The boss of Renault at the time described it as a “pair of jeans” — fashionable, durable and suited to almost every occasion. It’s based on the electric Renault 5 supermini, launched in 2024, but offers a bit more space, a bit more ground clearance and a bit more interior flexibility. What’s more, the original R4 engine asthmatised its way to a top speed of 65mph, and the time it took to get there could be measured on a sundial. It also comes with a feature that made the original R4 such a joy for families — a low sill that makes it easier to load and unload items. When you consider the original car was — objectively — fairly gutless and had roly-poly suspension, I’d not bet against the new one becoming just as beloved despite its own very different compromises.

Source: The Times March 02, 2026 14:19 UTC