Another classic revived as Renault 4 E-Tech electric launches
Renault are looking to the future and dipping into the past as they aim to make their new 4 E-Tech electric SUV a bestseller. And that compact 4 EV has just gone on sale now from €27,995.
The brand claims this new car, whose same-name predecessor won the hearts of eight million buyers over the decades, can take off where the old one ended.
They trust that with, their judicious application of design and practicality, it can go a long way towards generating the modern-day appeal of the original.
The buyers?
So, I suppose, it is fair to surmise there are those who will buy for the nostalgia of it all; others will consider its futuristic-funkiness to be in tune with their wavebands. Others still will be tempted by its smart-family SUV characteristics . . . there seems to be no end to who is going to like it.
At the Irish press launch, a Renault executive went so far as to tell us: “You could do anything with this car.” He even called it the “return of the blue jeans”.
It is worth remembering that in the dim and distant past, that the old Renault 4’s core clientele were farmers (I doubt it this time around but if interested I can tell them that ground clearance and suspension have been ‘optimised’ on R4 2025.
Of course, there is a point when saturation in all this retro business is reached – not to mention rivals doing (or have already done – MINI, Beetle) the same thing with a famous name from their past. However, there is no doubting the appeal of this compact SUV.
Style and substance:
It was much bigger than I envisaged, more robust (larger and more expensive than the R5) but you can see how it echoes past visuals, especially the grille with its LED surround; the little hip window of the C-pillar is a real nod to the old icon; and the rear’s light clusters.
The fact there is such good cabin space is due to a long 2.62m wheelbase and 4.14m body-length combining to benefit all for head and knee room – especially those in the rear seats. There is a decent boot of 420 litres (whose lower lip extends 607mm downwards for easy loading and unloading).
Other uses of space and additions include several storage compartments – including a 55-litre underfloor area, four lashing hooks, two bag hooks, and rubber bands to immobilise items. And with the rear seats folded – they won’t go flat – your ‘boot’ room stretches to 1,405 litres.
In the course of our short drive, the interior of the ionic range-topping model looked tasty (it could so easy have been tacky) with the synthetic leather dash. And the screens that go hand in hand with today’s essentials not only looked well. The ones we tried were where we expected them to be, and to do what was asked of them.
Don’t underestimate the inclusion of Google-built-in either. It can, as an example, silently prepare heating the integrated battery for receipt of a charge (after choosing the nearest EV charging point of course).
As far as driving is concerned, the multi-link rear axle should give it a good mix of pliancy and stiffness – a difficult blend sometimes. What I felt in this drive augurs well for a longer, more testing stint behind the wheel. So does the quietness, with little road or suspension noise intrusion.
There are three trim levels and two battery sizes: Evolution, Techno, and iconic.
The batteries:
‘Evolution’ has a 120 hp, 40kWh battery and a claimed range of 308kms. The 52kWh model (150 hp, 245Nm) can push the R4 E-Tech from 0-100kmh in 8.2 seconds. Lively enough for most drivers.
With a 100 kW DC charger, the 52kWh battery can be replenished from 15per cent to 80per per cent in just 30 minutes; or give an 11 kW AC 0-100per cent charge in 4 hours 51 minutes .
The larger battery can manage a one-fill driving range of up to 409kms – they claim. The combined cycle consumption (kWh/km) ranges between 15.1 – 15.5 depending on model.
The spec and tech
As well as the 26-strong ADAS cluster of safety items (blind spot warning, pedestrian protection for example) and systems, the standard Evolution trim has 18ins steel wheels (can’t see too many opting for them), electric windows, keyless entry, auto air con, grey quilted textile upholstery with tricolour stitching, grained mottled light grey dashboard.
There also is 10ins OpenR Link central touchscreen multimedia system, wireless Android Auto + Apple CarPlay smartphone replication, 7-ins driver information display, multifunction steering wheel, 2x front USB-C ports, cruise control, rear parking sensors, rear-view camera and Isofix child seat anchor points (2x rear + 1x front passenger).
‘Techno’ trim adds 18ins alloys (that’s more like it), the 10ins OpenR Link central touchscreen multimedia system with Google built-in (electric route navigation), smartphone charger, 10ins driver information display, 2x rear USB-C ports,
There is adaptive cruise control (part of the ADAS portfolio), front, rear and side parking sensors and Multisense driving modes: Sport, Comfort, Perso and Eco. It also has hands-free parking and a 48-colour combination for ambient lights, cloth/synthetic leather seat upholstery. There are four paddle shifters with four levels of regenerative braking and one pedal driving.
The iconic model adds 100pc recycled upholstery/black quilted refined textile/grey, synthetic leather dashboard with yellow stitching (looked well on the test car, could have been tacky), contextual adaptive cruise control and special 18ins alloys, hands-free boot opening, manual height adjustment plus 6-way driver lumbar support.
Price:
Overhanging all this is the crucially important factor. How much more than a petrol equivalent (such as the Captur) would the 4 E-Tech electric cost. According to Renault, the gap has narrowed substantially. Indeed, when everything is taken into account, including finance and running the ‘4’ is virtually on a par with its ICE equivalent such as the Captur, according to figures supplied by Renault (which we of course take at face value).
The standard ‘4’ entry price of €27,995 is €2,000 more expensive than the Renault 5 electric. And there is a €2,000 ‘walk’ for succeeding grades. The arrival of the ‘4’ means Renault now have models (R4 and ‘5’) in the two big-selling compact SUV electric car groupings
By next summer, there will be a canvas roof version on sale (on Technic and iconic trim levels). They are evaluating on whether or not there might be a Twingo here possibly next year too.
The ‘4’ has a long relationship with Ireland as Wexford played host to building some 60,000 Renaults in total between 1965 and 1984 there. The ‘4’ accounted for most of them.