The Renault Twingo became something of a cultural icon when it originally debuted back within the early Nineties, then fast became a automotive of the French people just like the Citroen 2CV did just a few generations prior to that.
Over subsequent generations, the Twingo did what all cars appear to do: it got larger and dearer. Now there’s an all-new Renault Twingo, one which very much harks back to its ancestor with unashamedly retro looks, though it encompasses a fully electric powertrain for the primary time and, in Europe no less than, an incredibly inexpensive price tag.
The most recent Twingo makes essentially the most of its compact size by utilizing an equally compact 27.5kWh LFP battery and, while its 82hp (60kW) electric motor won’t get pulses racing, the automotive suggestions the scales at just 1200kg, which by EV standards is practically bantamweight.
To get a flavour for what the brand new Renault Twingo is like and to see if it punches above its weight, we drove it on the automotive’s international launch in Ibiza, Spain.
How much does the Renault Twingo cost?
With no firm plans to bring the Twingo to Australia, it will be pure speculation to debate pricing. In Europe, Renault is targeting a sub-€20,000 price, putting it in the identical ballpark because the Hyundai Inster, which in Australia has a comparatively high drive-away price of $43,342 (with a Sydney postcode).
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What’s the Renault Twingo like on the within?
Parts of the Twingo’s cabin give a nod to the unique, reminiscent of the massive round hazard warning light turn on the dashboard. It’s actually something the designers needed to fight for, because the plan was to make use of the identical form of button that features in all of Renault’s models, however the designers got their way ultimately.
The dashboard on the passenger side encompasses a body-coloured panel on higher trim levels with the Twingo logo stamped into it, complete with oblong air vents which can be adjusted by nifty plus-shaped symbols. That oblong motif is a relentless throughout the automotive’s design.
Borrowing from Renault’s parts bin means the Twingo gets some bigger-car tech, including a 7.0-inch digital instrument display and a ten.1-inch multimedia touchscreen that runs an Android-based infotainment system with Google baked in. More apps will be downloaded from the Google Play Store, and Android and Apple smartphone mirroring is offered, too.
Heated seat adjustments are done via the touchscreen, but we like that there are proper rotary controllers for the air-conditioning.
Being built with a keen price in mind means there may be plenty of black plastic inside, but in most instances Renault has no less than applied some type of texturing to make it appear and feel a little bit less basic.
The doors have the identical colour-coded inserts because the dashboard and between the front seats is a small storage area on the ground with a cupholder. This will be adjusted with various inserts, and Renault’s designers have also borrowed the YouClip mounting system from Dacia, which lets owners attach various accessories onto pre-mounted square tabs dotted throughout the inside.
The front seats aren’t essentially the most supportive on this planet, though given the Twingo’s remit as a city automotive, it’s unlikely that many drivers might be spending prolonged amounts of time behind the wheel. Nonetheless, we expect Renault missed a trick by not offering more vibrant upholstery options like those seen within the Twingo from the Nineties.
There’s a surprisingly good amount of room within the rear because the Twingo is barely a four-seater, while each of the rear seats can slide independently.
That also implies that boot capability can vary from 360 litres at its largest, all the way down to 260L, and with each rear seats folded there’s around 1000L of total cargo volume. The front seatbacks will also be folded flat, making the inside space long enough for a surfboard or other long items.
| Dimensions | Renault Twingo |
|---|---|
| Length | 3789mm |
| Width | 1720mm |
| Height | 1491mm |
| Wheelbase | 2493mm |
| Cargo capability | 360L |
What’s under the bonnet?
A single powertrain is obtainable within the Renault Twingo, incorporating a 60kW electric motor that drives the front wheels and is powered by a 27.5kWh LFP (lithium-iron phosphate) battery.
| Specifications | Renault Twingo |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Single-motor electric |
| Battery | 27.5kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) |
| Power | 60kW |
| Torque | 175Nm |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1200kg |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 12.1 seconds |
| Claimed range | 263km |
| Max AC charge rate | 11kW |
| Max DC charge rate | 50kW |
In a case of cutting your cloth accordingly, Renault has struck the precise fit for the Twingo’s powertrain. The 60kW motor isn’t overwhelmed within the compact automotive, and with 175Nm of torque and a modest kerb weight, the result’s nicely balanced performance.
How does the Renault Twingo drive?
Scooting around a city centre at low speeds is straightforward work for the bijou Renault; in any case, that is where it’s prone to spend much of its time.
The raked windscreen provides great visibility and knowing how short the front and rear overhangs are makes it super-easy to slide through tight gaps and squeeze into smaller parking spaces without impacting the oblong bumper pads.
It’s around these streets that the Twingo’s torque helps it feel brisk without seeming strained. Light steering combined with a decent 9.87-metre turning circle makes this a champ on the everyday day by day urban assault course.
On paper, the 60kW power output won’t seem to be much, but considering its relatively low weight the Renault EV’s performance seems pretty much judged. The appropriate pedal isn’t especially sensitive to inputs, and the facility is delivered in a smooth and linear fashion.
Not that the Twingo can’t be hustled along; in reality, it’s possible to listen to the odd chirp from the front tyres when accelerating out of a corner or away from a steep speed bump, nevertheless it’s a automotive that’s more in its comfort zone when it’s just getting on with things in a daily way.
In lower-speed environments and stop-start scenarios, the one-pedal driving mode – selectable by pulling the paddles behind the steering wheel – is kind of effective and helps delay the range. We managed energy consumption in the one digits, and we suspect that over an extended period around 9kWh/100km could possibly be easily achieved.
Heading out of town, the Twingo doesn’t hesitate in getting as much as and beyond 80km/h, feeling barely quicker than its claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 12 seconds suggests.
There’s some road and wind noise, but nothing that you just’d take issue with, and the general suspension setup and ride comfort are good.
The relatively long wheelbase definitely adds to what’s a planted feel, and we did like how normal all of it feels on the road. You get some roll within the bends, but nothing that detracts from the general experience.
What do you get?
Renault plans to supply just two equipment levels of the Twingo in Europe, with the entry point getting 16-inch steel wheels with trims slightly than alloy wheels. In some markets, this ‘Evolution’ version might be offered with no DC fast-charger to maintain costs down. The upper-grade Techno grade gets 18-inch alloys, 50kW DC charging, one-pedal driving, automatic air-conditioning, a reversing camera and heated seats.
2026 Renault Twingo equipment highlights:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- 7.0-inch digital instruments
- 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Android Auto
- Apple CarPlay
- LED headlights
- Arkamys 6-speaker stereo
- 4-stage energy recuperation
- Heated front seats
- Automatic wipers
- Sliding rear seats
Is the Renault Twingo secure?
We’ve yet to see an assessment by Euro NCAP of the brand new Twingo, though we’d expect it to attain a fairly good rating given it shares a chassis with the larger Renault 5 and comes equipped with the identical suite of safety and assistance systems.
Standard safety equipment includes:
- Automatic emergency braking
- Safety coach
- Speed limit warning
- Blind-spot warning
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Lane keep assist
- Emergency braking when reversing
- Occupant secure exit alert
- Hill start assist
- Advanced driver monitoring
- Traffic sign recognition
- Automatic high- and low-beam
How much does the Renault Twingo cost to run?
Besides the impressive energy efficiency we experienced, the Twingo is prone to follow the Renault 5’s service schedule, which is once every two years or every 20,000km.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Renault Twingo
The Renault Twingo is a genuinely appealing compact electric automotive that’s simply bursting with charm and, going by what we’ve seen in Europe, a really inexpensive one at that.
Looks aside, it’s hugely practical inside, a beautiful thing to drive – especially around town – and ok to win over greater than just a few sceptics.
Click the pictures for the total gallery
This Article First Appeared At www.carexpert.com.au
