Should you buy one?  

Almost certainly. Renault has produced another cracking EV that troubles the class best and is priced to sell. Some may wish for a little more rear leg and foot room, but you can’t argue with the big, practical boot and useful cabin storage. 

It’s also good to drive. Performance is plentiful for this type of car, with brisk but not overwhelming acceleration and a real-world driving range of around 200 miles or more during the summer. It also handles tidily with a satisfying feel to the controls, making it enjoyable to drive, if not the sportiest thing in the class. You’ll need the hard riding MINI Aceman for that. 

Perhaps I was hoping it would be a bit more absorbent of bumps and craters, although that’s not to say the 4 is uncomfortable, it’s just a Citroen e-C3 Aircross is suppler still and has a bit more rear legroom for good measure.  

However, the Citroen can’t match the MINI-rivalling interior ambiance of the 4, and it just isn’t as desirable, is it? Sure, the Renault 5 is more desirable still, but the 4 drives almost as well while offering a lot more space in a package that’s not much bigger at a price that shouldn’t be too much more. It deserves to sell like hot cakes.