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Renault 4 vs VW ID.Polo
Selected trimElectricChange trim249 mi · 52 kWh · £27,195
At a glance
In this comparison, Renault 4 stays competitive across the board, while the VW ID.Polo leads on family practicality, charging speed and running costs.
Which should you choose?
Choose the VW ID.Polo if...
- you have a family - it has the best combination of boot space, safety, and rear legroom
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 1.5p per mile on off-peak electricity
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The VW ID.Polo leads in the most categories, but each car here has its strengths.
Value
Renault
6.7
VW
6.3
Too close to call
Motorway Range
Renault
5.4
VW
5.1
Too close to call
FamilyVW
Renault
6.5
VW
8.3
ChargingVW
Renault
5.3
VW
6.3
Cost Per MileVW
Renault
8.9
VW
9.8
City Driving
Renault
7.7
VW
7.5
Too close to call
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | Renault 4Electric | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £27,195 | £23,945 (better) |
| Official range | 249 miles (better) | 204 miles |
| Boot space | 420 L | 441 L (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 30 min | 23 min (better) |
| 0-62 mph | 8.2 sec | Not available |
Size Comparison
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Renault 4
VW ID.Polo
Length
Renault 44,144mm
VW ID.Polo4,053mm-91mm
Width
Renault 41,796mm-20mm
VW ID.Polo1,816mm
Height
Renault 41,572mm
VW ID.Polo1,530mm-42mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Renault 4Electric | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,144 mm | 4,053 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,796 mm (better) | 1,816 mm |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,020 mm | Not available |
| Height | 1,572 mm | 1,530 mm |
| Turning circle | 10.8 m (better) | 10.9 m |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 604 mm spare (better) | 584 mm spare |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Renault 4Electric | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Rear legroom | 164 mm | Not available |
| Boot space (seats up) | 420 L | 441 L (better) |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1405 L (better) | 1240 L |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 0 kg | Not available |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
Renault 4
- 249 mile WLTP range, longer than 80% of hatchback EVs we track.
- Eligible for the full £3,750 UK Electric Car Grant, one of 8 hatchback EVs we track that qualifies for the top band.
- Boot space of 420 L is bigger than 85% of hatchback EVs we track.
VW ID.Polo
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Full specifications
| Specification |  Renault 4 Electric |  VW ID.Polo Life 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.14m | 4.05m-91mm |
| Width | 1.80m | 1.82m+20mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.02m | Not available |
| Height | 1.57m | 1.53m-42mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.62m | 2.59m-32mm |
| Ground Clearance | 181mm | Not available |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 420L | 441L (better) |
| Boot (seats down) | 1405L (better) | 1240L |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Rear Legroom | 164mm | Not available |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 10.8m (better) | 10.9m |
| Kerb Weight | 1,492kg | Not available |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 52kWh (better) | 37kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 249 mi (better) | 204 mi |
| Max DC Charge | 100kW (better) | 90kW |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £27,195 | £23,945 (better) |
| Price after EV grant | £23,445 (-£3,750) | £23,945 (not eligible) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Hatchback | Hatchback |
| Available | 2025+ | 2027+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Renault 4Electric | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 249 miles (better) | 204 miles |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 208 miles (better) | 170 miles |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 30 min | 23 min (better) |
| Max rapid charge rate | 100 kW (better) | 90 kW |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | Not available |
| Usable battery capacity | 52 kWh (better) | 37 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | Not available |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Renault 4Electric | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 8.2 sec | Not available |
| Power | 110 kW (better) | 85 kW |
| Torque | 245 Nm | Not available |
| Drivetrain | Not available | FWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests. One car has more review coverage than the other - we show that rather than guessing.
Renault 4
Electric
VW ID.Polo
Life 116PS
No critic reviews gathered yet for this car.
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - Renault 4 Electric
Tested 2024
Adult Occupant79%
Child Occupant85%
Vulnerable Road Users73%
Safety Assist68%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | Renault 4Electric | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years | Not available |
| Battery warranty distance | 160,934 km | Not available |
Buying options
Get a quote
Renault 4
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
VW ID.Polo
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
Renault 4
- £22,4572026Cars2View
- £20,4992025Cars2View
VW ID.Polo
No active listings.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Renault 4 worth the extra £3,250 over the VW ID.Polo?
The Renault 4 costs £3,250 more than the VW ID.Polo. For that premium it adds 45 miles more WLTP range. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the VW ID.Polo comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Renault 4 or the VW ID.Polo?
The VW ID.Polo is £3,250 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £120 a year either way, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the VW ID.Polo comes out roughly £3,370 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the Renault 4 and VW ID.Polo like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 208 miles for the Renault 4 and 170 miles for the VW ID.Polo - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The Renault 4 goes roughly 37 miles further between charging stops. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 23-30 minutes.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Renault 4 or the VW ID.Polo?
The two are within 20 mm on width, so neither is meaningfully easier to thread into a tight space. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 604 mm of total clearance for the Renault 4 and about 584 mm of total clearance for the VW ID.Polo.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More Renault 4 comparisons
More VW ID.Polo comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the Renault 4 and VW ID.Polo rank among the best family EVsWhere the Renault 4 and VW ID.Polo rank among EVs under £30,000Where the Renault 4 and VW ID.Polo rank among EVs under £40,000Where the Renault 4 and VW ID.Polo rank among the best small electric carsWhere the Renault 4 and VW ID.Polo rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Renault 4 and VW ID.Polo rank among the best city EVs
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .