Renault Clio
MODEL TESTED: Renault Clio TCe 100 R.S. Line PRICE: £17,995 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 99bhp Current class front-runner offers practicality and great value for money
THE Renault Clio returns as our reigning supermini champ for its second test. We’re rating it in sporty R. S. Line trim to match the Corsa SRi Nav. With Renault’s TCe 100 engine it comes in at £17,995, undercutting the Vauxhall by £1,205.
Design & engineering
IT costs less than the Corsa, but the
Clio doesn’t scrimp on kit. As with the Vauxhall, sat-nav is standard, and so are Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as part of the infotainment system. It also gets LED headlights and parking sensors like the Corsa, but a reversing camera is included, too. Basic safety kit is a match, but in addition the Clio features climate control and keyless operation.
Under the skin – which has subtly evolved for this fifth-generation car to look more like the larger Mégane – the Clio is based on a new CMF-B platform, which has improved packaging compared with its predecessor. Like the Vauxhall, MacPherson struts are used up front, with a torsion beam at the rear.
While the Clio gives away 200cc to the Corsa, its 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine produces an identical 99bhp, although its 160Nm of torque is significantly less than the Vauxhall’s 205Nm. But whereas the Vauxhall is considerably lighter than its predecessor, it’s a similar weight to the Clio.
Unlike the Corsa’s, though, the Clio’s manual gearbox only has five ratios. The Corsa’s six-speed box means the intermediate gears can be slightly shorter, which brings an advantage for performance.
Otherwise, the Clio is as impressive now as it was when we first tested it, thanks in part to its cabin. Compared with the Vauxhall there are softer surfaces, so while the Renault costs less than both of its rivals, it has a slightly more premium feel.
Driving
THE Corsa’s fast steering means it feels more alert than the Clio (as well as the Polo), but the Renault is more fun to drive. Its steering has a more natural weight than the light set-ups found in its rivals, and the chassis strikes a good balance between minimising body roll and keeping bumps at bay.
However, this R. S. Line version’s large alloy wheels damage its ride quality, because although the Clio deals with potholes well, not only does it constantly vibrate over small bumps, road noise is also more pronounced. Versions on smaller wheels are a better buy as a result.
The Corsa’s PSA-sourced 1.2-litre triple is more vocal than the Renault’s whispering TCe unit. Only when you rev it hard does the Renault unit get particularly intrusive; on the motorway the engine is quieter and smoother than the Vauxhall’s.
Performance is a bit lacking, because the Clio’s engine feels underpowered, but it’s not miles behind rivals. The Clio took 11.2 seconds to accelerate from 0-60mph, around a second behind its rivals, while having fewer ratios meant it was also a little more sluggish over our in-gear tests (see Page 77).
Whenever you’re not using full throttle, all three cars offer adequate performance. The Clio’s gearshift is a touch vague, but the Vauxhall’s is also a little notchy. The VW ’s is more precise and the best here.
Practicality
AT 391 litres, the Renault’s boot is big, and the Clio offers nearly as much flexibility as some family hatchbacks from the class above.
However, there are compromises in rear passenger space – it’s not as big as the Polo in the back, but access is better than in the Corsa, and there’s more legroom. That’s because this new Clio’s platform has created more room inside than before, which has helped improve usability. Headroom is poor for adults, though.
As with the Corsa, there are a few cubbies; the tray underneath the touchscreen is good for storing your phone if you’ll be using one of the connectivity programs – so storage is fine.
Ownership
LIKE the Corsa in SRi Nav trim, the Clio R. S. Line features six airbags, lane-keep assist and autonomous emergency braking as standard. But in Euro NCAP’s crash tests, the Renault went one better than the Vauxhall, achieving a full five-star rating.
A 19th place result in our Driver Power manufacturer survey wasn’t a stellar performance from Renault, but you do get a five-year/100,000mile warranty and three-year roadside assistance package. That’s more generous than its rivals, which both offer three years/60,000 miles of cover and just one year of breakdown assistance.
Another factor that might make Clio ownership a little more appealing compared with the Corsa is that you can add individual options. This includes items such as wireless charging for £500, a larger 10-inch digital dash display for £250, and heated leather seats as part of an £800 pack.
Running costs
MOST buyers in this class pay for their cars using finance, but your monthly repayments will be affected by residual values, not to mention depreciation if you’re a cash buyer. Here the Clio scores strongest, according to our experts. Its claimed 46.1 per cent residual value means that it should lose less cash over three years/36,000 miles, shedding £9,699.
It’ll be worth £8, 296 as a result.
The lure of the VW badge means the Polo ranks next, with a claimed 42.8 per cent residual value (£8,051). This represents a drop of £10,759.
Maybe it’s a legacy of the previous Corsa’s relationship with the fleet market, but our experts suggest the Vauxhall won’t quite hold on to as much cash, at a claimed 36.1 per cent/£6,925. That means it’ll lose £12,275.
Testers’ notes
“Renault bosses have indicated that there won’t be a traditional RenaultSport version of this Clio. Instead, we could see a sporty version of the all-electric Zoe.”
Performance