Renault 4 E-TECH vs smart #5

The Renault 5 isn't the only Renault that made its comeback in the form of an electrified city car; the utilitarian-esque Renault 4 also returned as the crossover version of the said car.

2025 Renault 4 E-TECH

Starting at 27,990 Euros plus additional costs, the revival of the Renault 4 is a 21st-century take on a utilitarian legend that promises to chart new paths for today's generation of drivers.

2025 Renault 4 E-TECH interior

Beginning with the exterior, the new Renault 4 stays true to its ancestral roots with its styling. Apart from its blast-from-the-past styling, it has 18.1 ground clearance, a variety of wheels, and a choice of having roof rails or a canvas top. Renault says there are over 600 ways to make your Renault 4 unique. How will you style your Renault 4 E-TECH?

The Renault 4's interior is broadly similar to that of the revived Renault 5, meaning it packs an innovative openR 2x10" dashboard packed with over 50 onboard apps, including Google Maps. It even comes with its own in-car mascot named Reno, which pops up when you say the magic word "Hey Reno," it does whatever you ask, a la Amazon Alexa. It's disturbing but addictive.

Asked about the boot space, the 4 can carry up to 410L with the rear seats present, but with the passenger seats folded down, you can have up to 1405L of boot space. Ideal for various situations.

Now, let's talk about the E-TECH powertrain. The base model runs on a 40 kWh battery with 120 PS of power and a range of 322km. The range-topper uses a 52 kWh battery with 150 PS of power and 410km of driving range. It does 0-100kph in 8.2 seconds and flat-out in 150kph. Enough said.

Unfortunately, the Renault 4 E-TECH is available only as a front-wheel-drive model. Given the size of the electric drivetrain underneath, the vehicle may not provide the best handling dynamics, but given its utilitarian looks, it's about as French as a French car should be.

As always, the all-new Renault 4 boasts 26 advanced driver assistance systems and devices developed by Renault for efficient driving. These features include active driver assist, automatic emergency braking, lane departure detection with emergency trajectory correction, parking assist, safe occupant exit alert, and a driver attention monitoring system.

The Renault 4 E-TECH, like its 5 equivalent, is all about the past and the future coming as one with its heritage-inspired looks, futuristic technology, and the EV powertrain to ease your mind. However, if you are not happy with the new Renault 4, perhaps you can try its more expensive alternative, if that's your case.

2025 smart #5

2025 smart #5 interior

Welcome to the smart #5, the biggest smart car to date. With prices starting at 45,900 Euros plus additional costs, it's by no means the priciest in the new smart lineup.

Unlike the #1 and the #3, the #5 goes for the cubic design that feels like a Hyundai Casper mashed up with the front of a Kia crossover of some sort. As for the interior, the #5 boasts a dual touch screen setup to toy around with while not on the move. 

Asked about the boot space, by surprise, it's bigger than the Renault 4 E-TECH, as expected. 630L with the rear seats present and up to 1530L with all seats folded down. You can sleep with it while on a camping trip, as long as you've got your insect repellent with you.

Like the others, the #5 runs on the SEA platform developed by Geely, and because of its RR layout and city car sizing, it behaves in a unique and spartan manner even while going nuts with it. The base variant has a 76 kWh battery pack with 340 PS of power, 373 Nm of torque, a 0-100 kph time of under seven seconds, a 200 kph top speed, and 465km of driving range. The Brabus model with its 100 kWh battery pack has 646 PS of power, 710 Nm of torque, a 0- 100 kph time of less than four seconds, a 210 kph top speed, and up to 540km of driving range.

For safety, the smart #5 features a wide array of advanced driver assistance features such as autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane centering assist, lane change assist, lane keeping assist, and blind spot monitoring, among many others.

So, there you have it. The smart #5 is the ideal EV compact crossover that does all the things you desire from city cruising to a trip to the woods, but if you can't afford the smart #5, you'd better be off with the cheaper Renault 4 E-TECH. These new EV compact crossovers may be different, but this is common sense in a nutshell. This is what the new normal feels like.

Photo: Renault, Smart

smart #3

Following the advent of the smart #1 electric crossover, smart shook away its Little Tykes image in favor of a city-centric approach, and the renaissance continues with its coupe-crossover derivative, the smart #3.

2024 smart #3

Starting at 38,490 Euros plus additional costs, the first-ever smart #3 is basically a smart #1 with a sloping roofline. It's a city-centric coupe-crossover done the smart way and you'd better thank the Chinese overlords from Geely for making it possible.

2024 smart #3

2024 smart #3 interior

While the exterior and interior look and feel similar to its #1 equivalent, the #3's boot space has 370 liters with the rear seats present and up to 1160 liters with the rear seats folded down, that's more than you get from the #1 because of the longer wheelbase that makes up from its lowered height. This means the added dimensions made the #3 roomier than its #1 equivalent. Not bad for a coupe crossover, though.

2024 smart #3 Brabus

Like the #1, the smart #3 runs on the SEA platform developed by Geely, and because of its RR layout and city car sizing, it behaves in a unique and spartan manner even while going nuts with it. Most variants come with the TZ220XSA02 electric motor bolted to a NiCM battery that produces 272PS of power and 343Nm of torque, capable of hitting 100kph in 5.8 seconds and a top speed of 180kph. The #3 Brabus, meanwhile, produces  428PS of power and 543Nm of torque. Although it has the same top speed, the 0-100kph time was dropped to 3.7 seconds.

For safety, the smart #3 features a wide array of advanced driver assistance features such as autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane centering assist, lane change assist, lane keeping assist, and blind spot monitoring, among many others.

For a coupe-crossover of its size, the smart #3 is becoming more of a big brother compared to its smart #1 equivalent because of its proportions. Has the whole world gone upside down? For the smart #3's case, it is.

smart #1

Thanks to the folks from China's Geely, smart's turnaround has begun with the unveiling of the first-ever smart #1 electric crossover which is basically a city car that promises to excite drivers with its compact sizing and electric powertrain fit for the new normal. So, what's it all about the smart #1?

2023 smart #1

2023 smart #1 interior

With prices starting at 41,490 Euros plus additional costs, the first-ever smart #1 is the start of a new era of smart under joint ownership between Mercedes-Benz and Geely, making it a dual citizen in its own right. Eurasian, if you may.

Beginning with the styling, the concept-based styling is great news for observers as the concept car was based on transferring "very compact exterior dimensions" and "traditional smart design" into "a new vehicle concept with a significantly higher premium and high-tech claim," and for the production version, they were right and wise about this...nearly. Although smaller than the concept car, it feels just right for European roads, and driving one is a breeze.

Inside, the smart #1 features a minimalist interior only Gen Z people can understand. From the tall floating center console, a 12.8-inch touchscreen, a 9.2-inch digital instrumental cluster, an HUD, a Beats sound system, seating for five people, and up to 976 liters of boot space with the rear seats folded, this is surprisingly good for city car standards and in terms of premium, they were right as well.

2023 smart #1 Brabus

Because of its SEA platform developed by Geely and its RR layout, not to mention its city car sizing, the smart #1 behaves in a unique and spartan manner even while going nuts with it. It feels nippy and spritely as you would expect in a smart vehicle and overall, it's rather good in the real world.

In Pro and Premium versions, the TZ220XSA02 electric motor bolted to a NiCM battery produces 272PS of power and 343Nm of torque, capable of hitting 100kph in 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 180kph, as fast as a Japanese car. The Brabus model, the one speedo boys are gunning for, produces  428PS of power and 543Nm of torque. Although it has the same top speed, the 0-100kph time was dropped to 3.9 seconds, which sounds quick for a smart car. 

As a smart car built for the new normal, the smart #1 features a wide array of advanced driver assistance features such as autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane centering assist, lane change assist, lane keeping assist and blind spot monitoring, among many others. Although not friendly for speedo boys behind the wheel, it's all in the name of working smart, not hard.

The smart #1 is a clear sign that the age of tiny cars the size of Little Tykes car toys is well and truly over. It's a compact electric crossover built for the new normal and whether you like it or not, it's ready to keep things smart.

Photo: smart

smart fortwo cabrio (W453)

2016 smart fortwo cabrio

When smart introduced the world the next-generation of their two-door micro-mini, the fortwo, and its larger five-door equivalent, the forfour, I have a clear flashback saying that these two cars are more than welcome to be part of their garages if spending a day with a ridiculously expensive sportscar is not part of their schedule but driving one of these will make people think you're less matured and more of a Bondying.

Well, it's been two years now and the new smart range has added a new member of the family and this time, it's the open-top equivalent of the new fortwo, the all-new fortwo cabrio. Starting at 14,305 Euros, the fortwo cabrio is probably one of the cheapest convertibles to own even if you don't care just how slow selling open-tops like these are and you don't care where will you drive this car, be it rain or shine, as long as you're "smart" enough to cruise on these. Get it? I said the "smart" part, didn't I?

Even though this is just an open-top mischief in the making, this is still a smart fortwo for Pete's sake. You still get a choice of 1.0L and the 0.9L turbo petrol engines and a choice of either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed double-clutch gearbox. Whichever comes first, you are more than welcome to play around with the car's rear-engine, rear-wheel drive layout that all smart cars get. At first, toying around with these cars because of its size is the most enjoyable part of having the fortwo cabrio but because it's a RR-car, expect the cabrio to have the similar behavior as an open-top Porsche 911. Nothing says mild but menacing in a different sort of way, huh?

As long as you don't see anyone in their big, expensive, sportscars driving by, the new fortwo cabrio is a nice city car to get used to it but if anyone saw it coming, they will come by laughing at you like jocks bullying nerds on recess, so don't try to pick em off, unless if you get through tight spots that those big sportscars can't because its size makes a big advantage in squeezing through tight places like little kids crawling through ducts. At least, that's the kind of stuff I'm talking about.

Like I said, the new Cabrio starts at 14,305 euros and if you can take advantage of other extras in store for this car, it can be somewhat a very classy city car for the masses indeed, despite its open-top character from the outside. Although not made to be a city car for the masses, the new fortwo cabrio is just one of the city cars that likes to squeeze through the crowd with ease.

Photo: Daimler AG

smart fortwo & forfour (W453)

2015 smart forfour

2015 smart fortwo

The smart duo compacts, the fortwo and the forfour, have now been regenerated with a brand new look and improved mechanisms that will keep these city cars well-refined for the next generation of first-time buyers but which smart would you want?

If you're single and if you don't have any friends, you might want to go with the fortwo, but if you have friends, well three of them, you can opt for the forfour. Either way, they're now both based on the latest Renault Twingo and just like that latest Twingo, they're rear-engined, rear-wheel drive just like a Porsche 911.

Of course, you might think that being a rear-wheel drive hatchback can be quite as enjoyable as a day at the theme park with your dabarkads but on these two, they're on a totally different story and how you drive these two will provide the same feeling that you felt after your field trip that starts with the boring part and ends with the exciting part.

The fortwo starts at 10,895 Euros while the forfour starts at 11,555 Euros and what do you get from these two are the same choice of petrol engines you can expect from the latest Renault Twingo such as the 1.0L and the 0.9L turbo engine. The 0.9L turbo engine that powers both the smart cars develops 90PS of power and 135Nm of torque.  As for the transmission, you can opt in for either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed double-clutch gearbox. Yes. There is a manual gearbox on a smart car so praise the driving gods! Sort of...

Although lacking in the power department, these little mice can have as much fun as they want but sometimes, those unswitchable driving aids are going to end your fun preemptively when you keep jamming the throttle. Also, when you go too fast on the corner, these cars tend to understeer and that's odd for these German city cars that had the same drivetrain as the Porsche 911.

For first-timers, they don't really care how problematic its handling is but what will appreciate these smart cars are the best-in-class turning radius and its refinement similar to its front-wheel drive oppositions like the Peugeot 108, Citroen C1, Fiat 500, VW up!, and many other Cozy Coupe-sized chunks.

2015 smart forfour interior

2015 smart fortwo interior

Well, even though they're larger than your baby boy's Cozy Coupe, both of these smart cars are really are cozy and, of course, convenient. You can opt in for some more extras including the one with the satellite-navigation system with hands-free connectivity so you can listen to your favorite playlist while on the go. And depending on the variant, they have enough space for your shopping bags after your weekend shopping spree with your mates.

Evaluating these two microcars are hard because, let's be honest, even though the new fortwo and the new forfour are different to each other, they still have the smart sense not as a city car, but a good car for a stop. These two cars are more than welcome to be part of their garages if spending a day with a ridiculously expensive sportscar is not part of their schedule but be advised for the macho men because driving one of these will make people think you're less matured and more of a Bondying.

Maybe these new smart cars makes you feel like a Bondying if you asked me.

Photo: Daimler AG

It's not what you called cheap but it's cheerful

It's a little big world out there for the smart

It was in one of these, well not exactly one of these. This is the smart fortwo, one of the cars you can find on Forza Motorsport 4's May Top Gear Pack and I think this is somewhat too wrong. Back in January when I got the January Jalopnik Pack, it seems that the devs put up the wrong Audi RS5 because there was a facelifted RS5 out there but what they did featured was the pre-facelifted model. This is the same situation. There was a 2013 smart fortwo unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show but again, the devs showed up the pre-facelifted smart fortwo on this game. Has the Turn 10 devs never stay in touch with the latest automotive news and rather focused on putting old cars on this game? Never mind, but still the smart fortwo is just more of a fun to drive micro mini that Forza fans waited for this...well almost.

Sensible to challenge against a 747

With that looks, it looks like a Little Tykes
Cozy Coupe out there!

It's not what you called cheap, 15,000 CR, which is 5,000 CR more than the starter cars such as the Nissan Micra, Toyota Aygo, Citroen C1, Peugeot 107, Volkswagen Fox, and the Vauxhall Agila but what you got here is a hatchback that has the layout of a Porsche; rear-engine rear wheel drive. Yep, it's an RR micro-mini. That's what that is. I like the way Mercedes-Benz getting too sensible of making this nippy little rascal. With that size, you can have fun playing car football with this just like what you saw on a Top Gear Live event a couple of years ago. Really?

The engine mounted at the back was a 1.0L 3B21 engine produced by Mitsubishi Motors and this one's Naturally Aspirated. The 3B21 engine that powered the smart fortwo has 11.4:1 compression ratio and premium fuel (95+ octane RON) is recommended. This produces 70HP of power and 68lb-ft of torque so it's not what you called quick. 0-60mph in 13.3 seconds, 0-100mph in 50 seconds, and top speed of 101mph, so again, it's not quick but despite that, the smart fortwo is much lighter than the Toyota Aygo and the Volkswagen Fox. Perhaps no wonder the car football part at the Top Gear Live event a couple of years ago used that car. He he he....

Says who?

The smallest of cars do the most sensible stuff, even in Forza Motorsport 4. It can slip past against the IT at the game of TAG VIRUS, agile enough to remain IT at the game of Keep the It, it can do better when everyone in a game of CAR FOOTBALL are driving smart fortwo cars, that is everything. This micro mini made by Mercedes-Benz is all about being too sensible but for me, there's something else more than being sensible with the sensible smart car.

Let me explain something, you see, a couple of months ago, Mercedes-Benz Japan showcased a Puella Magi Madoka Magica smart electric drive itasha at the 15th Japan Media Arts Festival in Tokyo from February 22 to March 4. Later on, they allow guests to test drive those if they have a license to drive in Japan and a (free) Mercedes Benz Connected Card membership. I was convincing to see someone recreating the Puella Magi Madoka Magica electric car on Forza 4 and guess what? It did and here it is afterwards...

That's Akemi Homura on this side....

...and a Madoka Kaname on this side!!!

I stumbled across the Forza 4 storefront and I found this. This looked like the Puella Magi Madoka Magica smart electric drive that most Japanese otakus saw one at the Mercedes-Benz Connection in Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan. The detailing is just 97% good (couple that with the 5ZIGEN ZR+520 rims, painted green, and it will be 98% accurate). I can see Madoka Kaname, Kyubey, and Akemi Homura on there. This could have only done by some Forza Faithful under the XBOX Gamertag "arata YH", who was responsible for recreating the CR-Z race car vinyls on this game. I was going to give thanks to him but gosh, this is just how it completes the look of the smart fortwo. My vision of seeing a Puella Magi Madoka Magica smart electric drive design on Forza 4 became true and sadly, you can't get one because the player who made it was limited to 100 copies and it costs 10,000 CR each. Gladly, I finally got it before the stocks ran out and I was very happy to play with the smart that was once sensible, now even more sensible when a Madoka Magica vinyl contracted on this car. It's amazing when you see the words "Contract with me!". This car makes me want to contract it.