Our opinion on the Renault 4
Given our glowing reviews of the Renault 5, we had high hopes for the bigger, more practical 4 – and our first drive on UK roads shows the car in its very best light. This is still a small, urban-focused EV, but one that can also serve as a compact family car, capable of occasional long trips. Like its retro sibling, it’s got charm and character by the bucketload; opt for the mid-spec Techno trim and you’ll have one of the best-value new EVs currently on sale.
About the Renault 4
With the arrival of the Renault 4 E-Tech, the French firm has produced a small electric car that’s packed with retro charm. In a way, the R4 is to the Renault 5 E-Tech what the Renault Captur is to the Renault Clio – essentially the same platform and powertrain, but with a unique style and a bit more practicality courtesy of a small SUV-style body.
Of course, there’s much more to the latest R4 than that, with chunky lines and details that draw their inspiration from Renault’s famous budget hatchback introduced in the sixties. The side profile features the same window shape as that original model, and the lines moulded into the doors are another nod to the old R4, while the LED lighting features an illuminated surround and round daytime running lights up front, plus vertical tail-lights inspired by the first R4. These touches are combined with more modern, SUV-derived cues, such as the roof rails and squared-off black wheelarches.
Renault 4 prices and latest deals
The Renault brand is among a growing number of manufacturers that qualify for the Government’s Electric Car Grant (ECG) announced in July 2025, and the R4 is eligible for the higher £3,750 ‘Band 1’ grant. You can find the latest top deals on electric cars through the Auto Express marketplace, and our sister brand Carwow has a live EV deals page tracking the latest offers.
If you’re interested in getting yourself a Renault 4, we can help. Configure your ideal Renault 4 now to get top offers from local dealers, check out the latest Renault 4 leasing deals with our Find A Car service. You can even sell your existing car for a great price with Auto Express Sell My Car.
On the road, the R4 continues to impress. It feels neatly tied down, despite Renault claiming it has a slightly softer set-up than the 5, with a willingness to change direction that’s missing in plenty of its rivals. We mention that softer set-up fleetingly, though; the Renault 4 is still quite stiffly sprung, with a hard-ish edge to the ride around town. Things are much smoother at higher speeds, however.
One thing we particularly like about the 4 compared with every Renault 5 we’ve driven to date, is the introduction of adjustable regen and a one-pedal drive mode. We say ‘to date’, because we’re told that this feature, along with the paddles behind the steering wheel, will be added to the R5 “during its lifecycle”. The system – similar to that found on recent Hyundai and Kia cars – is intuitive to use, and can slow the car to a controlled stop without using the brake pedal at all.
Electric motors, 0-60mph acceleration and top speed
While the 5 comes with two motor options, the 4 just takes the more powerful of the pair. The lone offering sends its 148bhp and 245Nm to the front wheels, delivering decent performance; 0-62mph takes 8.2 seconds, which is more than enough for a car in this class.
It’s also more than enough to occasionally overwhelm the front wheels. Torque steer – where the steering wheel squirms a little in your hands under hard acceleration – is noticeable at times, without having a detrimental effect on the driving experience. The Renault 4, like its smaller sibling, is really good fun to drive.
Yet it can do the relaxing stuff pretty well, too; knock it from Sport into Comfort, and you’ve still got enough power to surge away from junctions or traffic lights. However, Eco pegs things back significantly – to the extent that you may struggle to maintain a steady speed on steeper inclines. We’d leave that mode for when you really need to maximise efficiency.