Clio boogies to the turbo tune

Coming or going, the Clio looks good.

What's more, the French carmaker reckons its baby is good enough to make it to the finals of Strictly Come Dancing in spite of opponents such as Toyota Yaris, Hyundai 120, VW Polo, Ford Fiesta and Chevrolet Sonic.

It might not have all the make-up, muscle and appeal to knock the Big Five in this segment off their dominating perches overnight but the cute French newcomer has got more than enough talent and appeal to seriously rattle their cages. It certainly has enough weapons in its arsenal, not only to take them on but to beat them on a number of fronts, starting where it hurts most - and that's at the till.

For example, the new entry level Clio Authentique at R149,900 is less expensive than the Kia Rio 1.2 (R152,995) Peugeot 208 Access 1.2 (R159,500) Chevrolet Sonic (R170,300), Volkswagen Polo 1.4 Trendline (R162,100) Ford Fiesta 1.4 Ambiente (R164,400) and priced the same as the Hyundai 1.2 GL Motion. The Toyota Yaris 1.0 X1 at R133,900 is the only one in this company to beat the Renault.

In the tricks and toys department the Renault has all of them outclassed with niceties such as ESP plus Traction Control, Hill Start Assist, Cruise control and Speed Limiter, a Smart Card Key and LED Running Lights.

She is 'ow you say... Attractief...

In the beauty stakes, too, the Renault is a very strong contender for the trophy for the Cutest in Class with its coupe-like profile (thanks to concealed rear door handles), low crouch, distinctive chrome headline trim, snazzy headlights, large wheels and steeply raked windscreen.

There is very little off-putting about the latest Clio.

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Its cosy living quarters are warmly attractive and user-friendly, from the digital speedometer and prominent central console with houses an 18cm touchscreen and a host of multi-media functions such as Bluetooth and USB connectivity, hands-free telephony and an onboard computer. The new Clio comes in three specification levels, Authentique, Expression and Dynamique and the last two are also the first in this segment to offer navigation as standard.

In spite of its compact size the Clio has ample space inside. The cabin has a nice airy feel to it and the seats are surprisingly comfortable (unlike the hard, small and narrow seats in some European cars). Travel pleasure is also enhanced by a top-notch Renault bass Reflex sound system which produces a level of all-round sound generally only found in multi-speaker home systems and much more expensive cars.

And the biggest surprise is...

But the Clio's biggest surprise lies under the bonnet in the shape of a 0,9-litre chunk of smart turbo-charged, light-weight engine which kicks out 55kW and 107Nm in the entry-level model and escalates to 66kW and 135Nm in the Dynamique and Expression versions. I had my doubts about this coffee-grinder sized engine, particularly as the Media introduction took place at the energy-sapping high altitude air of the Reef, but it soon showed that Renault has no reason to be shy about this baby power plant.

Snazzy headlights just add to the Clio's looks.

Although its on-paper output is lower than some of the opposition cars it certainly didn't feel strained or sluggish. Quite the opposite, actually. It feels quite perky right from take-off and will trot from zero to three figures in about 12 seconds and on to a claimed top speed of about 182km/h.

The 5-speed manual transmission is well-geared to make the most of the power on offer. Although designed more for the clogged and crowded arteries of European city centres than for Africa's wide open spaces and dual motorways, the Clio is quite at home cruising at the maximum legal limit on the motorway.

Some impressive features

The variable power steering is a tad remote and light but it is a set-up which suits the new Clio. It's also an easy car to park thanks to its size, small turning circle and good all-round visibility.

A view of the living quarters... They are warmly attractive and user-friendly.

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The engine has a pleasant little growl to it but it's more playful puppy than angry Pit Bull and it also helps that the cabin is well-insulated.

Some of the car's other impressive features include an ECO mode that can be activated at a push of a button to cut fuel usage by about 10%; a Stop Start system that recovers energy under braking; ABS brakes with EBD and Brake Assist; safety features such as multiple airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchors, three-point seat belts; a fully adjustable steering column; fog lamps and electric folding mirrors; and its competitively low fuel usage and emissions ratings.

There is very little off-putting about the latest Clio and it certainly brings excellent credentials to this segment including more than 100,000 sales notched up in the first six months after its European launch plus a string of accolades such as 2012 Golden Steering Wheel Award in Germany; European Car of the Year finalist 2013; Best Production Car of the 2012 Paris Motor Shows, no less than three Most Beautiful Car of 2012 Awards and World Design Car of the Year finalist.

There's a surprise under the bonnet.

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Because of a fairly lengthy patch of tardy dealer service, spares hassles and poor resell values in this country, Renault's presence has diminished in recent years and along with it much of its previously sound reputation and popularity.

However, Renault has been working hard to overcome these negatives and if it can succeed it has a potential winner in the new Clio. With its charming looks, comfy cabin, numerous safety features and wide range of techno offerings it has matured into a sophisticated B-segment contender that can no longer be ignored.

The models and prices (which include a five-year/150,000km warranty and a three-year/45,000km service plan, are:
Clio Authentique - R149,900
Clio Expression - R169,900
Clio Dynamique - R179,900

New Renault Clio review - Auto Express

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