The other retro Renault
The Renault 4 E-Tech takes the 5's award-winning platform and answers its one family complaint: space. Reinterpreting the 1961 original as a small electric SUV, it adds ride height, rear-door practicality and a c.420-litre boot — proper small-family capacity — while keeping the retro design language that's made these cars the EV market's charm offensive. UK pricing spans £26,995–£30,995 list, from £23,445 with the £3,750 Electric Car Grant.
The UK car centres on the 52kWh battery: 148bhp, 247 miles WLTP, 100kW rapid charging (15–80% in about 30 minutes). And June 2026 brought the range's smile: the Plein Sud, with a full-length electric folding canvas roof on upper trims — the cheapest open-air family car in Britain.
The honest assessment
Press consensus places the 4 among the best small electric SUVs: the 5's eager, planted drive with a suppler ride, the same excellent Google-based cabin, and real day-to-day usability. The trade-offs are honest: range is midpack against a Kia EV3's bigger packs, the rear seat suits kids better than adults, and there's no AWD for those imagining more ruggedness than the styling implies.
Against its own sibling: the 4 costs slightly more than the 5, carries more stuff, rides better, and looks — depending on your nostalgia — either even cooler or slightly less iconic. There's no wrong answer, which is rather the point.
The questions buyers actually ask
Renault 4 or 5? Boot and back seat pick the 4; pure style and price pick the 5. Both drive delightfully.
4 or Kia EV3? The Kia carries more range and space; the Renault carries more charm and undercuts it. Rational buyers Kia; emotional buyers here.
Is the Plein Sud worth it? As the only affordable canvas-top EV, it sells itself to the right buyer — just accept a little more noise at speed.
- £26,995–£30,995 list; from £23,445 with the grant
- 52kWh, 148bhp, 247 miles WLTP; 100kW charging
- ~420-litre boot fixes the Renault 5's family gap
- Plein Sud canvas-roof version added June 2026
- Rivals: Renault 5, Kia EV3, Vauxhall Frontera Electric
Key takeaways
- £26,995–£30,995 list; from £23,445 with the grant
- 52kWh, 148bhp, 247 miles WLTP; 100kW charging
- ~420-litre boot fixes the Renault 5's family gap
- Plein Sud canvas-roof version added June 2026
- Rivals: Renault 5, Kia EV3, Vauxhall Frontera Electric
Sources & further reading
- Renault UK pricing and Plein Sud announcement (June 2026)
- Carwow and Autocar verdicts, 2026
Figures, prices and policy details were current at the last-updated date above. Automotive pricing, incentives and regulations change frequently — verify time-sensitive details with the linked primary sources. Read our editorial policy and fact-checking standards.
