Renault 4

All-new small electric SUV aims to capture the brilliance of the Renault 5 in amore practical body On sale September Price from 26,995

- DOUG REVOLTA

ARE YOU A French farmer in the market for a cheap runabout? If you are, and you know your car history, then you might be drawn to this new Renault 4 (R4).

That's because the original R4 from 1961 - like the rival Citroën 2CV - aimed to provide simple, affordable transport for rural folk. It was a massive hit for the French brand in the three decades it was on sale.

The name is now back - but the car is very different. The R4 is now a small electric SUV that shares its basic underpinnings with the Renault 5 (R5) hatchback - our reigning Car of the Year. So, whether you're a French farmer or not, expectations are high, with the promise of the same fantastic qualities as the R5 but in a more practical SUV package (it's nearly 220mm longer and around 70mm taller).

Unlike with the R5, there's just one electric motor and battery option in the R4. All versions have 148bhp and a 52kWh (usable capacity) battery with an official range of 241 to 247 miles, depending on trim. That's not quite as far as the Kia EV3 Standard Range can go, but it’s roughly the same as what's on offer from the Jeep Avenger Electric and other rivals.

With the R4 using the more powerful of the two electric motors available in the R5, it’s quicker from 0-62mph than a lot of its rivals and feels nippy and responsive in everyday use, even if the EV3 is livelier still.

While the R4 is good at speeding up, it’s even better at slowing down. You see, lots of other electric cars suffer from grabby brakes that respond inconsistently to inputs, but the R4 sheds speed and comes to a stop in a very smooth and progressive manner.