Renault’s folding roof EV SUV highlights NZ market gap

Renault has done what Renault does best – taken a perfectly sensible small electric crossover and made it delightfully eccentric. The new 4 Plein Sud gets a full-length electric folding cloth roof that opens to reveal an 80 by 92cm patch of sky, because apparently someone at Renault decided that what the world really needed was an EV SUV you can turn into a convertible at the push of a button.

The name translates roughly to “due south” – a cheeky nod to the original Renault 4 Plein Air of the late 1960s, which was essentially a doorless, roofless beach buggy that has since achieved near-mythical status among French car enthusiasts. The modern version keeps its doors and adds 28 EU safety systems, but maintains that distinctly French approach to automotive logic.

Priced at £27,445 in the UK (approximately NZ$62,000), the Plein Sud represents everything that makes French cars endearing – it’s practical enough to work as daily transport, yet quirky enough to make you smile every time you fold back that canvas roof with a voice command to “Reno,” Renault’s digital assistant.

Unfortunately for New Zealand buyers, this particular slice of Gallic charm won’t be making its way to local showrooms due to Renault’s withdrawal from the passenger car market here.

Technical specifications remain unchanged

Mechanically, the Plein Sud uses the same 110kW front motor and 52kWh battery as the standard Renault 4. The 0–100km/h time remains 8.2 seconds, with a 420-litre boot capacity unchanged.

Range drops slightly from 397km to 389km on the WLTP cycle due to the additional weight and minor aerodynamic penalty from the folding roof mechanism.

The roof system uses plastic structural elements to reduce weight and folds into three layers rather than the conventional four. Renault says the opening is wider than any competitor in the segment. It can be operated via a button above the windscreen or through voice commands to Renault’s Reno assistant.

The folding canvas roof was developed with suppliers Webasto and Haartz, using the same materials found in premium convertibles but adapted for the crossover’s higher seating position and different structural requirements.

UK pricing starts with the mid-specification Techno+ trim, which includes 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, a 10-inch touchscreen with Google integration, wireless phone connectivity, adaptive cruise control, and hands-free parking assistance. The higher Iconic+ specification at £29,445 adds heated seats, powered tailgate, and additional driver assistance systems.

Renault’s New Zealand absence

The 4 Plein Sud highlights Renault’s absence from New Zealand’s passenger car market. The French brand quietly paused its car business here in 2024, with the local website now listing only the Master van in cargo and minibus configurations.

Renault New Zealand has reportedly been reviewing its local range, with a return to passenger car sales not ruled out. The brand previously offered models including the Trafic and Kangoo light commercials, both since discontinued locally.

Renault’s broader electric vehicle lineup includes the retro-styled Renault 5 and the Alpine A290 hot hatch, neither of which are available in New Zealand due to the brand’s current market strategy.

The 4 Plein Sud serves as a reminder of what New Zealand’s EV market is missing – vehicles that prioritise character and charm alongside practicality, rather than simply ticking boxes for range and efficiency.