Renault 4 E-Tech Review 2026: Prices, specs and verdict

What is the Renault 4 E-Tech?

The Renault 4 E-Tech is a small electric SUV that forms the second part of Renault’s celebrated retro revival.

That began with the very closely-related Renault 5 E-Tech (now one of Europe’s best-selling EVs) and continues with the arrival of a new Renault Twingo in 2026. The 4 is the largest and, by a tiny margin, the most expensive of the trio.

For those too young to remember, the 4 E-Tech is a modern reimagining of the iconic petrol-powered Renault 4. That was born in the early 1960s and made such a global cultural and commercial impact it only went off sale a full 33 years later.

Simple, durable and affordable, the rugged Renault 4 took on the utilitarian Citroen 2CV at the time. Today’s model might share a few design cues, but it couldn’t be more different.

With fully electric power, sophisticated tech and comfort owners of the old car could only dream of, is the new 4 E-Tech more than just a retro gimmick? Our review finds out.  

Verdict: is the Renault 4 E-Tech a good car?

If you’re after a small electric SUV which blends charm and competence in equal measure, then the Renault 4 is among the best on the market. It’s nice to drive and has a real feel-good factor inside, along with solid build quality and brilliantly intuitive on-board tech. There are plenty of more practical options with more space for adults in the back, however.

Pricing, specs & rivals

At the time of writing prices for the Renault 4 E-Tech kick off from a very reasonable £23,445. That price includes the full £3,750 Electric Car Grant, for which all Renault 4s are now eligible.

That list price is very close to the Citroen e-C3 Aircross and Vauxhall Frontera Electric, while considerably undercutting cars like the Ford Puma Gen-E and BYD Atto 2.

Interestingly, it’s also £500 cheaper than the smaller Renault 5 when it’s equipped with the same 150hp electric motor and 52kWh battery – although the 5 does have a lower range, lower power version that’s £1,950 cheaper than the base 4.

All Renault 4s come with 18in wheels, a touchscreen infotainment system, climate control, cruise control, auto lights and wipers, keyless entry, a reversing camera with rear parking sensors and a heat pump.

Mid-spec Techno+ (from £25,945) would be our pick, not least because it adds some nice exterior upgrades including roof rails, smarter alloy wheels, chrome detailing and a black roof. Also thrown in are Google infotainment features along with adaptive cruise control, wireless phone charging, ambient lighting and privacy glass.

Top-spec Iconic+ (from £27,945) upgrades the interior trim while adding a Harmon Kardon sound system, an electric tailgate, some extra safety kit and heated seats along with a heated steering wheel. It’s a pity the latter two features are reserved for top spec, particularly as using them instead of the heater is better for range in winter.

Rivals

There’s no shortage of alternatives to the Renault 4 on the market right now. The Mini Aceman, Jeep Avenger Electric and Fiat 600e are three obvious options with retro cues and similar sizing, but none are as cheap as the 4.

If desirability isn’t top priority, check out the Ford Puma Gen-E, Leapmotor B10 and Vauxhall Mokka Electric, while the cheaper Citroen e-C3 Aircross and Vauxhall Frontera are well worth a look too.

Don’t discount the MG 4 and BYD Dolphin as budget options, too, while the Smart #1, Volvo EX30, Kia EV3 and Skoda Elroq are pricier in list price terms but worth considering.  

Renault 4 E-Tech: Interior comfort, quality & technology

Inside the Renault 4 E-Tech is virtually identical to the Renault 5, just a bit roomier and with a higher seating position. That’s no bad thing in our books, because it’s a lovely interior for the money.

Even entry-level versions avoid looking or feeling sparse, but higher trim levels bring neat design touches and stylish soft touch finishes to really liven the atmosphere. While there are a few harder plastics, they’re well hidden and quality is very good. Only much more expensive rivals are plusher inside.

We also love the brilliantly easy to operate tech combined with physical buttons for the climate control and other key functions. One minor gripe, though, is that the column-mounted gear selector sometimes needs a second shove to select drive or reverse.

The driving position is slightly more raised than in the 5, but some way short of a commanding, SUV-like feel of a Kia EV3. Still, there’s loads of adjustment and standard adjustable lumbar on all variants.

Visibility is okay, with a decent view out of the side windows but a somewhat narrow windscreen giving a bit of a letterbox-like view forwards (something the 4 and 5 have in common with MINIs). The rear screen and rear side windows are a bit small, too, but the reversing camera and rear parking sensors help.

Infotainment, sat-nav, stereo and connectivity

Every Renault 4 has the same 10in portrait-mounted touchscreen infotainment you’ll find in the 5 and several other Renaults. Put simply, it’s a brilliant system.

It combines slick graphics, fast responses and a logical, easy to operate layout in a way that no other affordable car can manage. It’s easy to reach on the move, too, while Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring comes on all models.

Our only gripe is that the entry-level version misses out on the superb Google integration, which negates the need to mirror your phone with built-in Google Maps and Google Assistant.

There’s also a quirky voice-activated avatar called Reno. It’s powered by ChatGPT and does a decent job of answering just about anything you ask of it (within reason). If you find it annoying, you need never use it.

All models get a digital driver’s display, but it’s a basic 7.0in screen on Evolution trim and a brighter, more configurable 10.3in screen on all other trims.

Evolution trim also misses out on the pair of rear USB-C charging ports that other trims get, but it does have a pair up front, while mid-spec trims also add wireless phone charging. As for audio, we’ve only tried the top spec car’s Harmon Kardon system, which delivers punchy if not totally high-end sound quality.

How practical is the Renault 4 E-Tech?

With dimensions of 4,143mm in length, 1,796mm in width and 1,552mm in height, the Renault 4 E-Tech is a little smaller across the board than a Ford Puma Gen E.

It’s also only slightly wider and taller than the Renault 5 but does have a 220mm length advantage. That makes a difference inside, although there are still much roomier alternatives.

Up front, a pair of six footers can get comfortable, thought it’s a more snug and cocooning environment than many electric SUVs.

In the rear, the first obstacle is narrow door openings and somewhat tight footwells. This makes getting in a little trickier than it should do for adults, but it is better than the 5.

Space back there is considerably more generous than the 4’s cramped sibling, too, with good space for your knees even as a six-footer. However, the floor is high, meaning your knees and thighs are raised up off the seat, and there’s precious little space to slide your feet under the front seats. Headroom isn’t great either, but kids or young teenagers will have no complaints.  

The Renault is at least roomier than a Jeep Avenger Electric and on a par with the Puma or a Vauxhall Mokka Electric. But you’ll find a lot more space in a Citroen e-C3 Aircross, as well as rivals from Skoda, Kia and Leapmotor.

Storage and boot space

Storage in the front of the Renault 4 is better than the 5, but not amazing but small SUV standards. You do get a deep under-armrest cubby and a pair of cupholders with a removable partition, but the door bins aren’t that big and neither’s the glovebox.

In the rear the door bins are reasonable, while you do get pockets in the front seatbacks. You don’t get a centre armrest nor any cupholders though, which is a shame, and you only get 60/40 split rear backrests. At least you can easily fold the seats from the boot.

The seats-up boot capacity of the Renault 4 is 420 litres – a decent figure that makes it more practical than a Vauxhall Mokka Electric and Jeep Avenger. However, it’s some way short of the much roomier Kia EV3.

The main highlight of the boot is the surprisingly low load lip, making it easy to lug heavy items into and out of the load area. The disadvantage of that is an unusually large tailgate that’s a bit awkward to open in tight spots. There’s no front boot, but a chunky storage space under the boot floor can easily swallow charging cables.

Performance & drive: What is the Leapmotor B10 like on the road?

Every Renault 4 gets the same 150hp electric motor driving the front wheels. While that doesn’t sound like much to shift an electric SUV, the 4 only weighs a little over 1500kg – far less than bigger rivals.

A 0-62mph time of just over eight seconds is decent by cheap EV standards, if hardly thrilling. But thanks to the instant power delivery it feels effortless and is much perkier than a Citroen e-C3 Aircross.

The only time you might feel wanting for extra poke is if you’ve got a fully loaded car and you’re pulling onto a busy motorway slip road – but again, that’s perfectly typical at this end of the market. It also delivers its power in a smooth manner, but it can overwhelm the front tyres if it’s damp.

Braking is one area where all current Renault EVs take some getting used to, because the pedal response is a little sharp and grabby. It takes a little while to adjust your input, but thankfully there are four levels of regenerative braking to reduce your need to use the pedal.

It’s a shame that the entry-level 4 doesn’t get paddles behind the steering wheel to adjust regen braking strength, but all others do, making it a doddle to switch between modes. You also get a full one-pedal driving mode, which you don’t currently get on the Renault 5.

Power, 0-62mph times

• Renault 5 (all versions): 150hp/ 8.2 secs

Ride and handling

The Renault 4 is not as fun to push into bends as a Puma Gen E, nor quite as smooth-riding as a Kia EV3, but it strikes a good middle ground to make it a solid all-rounder on the road.

A tight turning circle combined with good visibility and a narrow body makes it a breeze to drive about town. The ride can occasionally fidget over bumps, but it’s pretty good by small EV standards.

The 4’s steering is accurate and well weighted, making it easy to place into a corner. There’s also a decent amount of grip and not too much body lean, but the fun factor that the Ford Puma Gen E offers (and, for that matter, the Renault 5) isn’t quite there. Overall, though, it’s plenty capable enough for most.

Noise and refinement

The Renault 4 is impressively quiet and easy to travel long distances for such a cheap car. A ride that smooths out with speed along with little wind or road noise means you don’t need to raise your voice to be heard by passengers, while the electric motor is near-silent. Around town, the suspension smothers potholes and speed bumps quietly, too.  

Euro NCAP: is the Renault 4 E-Tech a safe car?

The Renault 4 achieved a rating of four stars out of five when put through its crash testing paces by Euro NCAP. That’s the same as the 5, but the 4 offers marginally better protection for child occupants.

It’s the same rating as a Puma Gen-E, but family buyers might be swayed by five-star ratings for the more expensive Leapmotor B10 and Skoda Elroq. Still, the Renault’s performance is perfectly respectable.

Every version of the Renault 4 features the usual autonomous emergency braking that detects pedestrians and cyclists as well as cars. There’s also lane keep assist with oncoming traffic detection, traffic sign recognition, driver attention monitoring and six airbags.

Upgrading to Iconic trim also adds blind spot monitoring and safe exit assist, which prevents you from opening the door into the path of oncoming vehicles.

Find some off the assist systems irritating? Renault’s MySafety Perso button lets you choose which ones you’d rather were deactivated and select them for each drive with two button presses.

Charging, range and running costs

All versions of the Renault 4 get a 55kWh battery pack with 52kWh of usable capacity. That’s the largest option in the Renault 5, which can also be ordered with a smaller 40kWh pack.

In the 4, this bigger battery manages an official WLTP range of between 243 and 249 miles depending on spec (the entry-level trim has the best range on paper). That’s only a few miles short of the smaller Renault 5.

The range figure is competitive and just about matches cars like the Vauxhall Mokka Electric, the Extended Range Citroen e-C3 Aircross and MINI Aceman SE. It does, however, fall behind pricier options like the Skoda Elroq and Kia EV3.

Renault provides a handy real-world range simulator for all of its EVs online, showing that in ideal 20-degree weather the 4 will manage around 240 miles from a charge in mixed driving and 175 miles in constant high speed motorway use. It also shows that these figures drop by about 12% if the outside temperature drops to five degrees and the heating is kept on.

That’s good to know, although it isn’t directly comparable to rivals because most don’t offer a real-world range simulator. The WLTP range figure is the most useful comparison as a result.

Range on a charge (WLTP figures)

• Renault 4 E-Tech (all versions): 243-249 miles

The Renault 4’s rapid charging speeds aren’t much to shout about on paper, with a peak 100kW DC rate matching rivals from Vauxhall, Citroen and Peugeot but behind the Skoda Elroq and Leapmotor B10.

Still, the modest battery size means the 4 is just over the desired 30-minute mark for a 10-80% charge in ideal conditions, which is about what you’d expect for an affordable EV.

All but the entry-level variant comes with battery preconditioning, too, which means if you enter a charging station in the sat-nav the car will heat or cool the battery to ensure it can hit an optimal charge speed quickly.

Another bonus is that every Renault 4 comes with a heat pump, something that is becoming increasingly common but is still optional – or not available at all – on some rivals.

Charging speeds

(Figures from EV Database)

• 7kW charging: 8hrs 30 mins  
• 11kW charging: 5hrs 45 mins
• 50kW rapid charger (10 to 80% charge): 57 mins
• 150kW+ rapid charger (10 to 80% charge): 33 mins

How much does the Renault 4 E-Tech cost to insure?

Every version of the Renault 4 sits in insurance group 26, which is a few groups higher than the 5. It’s unlikely to break the bank for most people, but for those that tend to have high premiums something like a Ford Puma Gen E (which starts from a lowly group 18) would be a better bet.