Retro alternative to BYD Dolphin and MG4 revealed: 2025 Renault 4 E-Tech electric car debuts - but will it come to Australia?

Renault has debuted the next instalment in its Iconic line-up at the Paris Motor Show 2024. 

The Renault 4 E-Tech joins the 5 hatchback as its taller, wider and more spacious sibling set to have greater global appeal and cost a little more money. 

Previewed by the 4Ever Trophy concept in 2022, the production 4 E-Tech differs more from its vision than the 5 did, but it remains faithful in overall shape and many details, in turn referencing Renault’s iconic 4L debuted in 1961. 

Specifically, Design Director Gilles Vidal has taken the circular headlight motif set into — apparently — the world’s first one-piece illuminated grille and referenced the 4L’s front guards, side strakes and three part tail-lights in the contemporary EV. 

Compared to the 5, the 4 is 220mm longer at 4140mm, 30mm wider at 1800mm, stands 70mm taller at 1570mm, and rides on an 80mm-longer wheelbase. It’s a similar difference to that between the Clio hatch and Captur SUV. 

The goal was to open up interior space, capturing the 4L’s egalitarian essence.

Features like a 420L boot with a low 607mm load bay, storage cubbies, a removable 35L underfloor storage bucket and 60:40 split-fold rear seats that interface with a flat-folding front passenger seat speak to this. 

There’s plenty of visual interest inside, too, with jazzy interior materials and cloth trim on the dash setting the 4 E-Tech apart from sparse screen-operated cabins of rivals such as the BYD Atto 3. 

It features a 10.1-inch digital driver’s display and a 10-inch touchscreen running Renault's Android Automotive-based operating system. You can even spec the Renault 4 with an opening Webasto-style cloth roof. 

Keeping in tune with the vibe of the 1961 Renault 4 and original Renault 5, the brand will offer a customisation program for its new small SUV with the steel wheeled and floral upholstery-equipped FL4WER POWER concept an example of what’s possible. 

The 4 uses Renault’s new AmpR Small dedicated EV platform and tech specs, including either a 40kWh battery or larger 52kWh unit for 300km and 400km driving range, respectively. Fast charging peaks at 100kW (DC). 

It is the first Renault EV to have one-pedal drive function with adjustable regenerative braking via steering wheel-mounted paddles. Power comes from a single front-mounted motor with a modest 88kW in smaller battery models or 110kW from the big battery. 

The 4, likely to launch fully next year, will be followed by a cut-price Twingo reboot in 2026, along with plenty more new products before the decade is out including some from performance subsidiary Alpine.  

To save costs, the French-built EV shares 68 per cent of its parts with the 5, says Renault. It will be dearer than the Renault 5 but priced below the Megane E-Tech in the UK, where it will wear a sub-£30,000 (A$58,500) price tag. 

The Renault 4’s price will need to be right to compete with cut-price small cars such as the BYD Dolphin, MG4 and forthcoming Kia EV3 locally. A big-battery 400km Renault 4 would need to be priced below $50K to make any impact in the local market. 

No Australian plans have been announced for the Renault 4 yet, however local General Manager Glen Sealey has expressed interest in both the 4 and 5 previously, noting that investing in ADR compliance could prove the biggest barrier to sale.