Renault is adding a more open-air version of its R4 E-Tech, and the Plein Sud will be available to order on May 5, 2026. The formula is straightforward: lean into nostalgia without turning the electric subcompact into a full throwback convertible. For shoppers, it is about more than a styling trick; it affects usability, proportions, and where the car lands on price.
The electric R4 gets a vacation-ready look
Renault did not pick the Plein Sud name by accident. It nods directly to the R4 Plein Air, the open-top spin on the original Renault 4 that has taken on near-myth status.
This version stays firmly in modern territory. There are no missing doors and no exaggerated retro gimmicks, just a large black canvas sunroof that gives the R4 E-Tech a noticeably different character.
That visual change matters in a segment where many electric crossovers blur together. The lighter-looking roofline gives Renault something its rivals often lack: a clear reason to notice the car before you even get behind the wheel.
Built around the sunroof, not modified after the fact
The biggest advantage here is that Renault designed the Plein Sud roof into the vehicle from the start. That matters more than it sounds. On many special variants, the roof can feel like an afterthought, with compromises in headroom or proportions.
Renault says rear headroom remains largely intact, with 906 mm up front and 813 mm in the rear. The result should be a cabin that still feels usable, not pinched by the idea of being a lifestyle model.
The exterior details are handled with similar restraint. The roof rails disappear and the antenna moves into the rear glass, which cleans up the profile and gives the car a more polished look without overdoing it.
Open to the sky, but still a real daily driver
The power-operated canvas roof opens to a 92 cm by 80 cm aperture. That is a meaningful opening, not just a token sunroof panel, and it should deliver the kind of light and air that make a small EV feel more relaxed in warm weather.
Renault is careful not to oversell the idea. The Plein Sud is still a closed-body car built for everyday use, not a substitute for a classic convertible.
That balance is the point. Buyers get the open-air feel without giving up the structure and practicality most people want from an electric family car.
Renault is aiming for comfort, but the road test will tell the story
The roof was developed with Webasto and Haartz, and Renault says it used technical choices meant to limit the usual drawbacks. Plastic structural elements replace metal pieces, and the folded canvas uses a three-layer design instead of four.
The goal is obvious: keep weight and noise in check. Still, canvas roofs have a habit of sounding better in a press release than they do at highway speed.
Wind noise, vibration, and the general sense of refinement will matter more than the spec sheet once the car is out on the road. Renault can talk up the concept now, but the real judgment will come when the roof is open and the speed climbs.
Operation sounds simple enough. The roof can be controlled with the key, a button near the interior mirror, or voice commands through the Reno assistant. Renault also offers multiple opening positions, which should make it easier to tune the cabin feel to the weather or the driver’s mood.
Not cheap, but positioned as a full model line
Pricing starts at €31,110 in Techno trim and €33,110 in Iconic trim, with the €6,180 purchase incentive already included. This is not a limited curiosity built for a showroom floor; Renault is treating it like a real version of the car.
That means the Plein Sud has to earn its keep. A canvas roof alone will not carry the argument at this price, so the appeal has to come from a mix of personality, usefulness, and the right kind of premium feel. If the car does not deliver enough cabin charm and everyday value, the nostalgia angle will wear thin fast.
The R4 E-Tech lineup is getting more useful, too
This new version arrives alongside a broader update to the R4 E-Tech range. Renault is adding a driver monitoring system with an interior camera in the left windshield pillar, designed to detect fatigue and distraction. The data now feeds into a Safety Score shown after each trip.
That gives the R4 a more modern edge without pulling attention away from the feature that will sell the car in photos: the roof. Renault is also making its eco-driving assistant predictive by using onboard mapping to anticipate corners and roundabouts, which should help smooth out efficiency.
Whether drivers will appreciate the coaching is another question. Some will like the efficiency cues; others will just want the car to stay out of the way.
A real winter improvement, not just a feel-good update
Renault also says a new heat exchanger will improve charging in cold weather. The numbers are specific: from 15 to 80 percent in 50 minutes around 0 C, down from 1 hour before, and in 1 hour 10 minutes in severe cold at -20 C, compared with 1 hour 45 minutes previously.
That is the kind of update EV shoppers actually notice. Cold-weather charging can make or break daily usability, especially for drivers who do not live in mild climates year-round.
So while the Plein Sud will get the headlines for its roof, the quieter changes may matter more over time. A nicer cabin experience is one thing; an electric car that still charges reasonably well in winter is what makes it genuinely liveable.
What the Renault 4 E-Tech Plein Sud offers
The R4 E-Tech Plein Sud is aimed at buyers who want their electric car to have some character without giving up everyday utility. The canvas sunroof gives it a distinct cabin and exterior identity, but the real question is whether the added charm is worth the price and the potential noise tradeoff.
- The Renault 4 E-Tech Plein Sud will be available to order on May 5, 2026.
- The powered canvas roof opens to 92 cm by 80 cm.
- Headroom remains largely preserved, with 906 mm in front and 813 mm in the rear.
- Pricing starts at €31,110 in Techno and €33,110 in Iconic, after the €6,180 incentive.
- The R4 E-Tech lineup also gets driver monitoring and faster cold-weather charging.
- The main unknown is how quiet and refined the roof will feel at speed.
