Renault Clio arrived on the market 35 years ago and almost immediately captured the public’s attention. The first generation won the European Car of the Year title in 1991, and over the years the model became one of the most successful cars in the history of the European automotive industry.
The reason is simple: Clio has always been more than an ordinary city car. Renault has never been afraid to experiment with it, giving us versions such as the luxurious Clio Baccara, the legendary Clio Williams and, with the second generation, even the phenomenal Clio V6, a car with a mid-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive. In other words, Clio has always pushed the boundaries of what is possible from a supermini. It is hardly surprising that almost 17 million cars have been sold in more than 120 countries over the years.
Today, the sixth generation of the model is hitting the road. In a world where the automotive industry is changing rapidly, the question is whether Clio has managed to preserve its progressive spirit.
We are testing the Renault Clio full hybrid E-Tech 160.
Design
In recent years Renault has been actively reviving its icons. We have seen this with the new Renault 5, Renault 4 and the upcoming Twingo, models that draw inspiration directly from the past. Against this backdrop, Clio is doing something completely different.
There is nothing retro about the design here and at times it could even be described as experimental. It is difficult to find the classic Renault design elements in it. Instead, we get an extremely expressive and technological silhouette.
The front end makes the strongest impression. The lights are shaped in a rather unconventional way, and interestingly, the shape comes more from the black elements around the headlights than from the headlights themselves. The result is an aggressive face with plenty of character. To me, it looks a little like a tuning project. Or, if I am being completely honest, an angry beetle.
Clio, who made you angry?
The number of inadequately parked cars in Sofia?
The profile is tight and dynamic. The proportions are well balanced and the silhouette has something almost muscular about it. Renault has also retained one characteristic feature of the model, the hidden rear door handles, which have been around since the previous generation.
Another interesting detail is the integrated window seals, a solution I have seen, for example, on the Peugeot 3008. It visually cleans up the body line.
At the rear, Clio loses most of its traditional Renault identity. The taillights are shaped as two separate pairs and create an association with an Italian brand from an entirely different price category. If Ferrari made a supermini, perhaps it would look exactly like this.
Overall, Clio’s design is interesting, distinctive and dynamic. I like it, although personally I still prefer the more retro-inspired Renault 5 and Twingo.
Interior
If the exterior of Clio is experimental, the interior is exactly the opposite, typically Renault. And that is good news. The French are making some of the best interiors in the mainstream segment at the moment and, when it comes to ergonomics, they could easily give some premium brands a lesson.
There are two screens in front of the driver. The 7-inch digital instrument cluster offers clear graphics and different information layouts. Best of all, it can display the navigation map, whether you are using the built-in Google Maps or Waze through Apple CarPlay.
The central display is 10.4 inches and runs OpenR Link with integrated Google services. That means Google Maps, Google Assistant and access to applications directly from the car.
An interesting feature is that when using Google Maps, the system can calculate the battery charge percentage you are expected to have left when you reach your destination. The system is fast and logical to operate, while CarPlay works wirelessly. Even so, I would recommend using a cable because the wireless charging pad has a tendency to heat up your phone.
Ergonomics are excellent. Renault has retained physical buttons for the important functions, including climate control. It is a small but very important victory over the trend towards completely digital interiors.
One feature I particularly like is the button for customising the driver assistance systems. You can choose which systems you want active and apply your preferred settings with a single press, for example, disabling the annoying speed warning beep.
Practicality is also good. The door pockets are large enough and there is a storage compartment on the centre console with a folding cover, rather like a tablet case.
The test car is the Esprit Alpine version, which adds plenty of style. We have Alcantara, including on the steering wheel, as well as decorative stitching in the colours of the French flag.
The materials are a mixture. There is quite a lot of hard plastic, but the overall sense of quality is good. The only thing I do not like is the excessive amount of gloss black, which constantly collects fingerprints.
The sports seats offer excellent lateral support, although the seat base is a little short. Rear-seat space is pleasantly surprising, while the boot offers up to 391 litres, or 309 litres in the hybrid, which is a very good result for this class.
On the road
The test car is the most powerful version of the Clio, the full hybrid E-Tech 160. The system combines a 1.8-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine operating on the Atkinson cycle, two electric motors and a 1.4 kWh battery. Total system output is 160 hp, while 0-100 km/h takes 8.3 seconds.
The most interesting element here is the gearbox. It is a multi-mode transmission combining four gears for the internal combustion engine with two for the electric motor, allowing 15 different operating modes.
In the city, the system works brilliantly. Renault claims that the Clio can run on electric power for up to 80% of the time, and that is something you can feel in practice. The car is quiet, smooth and very pleasant to drive. The steering is light and the suspension is relatively firm without being harsh.
The only thing I do not like is the brake pedal. It has a very short travel and feels hard. Personally, I prefer brakes with a more progressive response.
The real journey began after leaving Sofia. I decided to take a longer route, across northern Bulgaria towards the Veliko Tarnovo area, then through the Elena-Tvarditsa Pass and back along the B-roads.
On the motorway, Clio performs surprisingly well for a car of this class. Noise levels are comparable to those of a C-segment hatchback from a few years ago. The car is stable, accelerates confidently and has no problem maintaining high speeds. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping system work very well, making Clio perfectly suitable for long-distance travel.
I continued onto a first-class road and here one of the weaknesses of the transmission appeared. During some overtaking manoeuvres, for example from 80 to 120 km/h, the gearbox makes a relatively slow shift. At that moment acceleration literally stops for a second, which does not inspire much confidence.
On the bends of the Elena-Tvarditsa Pass, I drove mainly in Sport mode. Clio proved to be a pleasant and stable car for this kind of driving. The 160 horsepower is more than sufficient and the handling is predictable.
At the end of the test, the computer showed an average consumption of 4.8 l/100 km over around 600 kilometres. And that was while driving with comfort rather than economy in mind. An excellent result.
Conclusion
Renault Clio has always been a car that offers a little more than you would expect from a supermini. The new generation is no exception.
This is probably the best Clio yet, a car that combines compact dimensions with technology and equipment from a higher class. In some situations, it could easily replace a C-segment model.
Prices start at around €19,850 for the 115 hp petrol version, while the hybrid starts at around €24,850 and reaches approximately €28,240 for the Esprit Alpine version. At first glance, the hybrid looks relatively expensive. But once you consider the equipment, technology and low fuel consumption, it becomes clear that Clio offers a lot for the money.
The design may be debatable. But as an overall package, the Clio E-Tech 160 is a balanced, technological and extremely efficient car. And that is perhaps the most important thing for a modern city car.
Eng. Tsvetan Iliev
