2026 Renault Twingo electric: complete guide to the new city car

Renault has unveiled an electric Twingo developed for the first time largely outside France, in China, and styled to echo the original generation. Although it uses the platform shared with the rest of the French brand’s electric line-up, it has several technical distinctions. This guide to the 2026 Renault Twingo electric covers everything there is to know about the new city car.

Renault chose 6 November 2025 to introduce what it calls a “game changer”: the fourth-generation Twingo, the first offered exclusively with electric power. Beyond its drivetrain, this city car stands apart because much of its development was managed from China, alongside a co-development partner named Launch Design. In addition, 40% of the value of its components comes from China. Beneath styling inspired by the first Twingo of 1993 sits an entirely new car, with new parts and design teams that were partly external.

According to Renault, this approach was needed to keep pace with Chinese manufacturers, which have cut vehicle development cycles from four years to just two. It is intended to keep the brand competitive while controlling costs, with the final cost of the 2026 electric Twingo reportedly reduced by 29%. This mattered because former Renault chief Luca de Meo wanted this new electric Twingo to become the first zero-emission model in the range priced below €20,000; the Renault 5, meanwhile, had targeted €25,000. Savings have therefore been made in development time, component pricing and, above all, the battery.

Every dimension of the 2026 Renault Twingo

• Length: 3,789 mm
• Width: 1,720 mm
• Height: 1,491 mm
• Wheelbase: 2,493 mm
• Ground clearance: 143 mm (unladen)
• Weight: from 1,200 kg
• Boot: 305 dm³ (360 L)
• Boot with seats folded: more than 1,000 L
• Rear knee room: 160 mm
• Turning circle: 9.87 m
• Loading height: 745 mm

The 2026 electric Twingo is a 3.79-metre-long city car measuring 1.49 metres tall and 1.72 metres wide. Its wheelbase is 2.49 metres, ground clearance is 143 mm, and kerb weight starts at 1,200 kg. The cabin prioritises front-seat occupants, although rear passengers have not been overlooked. Its notably rounded shape gives it a larger boot than the Renault 5: 360 litres rather than 326 litres. Fold the rear seats and capacity rises beyond 1,000 litres, enough to accommodate items 2 metres long. Renault quotes a loading height of 745 mm.

Interior storage provides another 19 litres, according to Renault’s initial information. There is also a 50-litre compartment beneath the boot floor for charging cables. The rear seats slide through 17 centimetres and operate independently. The new 2026 Twingo is offered solely as a five-door, with four proper adult seats. On the move, the dimensions of the 2026 Renault Twingo result in a 9.87-metre turning circle: not as tight as a Fiat 500, Grande Panda or Smart Fortwo, but better than the 11-metre average for cars.

2026 Renault Twingo design and equipment

The resemblance between the 2026 Renault Twingo and the first model chiefly comes from its so-called ‘one-box’ styling, which gives the whole car a rounder, friendlier appearance. In its press release, Renault describes its rounded forms as “playful and expressive”. The headlamps also reshape the front end, creating a cheerful ‘face’ and “a mischievous look”. Compared with the original Twingo, the main change lies in the proportions: everything appears larger on this new 2026 electric Twingo. The round front lights are not solid units, and neither are the rear ones.

The 2026 electric Twingo will be available to order in two trims: Evolution and Techno. As its name suggests, the Techno version includes more features and equipment, including One Pedal mode, which provides proper regenerative braking when lifting off the accelerator; Stop & Go adaptive cruise control; automatic air conditioning; a hands-free access card; a reversing camera; an Arkamys six-speaker sound system; and OpenR Link with built-in Google, plus a voice assistant using integrated ChatGPT-4o AI. Renault requires customers to choose this trim if they want the folding front seat, which is intended for carrying larger items.

The entry-level Renault Twingo Evolution, priced below €20,000 before taxes, does without electric door mirrors, integrated Google services, a reversing camera and rear privacy glass. It still receives a 10-inch central display, alongside a 7-inch screen behind the steering wheel with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, as well as cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, which does not change on the Techno trim, traffic-sign recognition, automatic emergency braking, manual air conditioning, sliding rear seats, an adjustable driver’s seat and rear parking sensors.

Renault has partnered with Google so the US company can bring its services, app store and a dependable, responsive operating system to its cars. The Techno electric Twingo will benefit from this arrangement, and Renault says customers will receive 2 GB of internet data per month for downloading apps and using built-in services without their phone, for three years.

The two trims will also be distinguished by their wheels. The Techno version, shown in the brand’s images on Thursday 6 November, features 18-inch alloy wheels, which look particularly large on such a compact model. The sub-€20,000 Evolution model instead makes do with 16-inch wheel trims. Four colours will be offered: Absolute Red, Absolute Green, Mango Yellow and Starry Black. Full LED lighting is fitted front and rear on every version of this new 2026 Renault Twingo electric.

2026 Renault Twingo battery and range

• Battery type: Lithium iron phosphate (LFP), with no cobalt or nickel
• Usable capacity: 27.5 kWh
• Architecture: “cell-to-pack” (more cells, -20% on battery cost)
• Range: up to 263 km WLTP
• Standard charging: 6.6 kW AC as standard, 10 to 100% in 4h15
• “Advanced Charge” fast-charging option: 11 kW bidirectional AC + 50 kW DC; AC: 10 to 100% in 2h35; DC: 10 to 80% in 30 min
• Bidirectional charging: V2L: powers 220V appliances up to 3,700 W; V2G: feeds energy back to the grid via a Mobilize PowerBox Verso (22 kW AC) charge point
• Management through the My Renault app (scheduling, preconditioning, charge planning)

With the Twingo, Renault aims to show that an electric car can be designed without ending up €10,000 more expensive than an equivalent combustion-engined model, although Chinese manufacturers demonstrated this much earlier. Can the manufacturer reverse the trend and also show that an electric city car can be sufficiently versatile? Naturally, the key detail of the new 2026 Renault Twingo is its battery. And, unexpectedly, it is small - very small. It cannot be called the smallest battery in Renault’s range, because the Twizy exists, but even a Zoe had a larger unit - almost twice as large.

The 2026 Renault Twingo therefore uses a 27.5 kWh battery of usable capacity, supplied by CATL. It uses LFP rather than NMC chemistry to lower its price and avoid nickel and cobalt. On the car’s WLTP measure, the 2026 Renault Twingo range is 263 km. In real-world use, expect 200 km at best unless it is driven exclusively in town. Reaching 200 km will be difficult on A-roads and motorways. Fast charging on DC charge points requires the optional package called “Advanced Charge”; otherwise, owners must rely on AC charging.

In standard form, the Renault Twingo charges at 6.6 kW AC, taking 4h15 to go from 10 to 100%. Selecting “Advanced Charge” raises AC output to 11 kW, reducing a 10-to-100% charge to 2h35, while it also adds 50 kW DC charging for a 10-to-80% charge in 30 minutes. Fast charging is therefore far from truly rapid: the Renault 5 offers 100 kW fast charging, which was already somewhat modest. However, the particularly small battery means charging times remain conventional for this type of model.

The electric Twingo also gets V2L and V2G charging systems from EVTech, a Chinese supplier. These allow the car to power electrical devices at 220 V and up to 3,700 W, and to return energy to the grid. Through the My Renault app, the electric Renault Twingo can also be preconditioned remotely. The app provides several scheduling functions too, notably for charging and for taking advantage of the new off-peak periods on the French grid.

2026 Renault Twingo motor and driving

• Electric motor: 60 kW (82 hp)
• Torque: 175 Nm
• Architecture: rear-wheel drive via the AmpR Small platform (the same base as the Renault 5 and 4 E-Tech)
• Weight: from 1,200 kg (Evolution version)
• Performance: 0–50 km/h: 3.85 s; 0–100 km/h: 12.1 s; top speed: 130 km/h
• “One Pedal” mode (on Techno trim): enables braking by lifting off the accelerator, with four intensity levels controlled using steering-wheel paddles

How does the Renault Twingo electric make use of this modest battery? To turn electrical energy into driving power, an 82 hp motor sits beneath the front bonnet. The diamond-badged manufacturer offers no alternative: whichever electric Twingo trim is chosen, it comes with this 82 hp (60 kW) motor, delivering 175 Nm of torque. Renault quotes 0–50 km/h in 3.85 seconds and 0–100 km/h in 12.1 seconds. That makes it more effective than a petrol-powered version, but gentler than other electric city cars on sale. Top speed is 130 km/h.

Despite being electric, the car weighs only 1,200 kg. Its small battery, compact motor and extensive use of plastic parts have kept the weight low enough to ensure responsive performance across the range, although the Techno will be slightly heavier because of its additional equipment and 18-inch wheels. In driving terms, the Techno trim differs through its One Pedal mode and four selectable regenerative-braking levels, adjusted using paddles behind the steering wheel.

2026 Renault Twingo price and launch

Renault has kept one major detail confidential for the new 2026 electric Twingo: its price. It remains quoted as “below €20,000” without further clarification. We now know, however, that it will fall below the €20,000 threshold before taxes. In other words, Renault should position the Evolution version just under €20,000. The Techno version is expected to cost €2,000 more. Buyers will also need to add the option for 50 kW DC fast charging, available on both trims but not standard on either; its price is not yet known.

The car will be built in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, where Renault will send all of the parts used to assemble it. In promoting the model, the diamond-badged brand says most customers will be located within 1,000 km of its assembly site. It should nevertheless be remembered that at least 40% of the car’s value, including the battery, will be imported from China by sea, a journey taking one month, then by rail after components are unloaded at ports in France or Portugal. Production is due to begin in the coming weeks, with deliveries at the start of 2026. Initially, Renault will fulfil orders from customers who paid €100 for an “R Pass”, a form of queue-jump that gives their order priority.