Renault 4: The original was a tool, not a trophy. The new one, for all its charm, forgets that. Photograph: Clรฉment Choulot/DPPI
Renault 4 52kWh Iconic ๎ง ๎ง ๎ง ๎ง ๎ง Year : 2026 Fuel : Electric Verdict : Smartly styled and comfortable, but compromised on passenger space and range
The new Renault 4, for all its charm, forgets what made the original great.
We donโt need to return to the retro debate again, but suffice to say this car has Luca de Meoโs fingerprints all over it, the man who turned the Fiat 500 into its cash cow and a model that kept the lights on in Turin.
He pulled the same trick with the lovely Renault 5. This, the French brandโs take on its beloved 1960s favourite, is perhaps less sure-footed in its retro appeal. Perhaps he was already eyeing his departure to luxury brand Kering.
Before we disappear down a kaleidoscope of Renault 4 nostalgia and the honest workhorse that served postmen and priests, farmers and families, students and surfers, letโs nail down just what made the original great: it was a tool, not a trophy.
Does the new model fit that bill? Not quite. Somewhere between exterior design and interior build, Renaultโs interest in retro seemed to wane.
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