Ford Fiesta vs Renault 5
Figures updated
The Renault 5 is a new rival to the Ford Fiesta, one of the UK's most popular superminis. We compare the Mk8 (2017–2023) Fiesta and the E-Tech (2024–) 5 on price, size, boot space, performance, safety, official economy and running costs.
The short answer
The Ford Fiesta comes out ahead, with more performance; the Renault 5 is close on everything else.
- Their boots are much the same size: Ford Fiesta 311 litres, Renault 5 326 litres.
- Euro NCAP safety: Ford Fiesta 5 stars (2017), Renault 5 4 stars (2024). Ratings from different years aren't directly comparable, as the tests get tougher.
- No MOT reliability comparison yet: the Renault 5 is too new for MOT records (cars first take an MOT at three years old).
- Watch the steering on a Ford Fiesta: it fails on them 1.8 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Ford FiestaMk8 (2017–2023), 3/5-door hatchback | Renault 5E-Tech (2024–), 5-door hatchback |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | – | £22,995 to £30,695October 2026 price list |
| Body | 3/5-door hatchback | 5-door hatchback |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 311 litres / 1,093 | 326 litres / 1,106 (best) |
| Length | 4,048mm | 3,922mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,735mm | 1,808mm |
| Height | 1,490mm | 1,498mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 70–200 PS (best) | 120–150 PS |
| 0–62mph | 6.5–14.9 sec (best) | 7.9–9.0 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2017) | ★★★★★ (2024) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Hybrid, Petrol | Electric |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 43.5–58.9 mpg | – |
| CO2 | 110–147 g/km | – |
| Electric range | – | 190–255 miles |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.5p a litre, today's UK average | £1,097 (53.3 mpg) | – |
| Electric, charged at home26.3p per kWh standard tariff | – | £548 (4 mi/kWh) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,097 (petrol) | £548 (electric) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200 | £200 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 86Below average | Too new for MOT data |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 34.3% | – |
| Failed at 3 years old | 13.2% | – |
| Failed at 5 years old | 14.6% | – |
| Failed at 10 years old | 36.6% | – |
| Most common MOT fault | Stop lamp (6.1% of tests) | – |
| Fails more than average on | Steering (1.8×), Lights and electrics (1.4×) | – |
| MOT tests analysed | 1,368,897 | – |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Supermini | Supermini |
| Owners' average miles a year | 6,800 | – |
| On sale | 2017–2023 | 2024 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the Ford Fiesta or the Renault 5 more reliable?
It's too early to say from MOT records: the Renault 5 is too new, as cars take their first MOT at three years old. The Ford Fiesta has a reliability score of 86 (100 is average) from 1,368,897 MOT tests in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Ford Fiesta or the Renault 5?
The Ford Fiesta is 126mm longer (4,048mm against 3,922mm). Their boots are much the same: 311 and 326 litres.
›Which is safer, the Ford Fiesta or the Renault 5?
Euro NCAP gave the Ford Fiesta 5 stars (2017) and the Renault 5 4 stars (2024). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Ford Fiesta or the Renault 5?
The Ford Fiesta comes out ahead, with more performance; the Renault 5 is close on everything else. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.