Resurrecting the Renault 4 is a daring decision, but it’s here and is aimed at cars like the Ford Puma Gen-E, Jeep Avenger Electric, BYD Dolphin and the Mini Aceman.
Numbers aside, the Renault 4 is actually larger than its 5 sibling, and sits in the electric crossover class.
2026 Renault 4 Specifications
Priced from £23,445, the Renault 4 is offered with a 150hp electric motor, although buyers can choose from three trim levels: evolution+, techno+, and iconic+, the latter being tested here.
Each trim adds a varying level of extra flair to its bodywork and interior, but the car comes standard with 18-inch wheels, a host of intelligent safety systems, a rear-view camera, cruise control, and a heat pump.
2026 Renault 4
Matthew MacConnell
All cars get a 52kWh battery, which charges at a maximum rate of 100kW DC and 11kW AC. Renault claims the R4 will return 247 miles of range and 4.0mi/kWh, but more on that later.
Life With The 2026 Renault 4
First impressions are important, and like its R5 sibling, the R4 did not disappoint. It reminded me of the Honda e from the front, with its large plastic “grille” housing an illuminated Renault badge and futuristic headlights. Again, like the R5, I found myself locking it and looking back to admire its cutesy face; it makes you feel all warm inside.
Inside, there’s lots of grey fabric, colour stitching, and leather. Things you’ll find in many modern cars, but Renault’s made what would usually be a mundane colour scheme oddly exciting and youthful.
A large crisp touchscreen spans across the dashboard, integrating multimedia and the instrument panel. It’s fairly seamless. Of course, you get the usual Android Auto and Apple CarPlay tech, but Renault’s openR technology also utilises Google Maps. Likewise, physical heating controls and the ability to turn off its annoying ADAS via a button make the R4 easy to live with.
2026 Renault 4
Matthew MacConnell
As a 5’11″ 33-year-old with a bad back, I often struggle to find a comfortable seating position, but the R4’s seats are supportive and pleasant over longer journeys. There are lots of adjustments, especially on the Iconic trim, which features lumbar support.
Similarly, the rear seats are more spacious than those found in the Renault 5, but not by marginal amounts. It’s still quite tight back there, and the floor is quite high; it’s best reserved for small to medium journeys. Passengers, however, will have plenty of time to stretch their legs during one of the few charge stops you’ll likely need—more on that later.
150 hp is no boasting figure; however, it works well in the Renault 4. This is no performance car, with 0-62 mph taking 8.6 seconds, but it easily overtakes slower traffic. This said, it’s nowhere near as powerful as its rivals, nor is it as fun to drive on twisty tarmac. But back to its forte. The R4 is nimble through town and is mature company in most scenarios.
2026 Renault 4
Matthew MacConnell
And town is mostly where it should remain, as the R4’s minuscule battery was miles off Renault’s claimed figure when fully charged, despite milder 10-degree Celsius temperatures. Charging from 30 to 100 per cent via my Easee One 7.4kW wallbox took just five hours, and when full, the car’s readout showed 182 miles, 65 off Renault’s claimed range figure. This then rapidly dropped to 167 miles, the car’s real world range.
Sadly, it got worse. The 4.0mi/kWh figure mentioned earlier was impossible to achieve. Over a 126-mile mixed run, I could only achieve 2.8mi/kWh while switching between eco and comfort mode. Of course, I had the cabin temperature set to 20 degrees with the occasional heated seat, but that surely shouldn’t cause the range to plummet to such levels.
2026 Renault 4 Verdict
It’s packed with technology and quirk, but the R4 falls short of its rivals in a few areas. When fully charged, it was miles off Renault’s claimed figure, and despite driving it like a grandmother commuting to her weekly bingo session, the R4 wasn’t incredibly efficient either.
2026 Renault 4
Matthew MacConnell
But I can’t hate on it. It’s a lovely thing to look at; you can almost hear it apologising in a cute voice for its pitfalls. And you get a lot of bang per buck. Therefore, the Renault 4 is a superb choice if you don’t mind sacrificing a few things.