Renault 4

FIRST UK DRIVE R5's bigger brother adds extra practicality and tech to the mix to make a capable urban-focused EV

- Richard Ingram

THE retro-themed Renault 5 has dominated the headlines when it comes to stylish small cars, ever since it launched late last year. But if truth be told, we've been holding out for its eye-catching Renault 4 sibling, with one eye fixed on the R5's biggest failing: its compromised practicality.

Sure, the 5’s got a decent boot for something so compact, and there’s enough room up front for taller adults to get comfy. But force your friends into the rear and they'll not be thanking you for anything longer than a short hop to the shops.

The Renault 4 gets a bit more head and legroom in the back thanks to its boxier SUV shape. There’s still not very much room under the front seats for your feet, and the high floor means it’s short of under-thigh support, but overall, there's just about enough room for those approaching six feet tall not to feel too hemmed in. It’s just a shame our car’s dark interior doesn’t add to that sense of space.

Its boot capacity is bigger than the R5’s, too, to the tune of 94 litres (420 litres total, 1,405 litres with the rear seats folded), with 55 litres hidden under the floor. The load lip is particularly low and there is no step to haul things over, but the trade-off is a frankly huge tailgate that often meant parking slightly further away from a wall than we might have liked. You'll need quick reactions if you want to avoid damaging the electrically operated bootlid on top-spec Iconic cars, too.