Renault 5 E-Tech Electric 150 vs Renault Clio 5 E-Tech Full Hybrid 145: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the 5 E-Tech Electric 150 hits 100 km/h in 8.12 s versus 9.18 s for the Clio 5 E-Tech Full Hybrid 145. The instant torque of 245 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the 5 E-Tech Electric 150 leads by 1.06 s and sits roughly 10 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the 5 E-Tech Electric 150 is doing 117 km/h against 113 km/h for the Clio 5 E-Tech Full Hybrid 145. The gap is 0.48 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 5 E-Tech Electric 150 crosses the line in 16.13 s versus 16.76 s. The 0.62 s gap represents roughly 24 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Past 400 metres, the situation changes. The 5 E-Tech Electric 150 maxes out at 150 km/h while the Clio 5 E-Tech Full Hybrid 145 keeps accelerating towards 180 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.58 s.

Around 879 metres, both vehicles are level. This is the inversion point: the Clio 5 E-Tech Full Hybrid 145 overcomes its launch deficit thanks to a 30 km/h higher top speed.

At 1,000 metres, the Clio 5 E-Tech Full Hybrid 145 finishes in 30.23 s versus 30.62 s. The 0.38 s delta shows an extremely tight race.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 5 E-Tech Electric 150 is capped at 150 km/h, the Clio 5 E-Tech Full Hybrid 145 at 180 km/h. This isn’t a physical engine limit - it’s a manufacturer choice, usually for tyre safety or homologation reasons. Neither car reaches its true aerodynamic top speed.

Instant electric torque gives an advantage off the line. The higher top speed of the combustion engine gives an advantage over longer distances. The distance at which one catches the other depends on the top speed differential.

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 14.59 seconds. The 1.06 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.