New Clio has hidden depths

The new Clio might look like a gentle facelift but subtle styling updates mask serious changes under the skin, writes Matt Allan

The Renault Clio is Europe’s best-selling B-segment car, with 15 million units sold since it was launched in 1990. Yet in the UK it’s not as popular as the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa or VW Polo.

In the last couple of years all-new versions of the Fiesta and Polo have appeared and the Corsa is about to be replaced. Now the Clio is mounting a renewed challenge and this fifth generation car is allnew as well, based on a new lighter and stronger platform.

A quick look at the exterior might not give that impression, it’s very much an evolution of the mark 4’s slightly droopy style. But it’s lower, wider and shorter before with lots of little improvements. Side by side, you notice there’s less black plastic and more chrome brightwork - an effort to create a more premium appearance.

It’s an approach echoed inside. Simple things like adding more soft touch materials to the major surfaces and more chrome finishing bring a step up in class.Overall, it’s tidier and more mature than the Fiesta but not quite up to the style of the Polo. It’s also more spacious than before and offers best-in-class passenger and luggage space.

The Clio has long been among the class leaders for safety. This new model brings autonomous emergency braking, traffic sign recognition and lane departure warning with lane keep assist as standard.

Also standard across the range are LED lights, cruise control, air conditioning, DAB radio and smartphone connectivity, although a touchscreen with Android Auto/Apple CarPlay isn’t fitted to basic £14,295 Play cars. Higher specs bring keyless entry, alloy wheels, parking sensors and camera, climate control, a seven- or 9.3-inch media screen, and digital instruments.

We tested the top-of-therange RS Line with the top-ofthe-range 128bhp petrol engine and seven-speed DCT gearbox, as well as the predicted best-selling 99bhp petrol Iconic model.

The RS Line looks the part with a body kit, 17-inch alloys and sports seats. It’s also pleasingly nippy to drive. The 128bhp engine feels responsive and willing, covering the 0-62mph run in nine seconds. Its sport mode adds some more urgency to the throttle and transmission as well as beefing up the steering feel. It’s a lot less vague than many other Renaults and across the range the steering has been sped but it’s still some way behind the Fiesta for immediacy or feedback.

The 99bhp engine is even more surprising in its responsiveness, feeling more powerful and quicker than the figures suggest. But like the RS Line, the standard car just feels less precise than an equivalent Fiesta. It makes up for this with a smoother ride and less road noise, as well as that more comfortable interior.

Among the recently updated models in its segment the

Clio feels like it remains competitive. It occupies a middle ground between the less polished but better to drive Fiesta and the more upmarket but duller Polo and is priced smartly to undercut them.