The Renault 4 Fails the Crash Test, but Is It Really That Serious?
This page is translated from the original post "La Renault 4 rate le Crash Test, mais est-ce vraiment grave ?" in French.
- 22/05/2025 12:18
The new Renault 4 E-Tech received only four out of five stars in the latest Euro NCAP tests.
This result is, of course, disappointing for the Renault 4, especially when we see that within its class, the Tesla Model 3 and MG MGS5 EV manage to achieve the maximum score. However, this relative failure is not truly alarming. Renault’s compact electric vehicle mainly pays the price for a more affordable pricing strategy, which has led it to skip certain driver assistance systems (ADAS) in the entry-level version.
But is that really a bad thing? For many users, certain aids can quickly become intrusive or even annoying to use. By sacrificing some ADAS to remain affordable, the Renault 4 takes a pragmatic approach. And despite this, it performs respectably: excellent protection for children onboard (85%), good safety for adults (79%), and a decent score for vulnerable users (73%), despite the absence of certain aids like door-open alerts for cyclists.
Safety has no price, but it has a cost
Where Euro NCAP sanctions, it is on the entry-level version, where many safety features are offered as options. This penalizes the overall score, particularly in the driving assistance section, rated at 68%. For example: the R4 E-Tech detects driver fatigue but not distraction, which causes it to lose some points. Can’t a driver, for a few hundred euros less, do enough to stay focused on the road?
A real strong point of the R4 E-Tech, which some experts say is underappreciated, is its controlled weight. While many electric cars flirt with or exceed 2 tons, the small Renault remains under 1,500 kg. An advantage in passive safety, but one that is rarely considered in Euro NCAP protocols. This phenomenon of “automobile obesity,” as criticized by the organization itself, negatively impacts overall safety, especially when driving on slippery roads or in collisions between vehicles.
In summary, the Renault 4 E-Tech is not perfect, but it makes consistent choices. It falls short where some Chinese models excel, but remains a balanced, affordable option that is lighter than the average. Many qualities that deserve better recognition.
READ ALSO: The Renault 4 Savane 4X4 passes the qualifiers at Roland-Garros
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