Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD

Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD

Get unlimited access to 9,500+ magazines, newspapers and Premium stories for just

$149.99
 
$74.99/Year

Try GOLD - Free

RENAULT 5

Auto Express

|

September 17, 2025

Our retro Renault's star is still shining wonderfully bright

- Ellis Hyde Ellis.Hyde@autoexpress.co.uk

RENAULT 5

DID you know that grey has been the most popular paint colour for new cars in the UK for the past seven years in a row? And it's not like we've just had the joy sucked out of us since Toys 'R' Us went bust. Silver had a six-year run as the go-to hue from 2003, then it was black, then white, then black again.

This doesn’t surprise me one bit, though, because every time I’m stuck in traffic on the M25 (which is all too frequently), it feels like I’m surrounded by more shades of grey than even E.L. James could shake a stick at.

Likewise, when I went down to London’s Hampton Court Palace to attend the Concours of Elegance – an event featuring genuinely immaculate cars from every era of motoring, and in some of the wildest colours imaginable the visitors’ car park outside looked as monochromatic as TV in the fifties. But as always, standing out amongst the crowd was our Renault 5 with its brilliant (and suitably named) Pop Yellow! paint.

imageI’m sure my affection for the Renault 5 has come through in these reports, but I haven’t been the only one smitten by its charms. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the car’s vibrant colour combined with its nostalgic looks has turned many a head since I picked up the Renault back in April. Even now, several months later and with plenty of R5s on the road, most journeys include at least one nod of approval from a fellow motorist.

MORE STORIES FROM Auto Express

Auto Express

MIKE RUTHERFORD

BRITAIN owes Nissan of Japan a long-overdue thank you - for being the largest car producer we have in the UK.

time to read

2 mins

September 17, 2025

Auto Express

Auto Express

£100,000k for a Range Rover, BMW 8 Series and Jaguar XK

For the price of a brand-new Mercedes S-Class limo, you can have a luxurious SUV, an elegant saloon and a timeless sports car sitting on your driveway

time to read

2 mins

September 17, 2025

Auto Express

Auto Express

Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport

FIRST DRIVE We find out if it's worth splashing out £2.3k extra for latest uprated version of Volkswagen's legendary hot hatch

time to read

3 mins

September 17, 2025

Auto Express

Auto Express

Honda Civic

FIRST DRIVE We find out how the refreshed version of Japanese brand's long-running family hatchback shapes up against rivals

time to read

5 mins

September 17, 2025

Auto Express

Auto Express

ID.4 REBORNAS ID. TIGUAN

Heavy update for VW EV will bring with it a fresh, but familar name

time to read

4 mins

September 17, 2025

Auto Express

BUYING CARS

EARLIER this year my colleague Tom Jervis quite rightly pointed out that car wheels are simply getting too big, which is somewhat consistent with another wheel that car makers seemingly can’t stop fiddling with: the steering wheel.

time to read

1 mins

September 17, 2025

Auto Express

Auto Express

RENAULT 5

Our retro Renault's star is still shining wonderfully bright

time to read

3 mins

September 17, 2025

Auto Express

Auto Express

GWM Poer300

FIRST DRIVE Diesel-only Chinese pick-up aims to woo buyers with its pricing, practicality and strong list of standard equipment

time to read

3 mins

September 17, 2025

Auto Express

Auto Express

Iconic Testarossa nameplate returns

Ferrari brings back badge for 1,035bhp plug-in hybrid 849 Berlinetta and Spider

time to read

3 mins

September 17, 2025

Auto Express

TESTED Fabric spot cleaners

From £99.99: Spot cleaners are ideal for tackling bigger messes than a cloth can cope with, but which of these two should you invest in?

time to read

1 min

September 17, 2025

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size