Review: Renault Clio
These days it makes sense to offer the most electronic gadgetry one can for the money — the front-wheel drive four-cylinder box-on-wheels formula is pretty well overworked, with literally dozens of models and makes on the market, and it’s hard to find a car where you can wind up your own windows these days.
The gold 1,4-litre 16-valve Renault Clio 1,4 Expression is the third cheapest in the new seven car Clio line-up, after the 1,2 Authentique (R99 995) and the 1,2 Expression (R109 995). At a whisker under R120 000 it can’t be considered cheap for such a small car, but a look at the specification level soon explains what you’re paying for — style, servos and sensors. The little five-door Renault comes with ABS, EBD (electronic brake distribution), EBA (electronic brake assistance), driver- and front-passenger airbags, electric front windows, height-adjustable steering wheel, front seats and seat belts, a digital oil-level indicator, a left foot-rest, aircon with pollen filter, an external temperature indicator, electrically operated and heated rear-view mirrors, auto-locking upon take-off, a luggage protection bar to prevent boot contents bursting into the passenger cell after an accident, and a transponder-controlled immobiliser.
An unusual feature is the way the passenger’s airbag can be disabled via a keyhole in the left front door armrest — handy when carting little ones around in car seats. There are also windscreen wipers that pace themselves according to the car’s speed, and a windscreen specially designed with a layer of resin between the two layers of polyvinyl butyral within the glass.
According to the factory, modern body shells have become so sound-proof that windscreen resonance is now a primary source of the remaining noise, vibration and harshness levels, so Renault’s engineers have worked at eliminating that with a revolutionary new vibration damping windscreen. And last, but not least, the Renault boasts electric power-assisted steering, operated via an electric motor attached to the steering column to save on engine power and thus fuel consumption.
On the road the little Renault soon dispelled any preconceptions we may have had about the performance of an engine displacing only 1 390cc. With 70kW on tap at 6 000rpm, and 127Nm torque ready to perform duty from 3 750rpm upwards the little car feels more like a 1 600cc vehicle.
Top speed is claimed to be a respectable 185kph, with 0-100kph requiring just 10,5 seconds, according to the spec sheets. We don’t feel those claims to be unduly optimistic. In typical Gallic style, the rev-counter has no red line — just rev the little engine to the rev limiter and hook the next cog while you live life to the limit. After a couple of test runs you’ll be changing at 6 500rpm, just before the popping ‘n banging starts, and the turn of speed will impress you. Handling is excellent, and those who like to drive enthusiastically are unlikely to find themselves either bored or intimidated by the way the little Frog scuttles around corners.
Our only gripe about the Renault — apart from the price, but we think all cars are too expensive — concerns the matter of rear head and leg room, and it’s perhaps unfair to comment too much upon them because anybody who’s seen the little car would have to be pretty dim to expect it to rival an E-Class or 7 Series in terms of comfort.
Still, I managed to give my head a painful whack on the top of the doorway when getting out of the back seat. Front seat accommodation is comfortable and bounteous, so your typical Clio buyer and his/her partner should have little cause to complain until the kids have grown up.
The Renault Clio 1,4 Expression is a fine little car, with far more to offer in terms of luxury and performance than its modest dimensions suggest. Great fun, at a price.