Renault’s latest-generation Clio is only offered in a five-door guise, but still looks sporty and trendy thanks to that French design flair. Personalisation is abundant, with the carmaker hoping this will widen its appeal. The new Clio is available in eight body colours and you can personalise the door mirror housings, grille bars, rear panel skirts, lower door protectors and wheel finishes. There’s even a choice of roof graphics. Personalisation is a great way of getting younger drivers into a brand, but does the Clio have substance under all those fancy design cues? Can it knock the mighty Ford Fiesta off its perch? Performance 3.5/5 On test, we had the Clio 1.5-litre dCi 90. This diesel engine includes stop/start technology, helping it keep emissions low at 90g/km. The 1.5-litre dCi 90 engine produces 89bhp and its performance figures are around average for a car of its size. It will complete the benchmark sprint in 11.9 seconds and will go on to a top speed of 112mph. Once you get the Clio up to speed it’s quite good, but you will have to work the gearbox hard when overtaking slower traffic. Ride and handling 4/5 The fourth-generation Renault Clio shed 100kg when compared to its predecessor, making this car feel much more lively and agile when travelling through twisty B-roads. The steering is direct, which is pleasing, while the variable weighting, like the majority of these systems, feels a tad artificial. The Clio does has excellent front-end grip and this should bode well for the Clio Renaultsport. The agility allows keener drivers to have a bit more fun while bodyroll is minimal, however, Ford’s Fiesta is a smidgem better when it comes to driving fun, although the Renault is better than Vauxhall’s Corsa. Equipment 4.5/5 The Dynamique MediaNav is likely to be the bestselling trim in the UK and you will get loads of standard kit. Highlights include electric front and rear windows and door mirrors, ESC (Electronic Stability Control), ETC (Electronic Traction Control), hill start assist, keyless entry and ignition, black gloss exterior touches with chrome inserts, 16-inch alloys, automatic lights and wipers, seven-inch touchscreen with MediaNav incorporating satnav, radio with Bluetooth, USB connection, steering wheel mounted controls and a leather steering wheel. The Renault R-Link system is an integrated tablet and will appeal to technology fans. It connects the car to the internet and is easy to use. Available as an option, it features a seven-inch touchscreen and a satnav with traffic updates. The system also allows you to connect to the Renault R-Link Store where users can view or download a range of apps from their car or computer. Other features include checking messages, the ability to manage your diary, locate the nearest service station or even send a tweet - making the Clio one of the most connected cars on the planet. Running costs 4.5/5 On average, this version will return a claimed 83.1mpg and it emits 90g/km of CO2 emissions. These are heady figures; if you can achieve 75mpg in real world driving, then you may have just found yourself a cracking little bargain. Verdict 4/5 The new Renault Clio certainly has all the style associated with a French design house, but it also has plenty of substance. Even from entry-level, the Clio is loaded with equipment and one of the most interesting systems available as an option is the Renault R-Link. This clever bit of kit should appeal to the younger generations. With a range of efficient engines, great looks and superb driving dynamics, the latest Renault Clio is now a serious option for those looking for a small family car.
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