Renault Clio | Test Drive

12 April 2021 Redazione News, Tested

RENAULT CLIO

Words Marco Rallo / Photos Gian Romero

If we had to choose a slogan that best represents the new Clio that would be “Never change a winning team”, but the fifth generation of the successful hatchback from Renault is much more than a simple update, as it brings with it changes that confirm it among the ideal solutions for everyday life, regardless of whether you spend more time on city streets or away from urban centers.

In fact, if the eye could be deceived due to a significantly renewed but not necessarily distorted look, the metamorphosis takes place where the pieces of the puzzle fit together creating a complete car and above all in tune with the times both for the mechanical side of it as well as the passenger compartment. With the fifth generation there are new engines too, including only petrol or diesel units and the hybrid variant that we have tested a couple of months ago and about which we will deepen our knowledge again in the coming weeks. The model we chose for our road test is powered by a 1.5cc in-line 4-cylinder, a diesel one that delivers 116 horsepower and 260 Nm of torque through the front wheels and via a 6-speed mechanical gearbox. Old school one might say, but actually this Clio is anything but old and indeed makes the previous series seem outdated from the first moment I put my nose in the cockpit.

To accompany the subtle aesthetic makeover that reduces the overall length of the car (405 cm), while offering even more space on board and a trunk that in the turbo-diesel version reaches 366 liters, I find a 9.3-inch touch screen (7″ display in standard configuration) which together with the colored profiles and the LED strip that runs halfway around the manual gear lever give character to the little Frenchie, who thanks also to the use of softer surfaces and a new physical button panel demonstrates all the maturity acquired. The display in front of the driver is completely digital as well, through which you have the classic instruments such as tachometer, speedometer, fuel level indicator and water temperature, without forgetting the screens dedicated to the driving style set and customizable through the My Sense and to the numerous safety systems including active braking, safety distance, lane keeping, blind spot and road sign recognition. Also in this respect the Clio proves to be complete.

The perception once on board and the pleasant feel by touching the dashboard and the gearshift lever or closing the doors is also maintained by starting the engine, a little gem that, despite the fact that it may suggest it belongs to a now outdated era – that of diesel engines – it proves capable of maintaining consumption in the order of 19/20 km/l and at the same time offering agility and fluency in any circumstance, with a torque of 260 Nm always ready to clear an intersection or let you overtake in safety. After the first few days of driving, I immediately realized that the new Clio is really the car we would have expected, but this aspect was by no means to be taken for granted. The evolution compared to the previous model is profound and the fact that aesthetically they can be confused takes a back seat at the precise moment in which you can appreciate its drivability and the remarkable leap forward regarding the multimedia system, with a satellite navigator among the most precise out there and that even shows the fuel prices of each service station.

On the road and after having crossed the city without the slightest uncertainty, the driving dynamics are precise and the elasticity of the diesel engine communicates perfectly with the mechanical gearbox, a real pleasure especially considering that three quarters of hatchbacks and city cars are now equipped with automatic transmission. Being able to manage revs as I wish is another aspect that brings me closer to the new Clio and that makes me increasingly convinced that the good old clutch pedal is of fundamental importance in everyday driving, not to mention that it helps to reduce weight and the final price of the car, which is no small thing in the segment in which we find ourselves. But the Clio is a mature car and not only because it has been around since 1998, but because it has finally rounded some angle by discovering new strengths on which to orient new and lucky years on the roads all over Europe.

In a truly rich list of variants, the diesel one we are considering starts at about € 19,200 for the 86-horsepower 1.5 in Zen set-up, while switching to 116 hp takes just € 800 extra, but the increase in terms of power represents a point that makes the Clio even smoother, while maintaining fuel consumption low. This time the little Renault proves not only to be an excellent car, ideal for those who want to contain purchase and management costs, but a complete car from every point of view and which is able to satisfy even the most demanding drivers, without looking at the wallet necessarily representing any kind of compromise. With such a premise, it is no surprise that this fifth generation will once again be a striking player in Renault’s lineup.

RENAULT CLIO Blue dCi

Engine 4 cylinder turbo-diesel, 1.461 cc Power 116 hp @ 3.750 rpm Torque 260 Nm @ 2.000 rpm

Traction Front Wheel Drive Transmission 6-speed Manual Gearbox Weight 1.352 kg

0-100 kph 9,9 sec Top Speed 197 kph Price from € 20.000