Met with nothing but rave reviews and high praise, the Renault Clio IV has been something of a revelation in the B-segment since its introduction in April 2013. Ever weary of marketing chicanery and hype, our Ed. just had to see for himself.
The Clio 4 marks a dramatic departure in design from the generations that have gone before. Renault say it blends fashion and function, with styling cues like the front grille having been taken from the 2010 DeZir concept car. At a glance, the new Clio 4 has a hint of coupe about it, which is thanks to the upswept rear window line with integrated rear door handles. A steeply raked windscreen adds to its sleek look, while a 45 mm lower ride height than the Clio 3 means it has a more solid looking stance. Adding to this are the 16-inch alloy wheels that have been set in line with the wheel arches, thereby accentuating the hatch’s shoulder lines and giving the Clio bigger road presence. Contemporary cool? You betcha.
The French have a knack for transforming the potentially mediocre in into chic, which is exactly what they’ve done in the Clio’s case. The dashboard has been styled after an aircraft wing and the centre console that hangs from it and flows into the transmission tunnel, gives a wrap-around, or cockpit like feel to the seating position. The driver’s position is adjustable in the conventional manner, with seat height and reach adjustment of steering wheel being welcome features.
The centre console is a highlight of the new Clio, not only for its modern and elegant design, but also for the functions it offers. The radio/MP3-player has Bluetooth/USB/Aux-In connectivity and makes playing your own music and connecting your mobile phone a cinch. The touch-screen interface is easy to navigate the media, phone and radio functions. The system also includes satellite navigation that is fuss free, although a one-touch process for accessing information about points-of-interest would be preferable to having to select ‘options’ and then ‘information’.
The driver’s instrument cluster is a similarly elegant feature that is clear to read and well laid out, with a digital speedometer set within a wing-like chrome surround. Rear legroom is ample for a car of the Clio’s size and the rear doors open wide enough to make strapping kiddies into car seats a painless exercise. The boot area offers 300-litres, which will swallow the weekly shopping without too much effort, but the rear seats also fold down to increase carrying capacity to 1 146-litres if needed.
The Clio Expression comfortably fills the specification gap between the Authentique and Dynamique models, with such standard equipment as: electrically operated front windows; air conditioning; electrically adjustable, folding and heated side mirrors; radio/MP3-player with USB/Aux-In/Bluetooth connectivity; cruise control and Renault’s unique keyless-go key card. Renault has also ensured the Clio meets the EuroNCAP’s 5-star safety rating with ABS; EBD; stability control; driver, passenger, front and side airbags; ISOFIX child seat anchor points; and hill start assist.
Overall, the interior is well insulated, solidly built, with good quality plastics. Soft-touch surfaces and textures are well executed, while the piano-black and chrome highlights are in all the right places. Renault have done a superb job of bringing small car essentials, and a dollop of technology, together in a way that feels premium and trendy.
Beyond the eye-catching exterior and the praiseworthy interior, lies a new 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine. First the numbers. The 898 cc engine delivers peak power of 66 kW at 5 250 r/min and peak torque of 135 Nm at 2 500 r/min. Right away it’s apparent that the engine needs to be given a good dose of encouragement from the right foot in order to get a move on. Around town this translates to a hesitant response from the engine when initially setting off, but the turbo is quickly on the job, forcing air and fuel into the 3-cylinders. Testament to the turbo’s assistance is that the Clio will begin to pick up speed in 5th gear from as low as 1 500 r/min.
Once on the move, the engine quickly revs to 6 000 r/min and has true character to its note. The 5-speed manual transmission is accurate enough, even if the movement between the gates is a little protracted and vague, but the shift lever does rise to meet one’s hand in a very convenient manner, which is notable considering many small cars have no centre armrest. The engine performs well around town, with enough power to get ahead of traffic when necessary.
On the open road it requires some working to overtake at highway pace, but the pay off in my experience was fuel consumption of just 5.1 l/100km. An engine stop/start function and ‘Eco Mode’, that reduces throttle response and performance of the air-conditioning, offer fuel savings of up to 10% when driving conscientiously. Renault claim average fuel consumption of 4.5 l/100km.
Renault Sport (RS) cars are renowned for their handling prowess thanks to excellent chassis dynamics. The foundation for RS cars is, however, the chassis and suspension of the more mainstream models, and the Clio has clear talent in this regard. The suspension rides road imperfections without being skittish and the relatively long wheelbase (2 589 mm) provides stability and reassurance.
The same can be said for the Clio’s cornering characteristics too, with stability and limited body roll beyond what one might expect from a small car. As a result, the driving experience is a comfortable and safe feeling one, helped in part by a steering ratio that offers welcome response and that tightens reassuringly as speed increases.
The proverbial fruit of Renault’s labour is clearly evident in the Clio IV. It’s an accomplished supermini in many ways, from performance and economy, luxury and convenience, to ride and build quality, as well as safety. To top it all, at R174 900, the Clio Turbo Expression is an excellent value for money proposition too. The Renault Clio IV has already earned the French manufacturer the 2012 Golden Steering Wheel award for the best ‘Small Car’ and it wouldn’t be a surprise if a few more awards were to follow.
What we like…
- Engine note, adequate performance and economy.
- Lovable and cheerful character.
- Value for money.
What we would like…
- Improved engine response from pull away.
- One-touch operation for the electric windows (standard on the Dynamique).
- One-touch access to P.O.I information in the Sat Nav system.
| Quick Facts | |
| Base Price | R174 900 |
| Warranty | 5-Year/150 000km |
| Engine Capacity | 898 cm³ |
| No. Of Cylinders | 3-cylinders, In-line |
| Aspiration | Turbocharged |
| Power | 66 kW @ 5 250 r/min |
| Torque | 135 Nm @ 2 500 r/min |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
| Acceleration | 0 – 100 km/h in 12.2 seconds (claimed) |
| Top Speed | 182 km/h (claimed) |
| Fuel Consumption | 4.5 l/100km (claimed / combined) |
| CO2 Emissions | 105 g/km (claimed / combined) |
