo Evolution comes with cruise control.
We haven't driven the Twingo E-Tech yet, unfortunately, but power comes from a single front electric motor producing 82hp. This may not sound like much but the Twingo is light – from just 1,200 kg – so performance should feel brisk even if the headline figures appear modest. It sprints from 0- to 31mph in 3.85 seconds and reaches 62mph in 12.1 seconds, with a top speed of 81mph. That makes it ideal for city and suburban driving, if not so much for those motorway hauls.
One-pedal driving comes on the top-spec Techno trim, which I'm really pleased about as I like using one-pedal driving in EVs; it allows you to slow and stop using only the accelerator, making stop-start traffic smoother and conserving energy as you go. Brake regen' levels can be adjusted from one to four using paddles behind the wheel.
Pricing and on sale date
Renault is aiming for an entry price of under £20,000 once UK sales begin, at one point £17,000 to £18,000 was discussed and where it lands will be key, as every pound matters at this end of the market. Because it’s built in Europe, the Twingo should qualify for the UK electric-car grant if that fund is still running when it launches.
Running costs will be low: LFP batteries are durable and happy with regular charging, servicing is minimal (brake fluid every three years, coolant every six) and insurance groups should be modest thanks to the car’s size and output. Charging at home on an off-peak tariff will cost pennies per mile, and even public charging should be affordable given the battery’s small size.
Verdict
The Renault Twingo E-Tech Electric is precisely what the small-EV market needs: a fun, affordable city car that feels clever rather than cheap. Its packaging is brilliant - those sliding rear seats make everyday life easier - and its battery is right-sized for urban drivers. Opt for the Techno and you’ll get best-in-class infotainment and safety tech; go Evolution and you’ll still have a well-equipped, cheerful EV for the price of many petrol superminis. And you can personalise to your heart's content with a fun range of accessories.
It won’t match some rivals for range, and we hope Renault makes heated seats standard (or at least an affordable option on the entry-level car) for UK buyers, but as an urban runabout the Twingo hits the sweet spot between price, personality and practicality. It's a really fun, characterful, useful EV for under £20,000. For once, the reality lives up to the profile picture.
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