Renault 4 E-Tech ‘Plein Sud’ delivers open-air motoring in an electric SUV

Renault has added a new flavour to its retro-inspired electric SUV with the arrival of the Renault 4 E-Tech ‘Plein Sud’, a brand-new model that swaps the standard roof for a full-length electric canvas opening. It’s a modern reinterpretation of a classic Renault 4 feature, and one that gives the new model a genuinely unique selling point: it’s the only electric SUV in its class with a fully opening roof.

Available to order now, the new Renault 4 Plein Sud comes in both techno+ and iconic+ trims, with customer deliveries expected to commence early autumn. It even qualifies for the Electric Car Grant, helping you cut the cost of motoring before you’ve driven a single mile.

The Plein Sud’s party piece is obviously its 80 x 92 cm electric canvas roof, which opens at the touch of a button or via voice command through Renault’s Reno assistant. It folds neatly into three sections, creating a panoramic open-air experience for both front and rear passengers. Whether it’s a sunny school run or a weekend away, the Plein Sud brings a sense of fun that you simply don’t get in most compact EVs.

Renault has added new personalisation choices across the entire Renault 4 range, including wing graphics, a central stripe and a selection of six body colours. For obvious reasons – namely, the absence of an actual roof - the Plein Sud loses the roof bars and shark-fin antenna, but otherwise it retains the same stylish, upright design that has made the new Renault 4 one of the most recognisable EVs on the road.

Apart from the folding roof, what else do you get with Plein Sud?

In terms of trim, both techno+ and iconic+ trims come with 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, while iconic+ adds heated seats, a heated steering wheel, hands-free boot opening, and a Harman Kardon audio system.

The rest of the Renault 4 E-Tech cabin is unchanged, which means you still get the excellent OpenR Link infotainment system with a 10-inch touchscreen and Google built-in, plus a 10.3-inch digital driver display. There’s wireless smartphone charging, multiple USB-C ports, and a useful mix of storage spaces throughout the interior too.

Despite the roof change, Renault has ensured there’s no compromise on practicality. Boot space remains up to 1,350 litres with the seats folded, and headroom is barely affected thanks to the lightweight, multi-layer construction of the canvas system.

Renault has also engineered the Plein Sud to be as usable as the fixed-roof model, giving you complete control over the amount of sunlight you receive. The roof can be opened in stages, allowing for anything from a small breeze to a full open-top feel. When closed, the multi-layer fabric provides strong acoustic insulation and weather protection, so refinement remains on par with the standard car.

Like the standard Renault 4 E-Tech, the Plein Sud uses a 52kWh battery paired with a 150bhp electric motor, delivering up to 242 miles of range depending on trim. One-pedal driving is also a standard feature, with four levels of regenerative braking available via steering-wheel paddles, making city driving and stop-start traffic a doddle as well as recovering a little bit of battery power.

That means you should have more than enough electricity to keep the average family car going all week. Domestic overnight charging will easily keep the battery maintained, and it supports 100kW DC rapid charging, allowing a 15–80% top-up in around 30 minutes, making longer journeys straightforward and relaxing.

The Plein Sud also introduces the latest GSR2.3 safety standard, which expands the Renault 4’s suite of driver-assistance features to a total of 28 systems.

A new driver-monitoring camera is positioned in the windscreen pillar to detect signs of fatigue or inattention, prompting the driver when needed. The emergency stop assist function works alongside the active driver assist system and is capable of slowing the vehicle to a stop if the driver becomes inactive. Renault has also added a predictive eco-driving assistant that uses onboard mapping to analyse the road ahead, warning the driver about upcoming bends, roundabouts, and junctions so they can ease off the accelerator and save energy.

And all of that cutting edge tech is squeezed into what is essentially an affordable compact family SUV. This makes the new Plein Sud a rare thing: a small electric SUV that manages to be practical, efficient, well equipped, and genuinely fun.

The canvas roof adds a sense of character and freedom that sets it apart from every rival in its class, while the strong range, fast charging, and generous equipment list make it a sensible lease choice for everyday use.

For drivers who want an EV with personality, and a bit of open-air magic, the new Renault 4 E-Tech Plein Sud is a standout addition to the model line-up, and one well worth considering for your next lease car.