RENAULT has stepped back into the future for the second time to deliver a smart all-electric crossover that has stacks of charm, talent and style.

Following its success with the Renault 5, the French company has returned to the same formula and produced the Renault 4 - a very modern take on an iconic model from the 60s that was famous for its character and versatility.

The newcomer is a very good family car that has design cues that mark its famous heritage while being completely modern.

Unlike the 5 there is just one battery size fitted across the three-trim range. It is the larger 52kWh unit taken from the 4 and with its automatic transmission can deliver up to 247 miles on a full charge.

The trims offered are evolution, techno or iconic, with prices starting from £26,995, before the Government's EV grant.

I sampled the range-topping Renault 4 E-Tech iconic costing £30,995 (before grant deduction) and was really impressed.

With its modern take on the famous model from the past the five-door 4 has stacks of charm with lights and a grille that nod to its ancestor.

Three distinctive lines are sculpted into the doors to resemble the plastic protectors once seen all those decades ago and when you take in the 18-inch alloys, LED daytime running lights, roof rails, privacy glass and smart paint, the 4 turns lots of heads.

The interior is bright, modern and crammed with technology. The seats and dashboard are upholstered in black quilted material with striking flashes of yellow and there are lots of other nice touches.

The 10-inch infotainment screen sits alongside a 10.3-inch driver information display behind a single curved panel and works really well.

The touchscreen offers access to all features, including full smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, sat nav with built-in Google Maps, Bluetooth, a sound system, as well as Reno which is Renault's voice activated virtual assistant.

Thankfully there are proper switches for the climate settings, and the battery charge level, existing range, speed and other vital driving data is clearly displayed on the driver's screen behind the steering wheel.

The comfortable seats are manually adjusted but can be heated to cope with our winters.

When it comes to performance, the front-wheel drive electric Renault 4 E-Tech delivers 150hp and 245Nm of torque resulting in a 0-62mph sprint time of 8.2 seconds and a top speed of 93mph.

It easily cruises at 70mph on motorways but as usual the range will rapidly decrease if you spend too long at that speed.

Out on the open road the 4 offered lots of grip and you can select from four drive modes that slightly alter the dynamics of the car. Most drivers will stick to Eco to get the best range from the battery.

The driver can also use steering wheel-mounted paddles to adjust the strength of the regenerative braking and in its highest setting, single-pedal driving is possible which is ideal for busy town centre driving. Sensors, a reversing camera and hands-free parking also assist the driver in town.

The cabin is a nice place to be and is deciptively spacious with room for four adults but rear legroom is tight for taller passengers if the front seats are pushed back too far.

This top model has a powered tailgate and has a 420-litre capacity, increasing to 1,405 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats folded. An additional space under boot floor is ideal for storing the charging cables. The cabin also offers additional storage, wireless charging, cup holdera and numerous USB-C ports.

The Renault 4 has a 100kW fast-charging capacity which means a 15-80 per cent boost can be achieved in 33 minutes. On a home wallbox a full charge will take just under eight hours while on an 11kW charging unit it will take four hours 51 minutes.

With its extra space and attractive pricing, the 4 E-Tech may well prove to be just as popular as its award-winning 5 sibling.