Renault has definitely found its favorite number: 150. After offering its customers to pay 150 euros to obtain an “R-Pass”, a sort of cord-cutting device so as not to wait for the launch of sales of the R5, the manufacturer to the diamond has just been fixed at 150 euros monthly payments for its new long-term rental (LLD) offer for the R5. Until now, an offer already existed, but cost 280 euros.
If prices are falling, it is because Renault has opened the R5 range to a new battery, smaller than the 52 kWh one which equips all the examples delivered to date (and which we have tried). Since its debut, Renault has announced its electric city car with a second battery, this time 40 kWh, which will naturally offer a more limited autonomy. To help lower the monthly payments of its new LLD, Renault has also revised the amount of the first rent.
Thus, the new LLD offer for a Renault R5 at 150 euros per month corresponds to an offer over three years (37 months), for 30,000 kilometers (i.e. 10,000 per year) with a first rent (contribution) of 9,500 euros. As usual when it comes to renting an electric car (like the electric car at 100 euros per month), the contribution can be reduced thanks to the ecological bonus of 4,000 euros. It can be reduced even more if the customer obtains the conversion bonus, by returning a compatible petrol or diesel model.
On paper, thanks to its R5 with 40 kWh battery and a contribution reduced to 4,000 euros, the offer will actually be accessible at only 150 euros per month, far from the 280 euros and 3,500 euros contribution of the first offer Manufacturer's LLD. Obviously, behind the commercial speech, you have to carefully examine the offer and know all its details to be sure you make the right choice. We will see, financing an R5 in this way is not the only way to do it either. But the offer is worth considering.
1/ The autonomy of the R5 at 150 euros per month
As we mentioned, Renault took advantage of the release of a new version of the R5 to offer the latter as a long-term rental for 150 euros per month over three years. This is the version equipped with the small 40 kWh batteryinstead of the 52 kWh battery. It's simple, with it, we will lose around a hundred kilometers of range. The version offered by Renault still offers the 120 hp engine, but the battery is smaller and the range of action will therefore be more limited.
In the WLTP cycle, the autonomy of the R5 40 kWh is displayed at 300 kilometers. Far from the 400 kilometers of the R5 in 52 kWh, it will therefore be necessary aim for 250 kilometers in a mixed cycleor even just 200 kilometers on the highway. Unfortunately, Renault has also made savings on the charging side by lowering the power level of this from 100 to 80 kW in direct current. With a smaller battery, the difference in charging time shouldn't be felt too much, that said. It will take between 30 and 40 minutes.
2/ The equipment of the R5
In terms of finishes and equipment, Renault has opted for the entry-level version called “Evolution”. It is therefore neither the Techno finish nor the Iconic Cinq finish, but it is not the “Five” version all the same (this is not yet available, but will arrive later with a smaller 95 hp engine, and less fast charging). With this Evolution finish, Renault still arrives with some interesting equipment on its R5 at 150 euros per month. In fact, we find there the heat pump, or the 10.1-inch touch screen.
Renault unfortunately does not offer no rear view camera or even Google services on the connectivity part, but we will find a reversing radar, daytime running lights and LED light signature, smartphone replication for the connectivity part, digital instrumentation on a screen placed behind the 7-inch steering wheel , or even a automatic air conditioningautomatic switching of high/low beam headlights, hands-free opening, and even a heated rear window. There is also the cruise control and speed limiterregenerative braking with mode B, hill start assistance, and bidirectional charging.
As with most LLD offers offered at an attractive price, you should not think about looking for an option here and there, because the amount of the monthly payments could very quickly increase. We will then note that the R5 at 150 euros per month will be available in green onlywith steel rims hidden by hubcaps 18-inch “disco”. This R5 will differ from the more upscale versions with black roof seals, and on board, gray fabric upholstery with light stitching. On the dashboard, one part will be lighter than the rest, just like on the door trim.
3/ The conditions of the offer
As we reported, Renault's offer for an R5 on LLD at 150 euros per month requires providing a contribution of 9,500 euros, or being eligible for the ecological bonus to reduce this by 5,500 euros. To increase it to 4,000 euros, you will also have to obtain the Conversion bonus1,500 euros. Government aid which should not last at such amounts while next year, we should see the ecological bonus lowered to 3,000 euros. It is not for nothing that for the moment, Renault only offers its LLD at 150 euros per month for an R5 between November 13 and 30.
It will also be necessary to take into account the limited mileage of the offer. For 10,000 kilometers per year, the offer is not for everyone, even if for an electric city car, it obviously makes much more sense than for a diesel sedan. However, this limit must be taken into account, as well as paying attention to the risks of return costs at the end of the contract with Renault. During the return, an expert will be responsible for inspecting the car in detail, and in the event of damage or abnormal wear, repair costs you will be billed. Please note that in 2019 in France, repair costs amounted, on average, to 798 euros…
Unlike a rental offer with purchase option (LOA), do not plan to keep the R5 at 150 euros per month which will have followed you for 3 years. Long-term rental (LLD) does not allow you to buy back the car at the end. It is thanks to this that LLD offers are able to offer lower prices. In theory for the lessor (in this case the manufacturer), the customer only pays for part of the car, ultimately corresponding to the price of the discount over three years.
It is not for nothing that Renault has been picky about the total cost that its customers will pay with its R5 offer at 150 euros per month. The brand takes into account the residual value of the car, in other words its price after a discount over three years. Let's see this in the next part, regarding the total cost of the offer.
4/ The total cost of the R5 offer at 150 euros per month
If we take into account all the monthly payments and the first rent of the R5 at 150 euros per month, we obtain the following amount: 14 900 euros. Taking into account the conversion bonus and the ecological bonus, the total cost comes to 9,400 euros. Thus, faced with the price of the car of 27,990 euros, and 22,490 euros with aid included, the customer of Renault's LLD offer will finance up to 53% of the car without aid and 41.80% with aid. Unfortunately for him, he won't be able to buy the car back.
So is it really more interesting than buying the R5 directly? The question arises. Without help, the answer is clearly no. But with the ecological bonus and the conversion bonus, we could well say that yes, even if we will not shout about the offer of the centuryfar from it. The big question is to know how much the rating of the R5 will rise after 3 years of career, and in particular this version with the small battery and this finish. On the second-hand marketit could very quickly see its prices fall, especially if the number of offers is large.
More high-end models could also be preferred, which would pose more problems for this small electric R5 in Evolution finish and its 40 kWh battery. We are therefore talking here about residual valuebut also the second-hand market more broadly, and therefore forecasts on supply and demand. It will also be necessary to take into account that this will be a second-hand market specific to electric cars, the discount on which is all the more difficult while technological innovation makes models obsolete more quickly.
5/ A cheaper R5 and increasing competition
By spring 2025Renault will offer its electric R5 “for less than 25,000 euros”. Much mentioned since the lines of this city car were presented, the version has not yet arrived on the market and will require a few more months of patience. Today, the R5 is already available for less than 25,000 euros, but on condition of obtaining the ecological bonus of 4,000 euros. For spring 2025, the R5 will swap its 120 hp engine for a smaller one block of 95 ch. The famous “Five” finish which will further limit its on-board equipment (and autonomy) but which will compete with the Dacia Spring and the Citroën ë-C3.
By then too, competition will be fiercer, as the number of electric cars priced at less than 25,000 euros increases. Since the 2024 Paris Motor Show, we have seen the arrival of the Hyundai Inster, with its 97 hp, 300 kilometers of autonomy and 11 kW charging (like the future R5 Five). We will soon be dealing with the Skoda Epiq, the Cupra Raval, the Fiat Grande Panda or even a certain Leapmotor T08. Still at Renault, the range will later be completed with a new electric Twingo.
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