2026 Renault Twingo review: Quick drive

The Renault Twingo became something of a cultural icon when it originally debuted back in the early 1990s, then fast became a car of the French people like the Citroen 2CV did a few generations prior to that.

Over subsequent generations, the Twingo did what all cars seem to do: it got larger and more expensive. Now there’s an all-new Renault Twingo, one that very much harks back to its ancestor with unashamedly retro looks, though it features a fully electric powertrain for the first time and, in Europe at least, an incredibly affordable price tag.

The latest Twingo makes the most of its compact size by using an equally compact 27.5kWh LFP battery and, while its 82hp (60kW) electric motor might not get pulses racing, the car tips the scales at just 1200kg, which by EV standards is practically bantamweight.

To get a flavour for what the new Renault Twingo is like and to see if it punches above its weight, we drove it at the car’s international launch in Ibiza, Spain.

How much does the Renault Twingo cost?

With no firm plans to bring the Twingo to Australia, it would be pure speculation to discuss pricing. In Europe, Renault is targeting a sub-€20,000 price, putting it in the same ballpark as the Hyundai Inster, which in Australia has a relatively high drive-away price of $43,342 (with a Sydney postcode). 

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What is the Renault Twingo like on the inside?

Parts of the Twingo’s cabin give a nod to the original, such as the large round hazard warning light switch on the dashboard. It’s actually something the designers had to fight for, as the plan was to use the same type of button that features in all of Renault’s models, but the designers got their way in the end.

The dashboard on the passenger side features a body-coloured panel on higher trim levels with the Twingo logo stamped into it, complete with oblong air vents that are adjusted by nifty plus-shaped symbols. That oblong motif is a constant throughout the car’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 10.1-inch multimedia touchscreen that runs an Android-based infotainment system with Google baked in. More apps can be downloaded from the Google Play Store, and Android and Apple smartphone mirroring is available, 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 is lots of black plastic inside, but in most instances Renault has at least applied some kind of texturing to make it look and feel a little less basic.

The doors have the same colour-coded inserts as the dashboard and between the front seats is a small storage area on the floor with a cupholder. This can 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 interior.

The front seats aren’t the most supportive in the world, though given the Twingo’s remit as a city car, it’s unlikely that many drivers will be spending extended amounts of time behind the wheel. However, we think Renault missed a trick by not offering more vibrant upholstery options like those seen in the Twingo from the 1990s.

There is a surprisingly good amount of room in the rear as the Twingo is only a four-seater, while both of the rear seats can slide independently.

That also means that boot capacity can vary from 360 litres at its largest, down to 260L, and with both rear seats folded there’s around 1000L of total cargo volume. The front seatbacks can also be folded flat, making the interior space long enough for a surfboard or other long items.

What’s under the bonnet?

A single powertrain is offered in 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.

In a case of cutting your cloth accordingly, Renault has struck the right fit for the Twingo’s powertrain. The 60kW motor isn’t overwhelmed in the compact car, and with 175Nm of torque and a modest kerb weight, the result is nicely balanced performance.

How does the Renault Twingo drive?

Scooting around a city centre at low speeds is easy work for the bijou Renault; after all, this is where it’s likely 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 slip 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 tight 9.87-metre turning circle makes this a champ on the typical daily urban assault course.

On paper, the 60kW power output might not seem like much, but considering its relatively low weight the Renault EV's performance seems pretty well judged. The right pedal isn’t especially sensitive to inputs, and the power is delivered in a smooth and linear fashion.

Not that the Twingo can’t be hustled along; in fact, it’s possible to hear the odd chirp from the front tyres when accelerating out of a corner or away from a steep speed bump, but it’s a car that’s more in its comfort zone when it’s just getting on with things in a regular way.

In lower-speed environments and stop-start scenarios, the one-pedal driving mode – selectable by pulling the paddles behind the steering wheel – is quite effective and helps prolong the range. We managed energy consumption in the single digits, and we suspect that over a longer period around 9kWh/100km could be easily achieved.

Heading out of town, the Twingo doesn’t hesitate in getting up to and beyond 80km/h, feeling slightly quicker than its claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 12 seconds suggests.

There is some road and wind noise, but nothing that you’d take issue with, and the overall suspension setup and ride comfort are good.

The relatively long wheelbase certainly adds to what is a planted feel, and we did like how normal it all feels on the road. You get some roll in the bends, but nothing that detracts from the overall experience.

What do you get?

Renault plans to offer just two equipment levels of the Twingo in Europe, with the entry point getting 16-inch steel wheels with trims rather than alloy wheels. In some markets, this ‘Evolution’ version will be offered without a DC fast-charger to keep costs down. The higher-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
• Four-stage energy recuperation
• Heated front seats
• Automatic wipers
• Sliding rear seats

Is the Renault Twingo safe?

We’ve yet to see an assessment by Euro NCAP of the new Twingo, though we’d expect it to achieve a reasonably good rating given it shares a chassis with the larger Renault 5 and comes equipped with the same 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 safe 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 likely to follow the Renault 5’s service schedule, which is once every two years or every 20,000km.

CarExpert’s Take on the Renault Twingo

The Renault Twingo is a genuinely appealing compact electric car that’s simply bursting with charm and, going by what we’ve seen in Europe, a very affordable one at that.

Looks aside, it’s hugely practical inside, a lovely thing to drive – especially around town – and good enough to win over more than a few sceptics.

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