Clio is easy on the eye, and pocket
IT SEEMS to have been ever-present since the invention of the wheel yet the Renault Clio still has that definitive charm that has won over so many fans throughout the decades.
And since it was given a facelift last year, the small car that can carry four adults has even more all-round appeal.
It looks athletic and dynamic from any angle thanks to its sweeping lines, 17-inch alloys with black inserts, matt black pillars, electrically-folding black gloss door mirrors, body-coloured bumpers, extra tinted rear windows and tailgate chrome trim, smart light clusters with double-optic headlights and daytime running lights, plus rear door handles that are flush to the bodywork to maintain the car’s coupe-like styling.
Step inside the five-door car and you are greeted with a modern, clutterfree interior that is big on space and richly equipped with all the latest techno treats.
This particular car also featured a Techno Pack costing an additional £600 which added the Renault R-Link Multimedia system including a seven-inch touchscreen, rear parking camera, TomTom live sat nav and plenty more.
The Clio was powered by a 1.5-litre 110bhp diesel engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. It was priced at £18,365 (£19,415 with options) and could reach from 0-62mph in 12.0 seconds before topping out at 112mph.
According to official figures, it can achieve an impressive 80.7mpg on a combined run with carbon emissions of 90g/km.
In traffic, the Clio was lively and energetic making it great fun to drive and its compact dimensions meant parking was an absolute breeze. On the open roads and motorways, the car could easily keep pace with faster-moving traffic. The road-holding was very assured and the steering nice and precise so tackling tight bends posed no problems at all. There was a little engine noise when the car was pushed really hard, but otherwise the cabin was nicely hushed.
An ECO driving mode will help maximise fuel economy, but even on a lengthy run I still only managed to see 65.3mpg at very best, which although impressive, is quite a long way short of the official figure.
There are lots of handy storage spaces throughout the car including a glovebox and door pockets. However, the cup holders are not really that practical as they are so small that you would be a brave person to carry a hot takeaway coffee with any confidence.
Elsewhere though, the boot is generously sized with a 300-litre capacity which can be increased to 1,145 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat.
The car also boasts a comprehensive list of safety specifications making it a fabulous all-rounder. The Clio may be a quarter of a century old, but it seems to have aged exceptionally well.
It has grown into a super car that is packed with technology, is safe and reliable, easy on the eye and pocket and perhaps most importantly, it’s still great fun to drive.