While the dapper R5 (already on test here) arrives in dealerships, the Losange continues its electro-retro tour with the Renault 4 E-Tech, star of the 2024 Paris Motor Show after having been one of the attractions of the 20222 edition at the concept stage. And yes, it also has a chopstick holder.
But what distinguishes the R4 from the R5 above all, despite their 68% common parts on the same AmpR Small platform, is its size. 22 cm longer (4.14 m), 3 cm wider (1.80 m) and 7 cm higher (1.57 m), on a wheelbase extended by 8 cm (2.62 m) and ground clearance floor raised by 4 cm (18 cm), it is more or less to the R5 what a Captur is to a Clio in the thermal range: a more spacious and more practical alternative, without still being too bulky.
It thus offers a generous trunk of 420 l, very square and with an extremely low threshold like on the original Renault 4. Added to this are 23.3 liters of storage space in the passenger compartment. We find the dashboard, the steering wheel, the “tulip” seats, the textile coverings and even the quilted roof lining of the R5. And the front seat is foldable, which will immediately make it an essential choice for double bass players and surfers.
Externally, the style may not have the playfulness of the R5 but this reinterpretation of the R4 is nonetheless very successful, between the front lights set in a grille with an illuminated outline (like the central diamond), the capsule rear lights, or the three lines stamped in bas-relief along the doors to evoke the side protections of the Renault 4 GTL. Not forgetting an optional canvas roof, which can open to 92 cm in length and 80 cm in width, via voice control if you are too lazy to press a button. The R4 can also receive a two-tone treatment including a black roof but also a black hood, to which central stripes can be combined. She will then have little to envy in terms of charm from her little sister.
On the technical sheet side, we find the engines and batteries of the R5: 120 hp and 40 kWh for 300 km of autonomy with an 80 kW charger at entry level, 150 hp and 52 kWh for 400 km of autonomy and up to at 100 kW on load for the most efficient version, which promises 0 to 100 km/h in less than 8.5 s.
Produced in Maubeuge, the Renault 4 will arrive on the market in 2025. Its entry ticket should flirt with €30,000 before ecological bonus. See you in a few months for the trials of this other potential bestseller.
