Renault Clio Review

Review Score: 7/10

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Renault Clio, one of Turkey’s and Europe’s best-selling superminis, introduced its fifth generation in 2019. Although the Clio V may seem similar to its predecessor, the Clio IV, it features an entirely new platform. Being produced in our country provides Clio with a price advantage over its competitors, making it a generally affordable and accessible model. The extensive range of equipment and options offered by Renault, along with the preference for budget-friendly versions by fleets, has contributed to Clio’s reputation as an economical car that everyone can afford. When we think of Clio, don’t we all picture a white car with the company name written on its doors, equipped with plastic wheel covers, annoyingly changing lanes on the highway?

Design

Renault Clio, maintaining its stylish appearance, reflects Renault’s current design language while bearing a striking resemblance to its predecessor. With C-shaped LED daytime running lights, a prominent brand logo, and a sporty-designed front bumper on every trim level, the Clio looks more mature than its predecessor.

Speaking of the side profile of the Clio, the attempt to create a more elegant and sporty appearance with prominent hips and hidden rear door handles, similar to its predecessor, has succeeded. The added character lines, chrome side trims, and alloy wheel designs complement the car nicely. On the rear, like the front, C-shaped taillights are featured.

The hexagonal hub steering wheel and vertically positioned touchscreen in the interior provide a stylish appearance, while Renault designers opted for an integrated design for the passenger-side ventilation grilles, a feature commonly seen in many other brands. As seen in the visuals, there is also the opportunity to customize the interior color scheme.

Ride and Comfort

Renault Clio is a delightful car, and it’s a fact known to many. With its compact size, soft steering system, and smooth springs, the Clio offers good comfort levels for its class while maintaining a sporty driving character despite its softness. The low weight of the car is a crucial factor that enables it to be dynamic with soft suspensions. Though it doesn’t have as high limits as the i20, the French car provides understandable and anticipated responses, making it easily controllable. It’s worth mentioning that the torsion rear suspension system of Clio V feels more comfortable and secure than the Clio IV when passing through uneven surfaces.

Clio V has significantly improved wind insulation compared to its predecessor, but it still falls within average levels in its class. Wind noise does not become bothersome until reaching highway speeds. However, at higher speeds, you may encounter more noise than expected. The road handling and grip of the Clio are quite successful. The car makes you feel safe even at high speeds, and it performs well in night driving with its effective headlights.

Clio now has an improved ESP system that intervenes frequently but in a stable manner, preventing the car from causing unease. While it may not be as responsive as the i20, the Clio is still an enjoyable and more comfortable car.

Regarding the engines, I tested the 1.0 atmospheric petrol with 65 horsepower and the 1.0 turbo petrol X-Tronic with 89 horsepower. Unfortunately, I couldn’t test the 1.3 TCE 140 horsepower version. The 65-horsepower engine tends to struggle on inclines. When going uphill, it’s crucial not to let the RPM drop below 3,000, or else you might need to downshift. It’s not particularly enjoyable to downshift to the fourth gear while driving in the left lane on the highway, trying to maintain speed uphill. The CVT transmission accompanying the 90-horsepower version seems to reduce the engine’s performance and efficiency. Although the transmission works smoothly, sometimes you can feel that it falters and limits the car.

Equipment and Practicality

Clio offers a variety of equipment options, providing a balance between being an affordable car with sufficient features for those seeking budget-friendly options and offering more premium features for those looking for a higher-end experience. Safety features like lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam assist are not available without which Clio might be categorized as a ‘budget car.’

In terms of size, Clio is easy to park in urban environments and boasts the largest interior and cargo space in its class. With a 391-liter trunk, it surpasses many hatchbacks in the higher segment, even exceeding the cargo capacity of the reference C-segment Volkswagen Golf with its 380-liter trunk.

The interior features physical climate control buttons with screens showing the climate settings, which is a stylish touch. The relocation of the cruise control button to the steering wheel from beside the handbrake feels more natural. Renault’s classic media control bar behind the steering wheel is now slimmer and more elegant. However, the vertically oriented multimedia system in the center is modern and unique but challenging to use and get used to. Adjusting the volume and turning off the screen are even done through the screen, which can be a bit cumbersome. Adapting to and using the multimedia system in Clio IV was much easier and more user-friendly.

Although Clio V uses higher-quality materials in its interior compared to Clio IV, the craftsmanship is at a low level. Trim noise when touching the sides of the gear lever boot, a console that doesn’t feel robust, and the cardboard-like material of the headliner are cost-cutting measures that, while making Clio affordable, also place it in the budget car category rather than the mainstream category.

In summary, Clio has numerous advantages along with some downsides, making it a bit of an identity crisis. The car itself seems uncertain about what it is, consistently meeting the averages in its class, sometimes exceeding them, but also falling behind in certain areas.