Sharp styling, high interior quality and powerful efficient engine make this supermini the best performer

Introduction:

The Renault Clio is a supermini made by a German automobile manufacturing label, Renault since 1990. The Clio came up in four generations including First generation (1990-1998), Second generation (1998-2005), Third generation (2005-2012) and the fourth generation (2012-present). The Renault Clio looks cool and is convincingly cheap to drive, but unfortunately it can’t quite match up to the best in the zone of supermini, including the Skoda Fabia, Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo.

The trump card of Clio is its classy styling. It’s quite bold nose and curves won’t be that much attractive, but there is no denying it’s unique. The cabin appears modern and elegant too along with a tablet-style control screen on almost all but the most central models lead the nearly-button-free dash. Several minor updates in 2016 went some way to address this, but it yet falls short of the class best for by and large fit and finish. The Clio does propose plenty of kit and there’s an inclusive range of efficient engines and trim levels to select from, but the drive still shadows the Fiesta’s.

Engine:

The muscular 1.2-Litre petrol engine in the entrance-level Clio lacks sophistication, but the rest of the engines in the whole line-up are smooth performers with impressive output. The 898cc TCe three-cylinder turbo petrol engine probably has 89bhp, but with just 135Nm of torque, it’s not as reactive as some likewise powerful engines. When test takers tested the TCe Clio against VW Polo mainly with the same power output, the Renault was a considerable 1.9 seconds slower from 0-60mph. The deficiency of torque is even more evident in top gear, with the Clio acquiring 13.5 seconds to accelerate from almost 50-70mph in fifth.

Performance is however adequate, while, and in a downsized supermini, it might not be the choosing factor for most consumers. The 1.5 dCi diesel emerges as much more at home on the motorway as compared to the 898cc TCe petrol, as it’s effortless and pulls strongly chiefly the 109bhp version, which has abundance of overtaking urge. At the peak of the range, there is a 1.2 TCe along with a manual gearbox. It’s in fact faster than the auto, running 0-62mph in 9.3 seconds. It feels lively, although it isn’t the most advanced petrol engine around, sounding edgy at high revs.

Safety:

The reputation of Renault for making untrustworthy cars is vanishing into the past, and the 2016 Driver Power survey observed the firm finish 11th nicely in the manufacturer survey. The Clio itself ended an unacceptable 74th out of 75 cars in the 2017 Driver Power survey, with merely the Nissan X-Trail stopping it from last bottom.

In terms of safety, the latest Clio continues Renault’s striking record, and gained a full five-star Euro NCAP scoring in 2012. It wouldn’t catch five stars today, because it particularly doesn’t have city braking at present, but primarily with 89 per cent for adult occupant protection and an extraordinary 99 per cent score in the safety assist category, it is actually a good performer. Renault has adjusted ESP, ABS and Emergency Brake Assist as standard to all of its Clio models, as well as a full accompaniment of airbags. Back parking sensors and a reversing camera are also accessible as options.

So, the Clio is a smart option to choose if you want to rock on.