The marketing blitz is in full swing in France for the launch of the new generation Renault 4: TV and print ads, first test drives in the press and an official local retail launch event today to which I had the privilege of being invited. The event was organised in a venue called “Le Park” in Mougins, near Cannes, a sumptuous property with lush gardens all around. Being organised on a Thursday there weren’t many people around, which means more time dedicated to me by the salesperson.

First generation Renault 4, produced until 1993.The Renault 4 of my childhood, circa 1983

The original Renault 4 has a special place in my heart as it was the car of my childhood. The car my mum drove us to the beach with, the car we picnicked in with the tailgate open and the car we took for what seemed to be forever all the way from the south of France to Paris, sitting in the back next to my dad’s cello. We squeezed the last inch of life off our Renault 4, until we finally were forced to euthanise it in 1991. Launched in 1961, the original Renault 4 was produced until 1993, with a total of 8,125,424 units, making it the most successful French single design ever. A lot of them were sold overseas, with the Renault 4 even being the most successful model in history in Colombia.

The new Renault 4 takes cues from the original one

As part of its neo-retro BEV assault, Renault launched the new R5 last year, to great success as the vehicle quickly became the most successful BEV in France. However the hype may now have receded as the R5 has fallen to #16 overall in May in France, ranking #2 BEV below the Citroen e-C3. It is now the turn of the new generation R4 to point its bonnet, it is built on the same platform as the R5. As expected, Renault has kept some design cues from the original model: round headlights, the triangular window towards the back of the car and the vertical taillights. Like the original, the tailgate opens on a very low floor at just 61 cm above the ground and without a rim.

The R4 is a subcompact SUV at 4.14m long, 1.80m large and 1.57m tall. For reference the Peugeot 2008 oil 4.30m long, the Renault Captur 4.24m, the R5 3.92m and the original R4 3.67m. It is made in France: manufactured in Maubeuge in the North of the country, with all suppliers located within a 300 km radius. Overall the car gives off a rectangular, robust feel and, with its black wheel-arches and bumpers, looks like it could handle roughish roads. Maybe not, but a 4WD variant is supposedly in the works. The hood is creased, a bit like the original, and there are three grooves at the bottom of the doors. All in all, I think the design is a success.

The model I tested is the E-Tech 150 hp Techno, with a 52 kWh battery. It comes at 35,490€, with government subsidies going from 2,000 to 4,000€ in France depending on your revenue. There’s also the Energy Saving Certificate (CEE) of 310€. It therefore could come to “just” 31,180€ with maximum subsidies. The entry level version has 120 hp with a 40 kWh battery and costs 29,900€ before subsidies, and the top end is the 150 hp Iconic at 37,490€ before subsidies. Back to the 150 hp Techno I tried, an equivalent Renault 5 is on average 2,000€ cheaper and a Megane E-Tech 2,000€ dearer. A Peugeot 2008 156 hp GT is charged 41,700€.

In terms of range, the relatively small batteries mean the R4 is perfect for city driving but not so good for long trips on the highway: 310 km for the 40 kWh battery and 410 km for the 52 kWh. These ranges fall sharply on the highway, and are all indicated on the instrument cluster. Charging from 15 to 80% takes 30 minutes.

The gear shift is behind the wheel. Notice the range indicators to the left for city driving and freeway 

Let’s get inside. The dashboard is the same as the R5 which I have not tested, so it was all new to me. And oh how the interior of Renault cars has improved! The large digital tile regroups the instrument cluster and the 10inch/25 cm infotainment screen, in a combo that is reminiscent of Mercedes. The Iconic variant has a jeans-inspired texture and colour on the seats, passenger side of the dash and the inside doors. It is very well executed and adds a bit of allure to the interior of this R4. Despite the imposing screens, there are still physical buttons on the dash to control the air con. One negative is the significant amount of controls behind the wheel especially on the right hand side, that includes the gear shift.

Physical buttons for the air con Reno AI assistant

The infotainment is handled by Google and is very easy to get your head around. Its software is updated automatically so you don’t find yourself . You can download any of your favourite apps on the screen including Netflix if you feel like an entertaining rest (not while driving of course!). You also have access to “Reno”, your dedicated artificial intelligence assistant. You can ask it a variety of questions, from closing the windows to the best itinerary, and it will come up with suggestions such as defrosting the windshield if fog is detected. All destinations come with the battery level that you’ll have at arrival, to better plan your trip. The navigation also includes charging points.

Driver assistance tools can be deactivated and personalised with one button, which is a great thing as they would otherwise reset at every drive. They are numerous for this segment and include automated headlights, adaptive cruise control down to 0km/h, lane assist, traffic sign recognition, parking assist and automated emergency braking. How is it to drive? There are three driving modes: comfort, sport and eco. The sport setting gives a noticeable boost in acceleration, despite a lag when applying the accelerator. The suspension is well calibrated and the direction is lively and precise. For the first time in a Renault model the “One pedal” system is offered. This was new to me too, and a bit disconcerting: it lets you slow down and stop the vehicle using only the accelerator pedal.

Overall, the R4 serves real nostalgia in a complete package. It is more functional than the R5 and could seduce families for which its smaller sibling came short. It has a well-thought of infotainment system and a complete list of safety assists that come standard. Niggling bits include the limited range for highway driving and a complex maze of control wands around the steering wheel. All in all a very seducing and exciting car.