Renault Clio review

From £15,895

The latest Clio is a car that’s been thoroughly reworked to enable it to rub shoulders with the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo – two of the best cars in the segment.

  • Renault Clio
  • For: Interior quality, equipment, running costs
  • Against: Fiesta is better to drive, evolutionary styling, cramped in rear
  • Verdict: The new Clio edges close to the class leaders

There’s a reason the new Renault Clio looks remarkably similar to the previous version: global sales.

Although the Clio has fallen down the pecking order of superminis in the UK, it remains a big seller in the rest of the world. Thus Renault was keen to avoid alienating its loyal fans.

Besides, beneath the surface lies a car that’s been thoroughly reworked to enable it to rub shoulders with the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo – two of the best cars in the segment.

Prices start from less than £16,000 and there are four engines to choose from: three petrol and one diesel. The 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol is the range sweet-spot, offering a terrific blend of punch and efficiency.

The cabin is more upmarket than before, there’s a wealth of new technology and it’ll be cheap to run.

It’s not quite as good to drive as the Fiesta, but nor is any other supermini.

KEY INFO

  • Launched: 2019
  • Facelifted: TBC
  • Due for replacement: TBC
Specs
Model: Renault Clio
Prices from: £15,895
Engines: 1.0, 1.0T, 1.3T, 1.5d, 1.6 PHEV
Gearboxes: 5/6-speed manual, 6/7-speed auto
Bodystyles: Hatch
Trims: Play, Iconic, S Edition, R.S. Line, Launch Edition
Euro NCAP:
(2019)
Power: 75-140 hp
0-62mph: 9.0-16.4 seconds
Fuel economy: 48.7-64.2 mpg
CO2: 98-133 g/km
Dimensions (l/w/h): 4,062/1,732/1,448 mm
Boot capacity: 300 litres
Warranty: 5yrs/100,000 miles