What Is It?
Right, so the 2026 Renault Twingo E-Tech Electric is making a return — but this time, it’s all-electric and aiming to give you plenty of bang for not a whole lot of buck. Renault’s planning to bring it to the UK by autumn 2026, with the first ones hitting the road in early 2027. The starting price? Somewhere between £17,000 and £19,000, making it one of the cheapest electric cars you’ll be able to buy here.
It sits below the Renault 5 in the range, running on the same AmpR Small platform they’re using for a few other compact EVs. But what makes this Twingo stand out is what Renault’s aiming for: a proper, no-nonsense electric runabout that costs less than £20k.
Exterior Design
From the outside, it’s got that neat, tidy look you want in a city car — five doors, compact shape, and it pulls off being distinctive without shouting about it. You can definitely spot a bit of the older Twingo in there, but with more polish and a bit of edge to suit today’s roads.
On the base Evolution model, you get smart 16-inch wheels, and the whole thing looks ready for narrow city streets. It’s small, sure, but not boring. Details like the LED lights and funky body creases show Renault’s put a bit of effort in, even if it’s aimed at budget buyers.
Engine & Powertrain
This version’s got one electric motor kicking out 60 kW (or 82 bhp in old money), sending power to the front wheels. It’s not going to win any drag races — 0–62 mph takes 12.1 seconds, and it tops out at 81 mph — but for city and suburban runs, that’s more than enough.
You get a 27.5 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery (built by CATL, if you’re into that sort of thing), and it’ll do up to 163 miles on the WLTP test cycle. Renault’s also saying it’ll manage 5.9 miles per kWh, which is properly efficient for something this size.
Charging’s pretty straightforward as well. The standard setup includes 6.6 kW AC charging, which takes about 4 hours 15 minutes for a full charge. If you go for the optional Advanced Charge pack, you get quicker 11 kW AC and 50 kW DC charging — that means 10 to 80% in about half an hour, which is handy for a quick top-up while you’re out and about.
Ride & Handling
As you’d expect, the Twingo’s been set up with city life in mind. It’s not something we’ve had a go in yet, but since it shares bits with the Renault 5, chances are the suspension and handling are decently sorted for soaking up potholes and getting you round tight corners without fuss.
It’s not built to be a thrill machine — 82 bhp sees to that — but it should be light on its feet thanks to the smaller battery, so weaving through traffic or parking in cramped spots shouldn’t be a headache.
Interior & Tech
Given its size, the Twingo does a surprisingly decent job when it comes to space and layout. It’s five doors across the board, and the back bench slides independently, which means you can juggle boot space and legroom depending on what you need. With the seat slid forward, you’re looking at a solid 360 litres of boot space — not bad at all for something so little.
In Evolution trim, you get the basics sorted — smartphone hookup, emergency braking, manual air-con — enough to make daily life easy. Move up to Techno trim and you start getting fancier bits like a Google-powered infotainment screen and adaptive cruise control. That infotainment runs Renault’s OpenR system with full Google services, which is already catching a few eyes.
They’ve also thought about storage quite cleverly. Whether you’re doing the weekly shop, ferrying the kids around, or packing for a weekend away, the Twingo’s set up to handle everyday faff without you constantly juggling bags on the passenger seat.
Should you buy one?
So, with prices between £17,000 and £19,000, the 2026 Renault Twingo is set to shake things up. It’s cheaper than the Renault 5 — no small feat — and even comes in lower than a few petrol-powered rivals like the Kia Picanto.
It’s going to go up against other budget EVs like those from Dacia and Fiat, plus new arrivals like the Volkswagen ID.1 and Citroën e-C3. Compared to that lot, the Twingo scores well across the board on cost, efficiency and clever use of space.
If you live in town, are toying with your first EV, or just want something small and affordable without it feeling like a penalty box, the Twingo could be a very smart shout. Renault wanted to show you could have a proper electric car for under £20k — and from what we’ve seen so far, they’re making a pretty convincing case.
