A warm thanks to our farmers! Not only do they feed us, they’ve rekindled our relationship with our R4!
In Brief
The Renault 4 E-Tech 150 hp / 52 kWh proves to be practical and enjoyable for city driving and secondary roads, thanks to its roomy rear seats and a trunk larger than the R5’s. However, its range remains deemed still a bit short for long trips, especially on the highway, and charging times are lengthy in tougher conditions. Its winter consumption climbs noticeably, and the improved energy-recovery system adds a level of driving comfort. It’s a car you’d recommend for daily use or getaways off the highway, but less suited for long, fast journeys despite its attractive styling and modern equipment.
Renault 4 E-Tech 150 hp/52 kWh Iconic Autonomy Comfort: On the Road for 10,000 km
Not that Yann and I were really mad at it, but… From day one, it forced us to make no fewer than four charging stops between Paris and Besançon, with, admittedly, a small detour through the Alsace balloons to start immortalizing our adventure, and to break away from the highway stretch that doesn’t really play to its strengths.
708 km in total: that’s not a huge relay. The following day, the trip to Montélimar rolled out the same way: 662 km on the odometer. With a full tank of a good diesel (or hybrid) at the start, we wouldn’t have needed to refuel. Sure, that would leave room to rest: it’s even well beyond the recommendations from road-safety advisories.
But the journey quickly borders on boring. Particularly since, to claw back a few precious kilometers at each relay, we never failed to engage Eco mode which tames power, caps top speed at 115 km/h, and… doesn’t help the R4 show its best day. Even on this “bread and water” regimen, we never exceeded 190 km on a charge.
Or more precisely with 70–80% of the battery’s usable capacity, since we never dared to drain it completely and we did not recharge to 100%, except during overnight AC charging. For one thing, it’s a matter of time (the last 20% takes the longest to recover), and for another because rapid DC charging isn’t the best for maximizing battery longevity. And, as you’ll have guessed, dear reader, we did a lot of charging!
Renault 4 E-Tech 150 hp/52 kWh Iconic Autonomy Comfort: Weather Didn’t Befriend Us
Sure, winter weather wasn’t our ally. On average, our early readings, based at Montlhéry, between summer (21 °C) and autumn (8 °C) 2025, already showed an increase in consumption of about 1 kWh/100 km, i.e., about 25 km of range lost. During our trek, the thermometer barely rose above 5 °C!
This inevitably translated into an average consumption well above previous findings, underscoring how volatile it can be depending on the conditions. For proof as well, during the R5 E-Tech’s 10,000 km summer run, which uses the same engine/battery package as the R4, Guy L’Hospital recorded an average of 15.3 kWh/100 km, while we hit… 21.4 kWh/100 km!
Another anecdote to illustrate the point: a night spent outside at 0 °F (-18 °C) without charging costs 20–30 km of range, according to the onboard computer. Sure, it calculates in real time. But it’s not uplifting to wake up with less range than you had the night before.
Especially when you’re starting out with the goal of an 800 km day. I won’t detail my round trip to Marseille (five stops there and four back—how I managed this “feat,” the mistral wind must have blown!). You get the idea: highways aren’t the R4’s strongest domain.
Renault 4 E-Tech 150 hp/52 kWh Iconic Autonomy Comfort: Yet Another Range Shortfall
Because in addition to still modest range, it doesn’t recharge particularly quickly. Like the R5, at best 100 kW, but only during the first 5–10 minutes of charging. Once again, winter isn’t the ideal season for an electric car, even with preconditioning of the battery. The result is that in “real life,” we often stopped for 40 minutes instead of the 25–30 minutes predicted by the trip planner.
The planner, from that standpoint, shows a hint of optimism, even though it’s overly cautious in route calculations, encouraging short but more frequent stops—we nearly fainted when, to return to Paris from the Basque Country, it recommended 7 stops! In absolute terms, it might not be wrong, but admit that having to stop every 120 or 130 km when you’re planning a long trip isn’t inspiring the departure.
Renault 4 E-Tech 150 hp/52 kWh Iconic Autonomy Comfort: Driving Pleasure?
But carmakers and energy suppliers can no longer promise savings by driving electric if you aren’t charging at home or under favorable conditions. All this to say that, on the third day of our adventure, when, somewhat constrained by circumstances, we left the A9 near Lézignan-Corbières, we (re)discovered the real joy of driving… literally! On the departmental road to Limoux, then Mirepoix and Pamiers, our R4 rediscovers its spark. No more Eco mode, which was far too punishing and frustrating whenever you asked for a bit more acceleration. With tires suited to the season and region, the car proves to be a lot of fun to drive: precise, playful, with very little body roll for a car that isn’t a sports car.
Renault 4 E-Tech 150 hp/52 kWh Iconic Autonomy Comfort: A Sportier Feeling on the Road
It can, like the R5, be proud of Renault’s technical choice of a multi-link rear suspension. Some editors have criticized it for feeling a bit stiff on urban “traps” like speed bumps or pot holes that pop up in Paris as quickly as eggs. Yet it’s still less harsh than the R5 thanks to suspension tuning that is tailored to its shape—more SUV-like, but don’t expect a lofty seating position.
Without being truly sporty—its acceleration isn’t the equivalent of an Alpine, and it doesn’t deliver that signature kick in the pants usually associated with EVs—it does exhibit a nice surge that helps you handle most situations. The steering provides good feedback from the road.
Renault 4 E-Tech 150 hp/52 kWh Iconic Autonomy Comfort: Even Better Feel in Sport Mode
The feel is even better in Sport mode, and the braking—often the Achilles’ heel of EVs—can be dosed easily. You simply need to learn to adjust the regeneration strength with your left hand. The R4 introduced a more advanced system than the early 5 did (2026 models from the Renault group, including Nissan Micra, now benefit from this), controllable via two small paddle shifters on the steering wheel to adjust power across three levels, and even four with the One-Pedal mode, which can bring you to a complete stop without touching the brake pedal.
Provided you learn how to “play” with it. The system also works smartly with the adaptive cruise control, effective in traffic, or even the semi-autonomous driving (standard, please, on the Iconic trim), which handles lane centering and pace changes smoothly.
That doesn’t mean you should trust it blindly, but it’s pleasant on the highway: it’s really the only place where it shines; let’s not dwell on the topic. It’s true that, depending on usage, the R4 is a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde vehicle: a harsh, costly highway companion, or a friendly, economical partner on secondary roads or city streets.
Renault 4 E-Tech 150 hp/52 kWh Iconic Autonomy Comfort: Like a Fish in Water?
But elsewhere, the R4 mirrors the R5’s presentation, with a few décor details. We continue to praise its intuitive, well-thought-out ergonomics, aside from the shifter’s occasional reluctance to engage the requested gear unless you’ve firmly pressed the brake pedal. You basically have to work the motions: very tedious to use. A minor quibble about the multimedia system is that some settings aren’t accessible while driving. Of course, the driver shouldn’t be distracted, but you can hand the reins to a passenger. It’s still easy to mute the speeding-alert or other driving assists with a simple button to the left of the steering wheel. The fun ends, and it’s time to head back home. In Bordeaux, the R4 feels right at home. It dives onto the Chartrons quays, and its 4.14 meters fit easily through the streets around Place des Quinconces. We considered sticking to the old N10 to relive a memory and enjoy a bit of 70s vacation vibe—this suits the R4 quite well. Even with charging stops, the new model still returns a quicker highway passage via the A10: a car of its time nonetheless!
The Auto-Journal Verdict: 4/5
She’s still quite charming, this R4! As long as you don’t take her on the highway. On city streets, daily drives, she’s a delightful partner—more practical and notably roomier in the rear than the R5, while staying compact. But to be a major long-haul road warrior… Even with its large battery, its range sits around 400/450 km from the starting point.
Find our 10,000-km test of the Renault 4 E-Tech 150 hp / 52 kWh Iconic Autonomy Comfort in Auto-Journal issue 1204, dated 03/05/2026.
Comparative Table
| Model | Battery Capacity | Power | Average Consumption (summer/fall) | Average Consumption (winter/test) | Maximum Range (per charge) | Eco Mode Top Speed | Max DC Charging Power | Charging Cost (hotel) | Charging Cost (highway) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renault 4 E-Tech | 52 kWh | 150 hp | – | 21.4 kWh/100 km | 190 km (70-80% battery) | 115 km/h | 100 kW (5–10 min) | about €15 for 40 kWh | €0.50/kWh |
| Renault 5 E-Tech | 52 kWh | 150 hp | 15.3 kWh/100 km | – | – | – | 100 kW | – | – |
The Key Takeaways
- The Renault 4 E-Tech offers superior rear passenger space and a larger trunk than the Renault 5.
- Its highway-range is limited in real-world use, rarely exceeding 190 km per partial charge in winter conditions.
- Frequent and lengthy charging stops make long highway trips uncomfortable.
- Its average consumption reached 21.4 kWh/100 km in the winter test, well above summer figures.
- Eco mode tames power and speed to favor range, but at the cost of driving enjoyment.
- The energy-recovery system has been improved and can help optimize range on descents.
- The R4 stands out in city and secondary roads, offering genuine enjoyment and maneuverability.
FAQ
What is the real range for the Renault 4 E-Tech on the highway?
During testing, range never exceeded 190 km with 70–80% of the battery used, and that was in Eco mode, mainly due to higher winter consumption.
How long does it take to recharge the battery on the highway?
In practice, charging stops often lasted 40 minutes, instead of the 25–30 minutes the planner suggested, especially in winter.
What are the differences with the Renault 5 E-Tech?
The R4 stands out with superior rear seating and a larger trunk, while sharing the same powertrain and battery as the R5.
Is the Renault 4 E-Tech suitable for long trips?
It’s not very well suited to long highway journeys due to its limited range and the number of recharges required.
Is the energy-recovery system effective on the R4?
Yes, it offers several regeneration levels, including a One-Pedal mode, and can even reclaim 1–2% of battery on steep descents.
