RENAULT 4

We love driving the reborn 5 as much as car fans love its retro style. Is the same true of the more practical 4?

- MURRAY SCULLION

HOW WE TEST CARS

Autocar delivers several kinds of reviews on new cars, with different levels of technical and functional scrutiny. As the name suggests, our First Drives section typically addresses cars that we're driving for the first time - either in final production form or as late prototypes. Time in the car can be limited here, technical and equipment specification might not be finalised and some systems software may not be to production spec. For those reasons, First Drive reports don't have star ratings.

Once we have driven a car for a second time in the UK, in right-hand-drive form and typically at greater length, we will rate it, either as part of a shorter UK test report or as the subject of a full, instrumented Road Test.

In the latter case, we take empirical performance and refinement benchmarks from it at Horiba MIRA proving ground, as well as subjective limit handling impressions, plus key measurements of practicality, efficiency and kerb weight.

All UK tests and Road Tests receive proper verdicts with star ratings informed by everything we have learned and the combined impressions and experience of several testers.

Renault reckons the new 4 is a thorough reinvention that retains all the versatility of the old 4. And in some respects, it's right. This new 4 is versatile. It's longer than the new 5 with which it shares a platform and has more occupant room. Boot space, at 420 litres, is 100 litres larger than in the 5 and most of its rivals too, plus it has an underfloor compartment for the cables. A good bit of ground clearance too.