The original Renault R4 was a legend of practicality. What about this new electric version? Not so much from a nostalgic point of view. While the electric R5 won us over with its appealing new-retro style, the R4 left us skeptical. Of course, the iconic horizontal grille and soft round headlights remain. The horizontal body markings on the sides are a nice modern copy of the old corrugated steel. However, the retro feel is dominated by crossover aesthetics.
Renault is doubling its efforts this time with the R4 E-Tech “Société” electric car. Translation: a practical version for businesses. I want to be clear. Apart from the name and front-end style reminiscent of breadcrumbs, it has little in common with the legendary 1960s vans.
It is basically a small city van with a twist.
Is the R4 E-Tech “Societe” the real van?
It can be roughly compared to the Peugeot e-2008. Same footprint. Same cargo volume. Now let’s skip the looks and look at the specifications that matter to the company.
- Cargo volume: Total 1045 liters.
- Floor storage: 55 liters.
- Payload: Up to 345 kg.
- Available length: 1.20 meters.
How did they achieve this? They just removed the rear seat from the original R4. that’s it. No more, no less.
Designed for urban use
The back floor has a non-slip carpet. Mounting hooks included. As an alternative, a cover is also available for hiding things. Will the trunk be as spacious as in an electric car like the Kangoo E-Tech? No, but it makes up for it with a longer range.
The R4 E-Tech “Société” is equipped with a 52 kWh battery. Travel up to 409 km on a single charge. For businesses, fast charging can be a game changer. With 100 kW fast charging, you can charge from 10% to 80% in just 30 minutes.
The engine is tuned to 148 horsepower. Enough to transport the payload effortlessly.
Two versions, one price
The R4 E-Tech “Société” is available in two different configurations. Prices for both from €29,300 (excluding VAT.
- “Reversible”:
Classified M1 (passenger car).
The standard configuration is 2 seats. - You can add a backseat if business slows down, making it more versatile.
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Price: 29,300 euros (without VAT).
The “Van”:
Classified as N1 (Pure Utility Vehicle).
There is a metal mesh partition between the passenger compartment and the cargo area.
Cannot be retrofitted to passenger cars.
* Price: 29,300 euros (without VAT).
* Bonus: You can get a CEE (Certificate of Energy Efficiency) bonus. This can be up to €5,060 * depending on your professional profile.
Who is this for?
This does not replace large delivery trucks. The R4 E-Tech “Société” is definitely an urban vehicle. Its small footprint and manageable dimensions make it ideal for urban logistics, narrow streets and restricted areas.
This is a compromise. You sacrifice some cargo volume for the huge benefit of range. In a city where charging stations are few and time is money, 409 kilometers is a valuable asset.
It’s not a question of whether it looks like an old R4. It depends on whether your business needs a flexible long-range urban runner or a full-sized cargo hauler. For many small fleet owners, the R4 is the perfect fit.
The R4 E-Tech “Société” proves that practicality doesn’t always mean ugly. Or loud. Or big. In some cases, it can mean working efficiently and still being a French heritage.
Whether it can win over skeptics like Futura remains to be seen. But for companies looking to electrify last-mile deliveries without sacrificing range, this little Renault could be an unexpected hero.
