New 2012 Renault Clio review
- Fourth-generation Clio supermini driven
- Five-door only
- On sale October, priced from £10,500 (est)
That will be no easy task, with cars such as the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo and newly-launched Peugeot 208 to compete with.
It's impossible to overestimate the importance of a new Clio to Renault, because the current car is one of the few Renault models still held in high regard by UK buyers. If this new Clio fails, it could sound the death knell for the company on these shores.
Fortunately, the new car's showroom appeal exceeds that of the previous Clio, due to its sharp exterior styling and an interior that's vastly improved, both in terms of quality and design sophistication.
What's the 2012 Renault Clio like to drive?
Eventually, there will be a wide range of petrol and diesel engines to choose from, including an optimised version of the 1.5-litre diesel that will average 88.3mpg and emits just 83g/km of CO2, a 1.2-litre mated to a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox, and a 200bhp 1.6-litre turbo for the hot Renaultsport version.
For now, though, we've driven only the 89bhp 1.5-litre diesel and the new 89bhp 0.9-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol.
The three-cylinder engine sounds a little clattery at tickover, but very little mechanical vibration seeps through to the cabin. Once settled at a steady pace you'll struggle to tell it apart from a more cultured four-cylinder engine.
Performance is more purposeful than forceful; the engine picks up revs smartly and there's a decent amount of punch when the turbo comes into play at around 2500rpm. Throw in a few inclines, though, and you'll need to be smart with your downshifts and keep the accelerator pressed to the floor to maintain progress.
The additional cost of the 1.5-litre diesel engine means it's likely to have less appeal. That's a shame because its 162lb ft of torque, willingness to rev and smooth mechanical refinement really suit this latest Clio.
The chassis is a development of the outgoing model's, albeit with a wider track to improve grip and quicker steering to sharpen turn-in to corners.
However, the most noticeable improvement is the consistency in the weighting of the steering. While the previous Clio's felt excessively light at low speed and vague on faster roads, the new model's set-up has a meatier feel at all speeds.
The Clio might not have the supreme handling precision of a Ford Fiesta, but that's not to say it's short on engagement. If anything, it feels rather soft and a little nose-heavy when you push it to extremes, but it's still pretty game and can be made to flow through a series of bends with enough vitality to put a smile on your face.
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