The highly anticipated Clio V rolled into SA this week, and we were there to pilot it along some of the best driving roads the Overberg has to offer. Was it worth the wait?
The Renault Clio has become somewhat of a style icon over the years, and is one the brightest stars in the Renault arsenal. It’s basically the national hatchback of France, and the second-best-selling hatch in the entire Europe.
South Africans have been due for an upgrade of the Clio since 2019 already, but then the pandemic happened and the launch date kept being postponed until now. We were so far behind schedule in acquiring the new Clio V, that we’ll already be welcoming the facelifted model in South Africa next year! But enough about the logistics, how is the latest Clio different and what’s it like to drive?
Fresher styling, inside and out
The Clio 5 has improved upon the Clio 4’s winning recipe, but without making it unrecognisable. The unmistakable Clio follows the same flowing, sculpted design language as its closest ancestor. The design revolution was most visible between the 3rd and 4th-generation Clio models, and the Clio 4 was responsible for a whole host of design accolades including World Car Design of the Year.
You don’t mess around with this kind of reverence, hence the Clio’s exterior 5 is just a tauter, sharper version of the previous car, underscored by narrower, C-shaped headlamps that also enhance the Clio’s road presence. The rear door handles at the end of the swept-up beltline are hidden for that coupé effect.
An exterior evolution of note – Although instantly recognisable as a Clio, 100% of the parts are NEW.
– Renault S.A.
The interior has been much improved for a more upmarket ambience and better visibility from all angles, thanks to a contemporary headrest design and slimmer seats for the driver and front passenger. The slimmer seat contours also assist in creating more legroom for rear passengers, but it’s still quite tight for full-sized adults on the second row.
It’s nowhere as spacious as the Polo, which some say is getting too big for the segment. The Clio 5’s boot is slightly bigger than the Clio 4’s, and moms will fit a compact baby stroller inside without much fuss. The number of safety features on board won the Clio V a 5-star EuroNCAP rating.
Behind the wheel of the new Clio
In our top-of-the-range INTENS model, the large Easy Link touchscreen with its crystal clear graphics dominates the cabin, while the instrument cluster (see above) is fully digital. As we embarked on our journey from Cape Town airport, I plugged my iPhone into the USB port, to have the touchscreen mirror my screen flawlessly.
The central display screen can be split into three sections, with a configurable viewing arrangement to include the music currently playing on Spotify or the Satnav route map, or it can become a full screen of the usual icons via Apple CarPlay / Android Auto. You can also select the trip computer view (below) to keep an eye on how economically you’re driving.
Our route map to Benguela Cove wine estate near Hermanus included the venerable Franschhoek Pass, which had been blessed with soft rains all morning, turning the tarmac all black and shiny (as well as slippery). The new Clio was not perturbed at all, relishing the twisties, gripping hard when entering a corner and surefootedly zooming out at speed.
The small 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder power plant (a newer unit than the previous model’s 0.9-litre base engine) has a bit more power (74 kW in total) under its belt. It is a spritely little thing, but, as with all small turbocharged engines, you have to stir the gearbox to stay in the power band. The new Clio also offers a menu of driving modes to suit your driving style and preferences. The suspension setup is especially well balanced, and has been tuned to feel both comfortable and dynamic.
What’s not to like?
The deep storage binnacle behind the gear lever is a bit cramped; once you and your partner’s phones are both plugged into the two USB ports in front, the cables look messy and are too close to your gear-shifting hand for comfort. My iPhone only just fit into this compartment, and very large phones may not fit at all. (Our model featured wireless charging which is handy if your phone is the correct size.) I am also not a huge fan of Renault’s fingertip audio controls behind the steering wheel, but this is down to personal taste, and many Renault enthusiasts don’t share these sentiments.
Will I buy one, though?
The Clio V is ideal for trendy, connected millennials who are money savvy and who like to look good, feel good, and spend their money on the finer things in life other than petrol – the 1.0-litre sips lightly yet performance is impressive. It’s not really a family car unless the kiddies are still under 12, but it sure is safe enough to make it family-friendly.
Older folks looking to scale down will also appreciate the Clio V’s compact dimensions and nippy nature. It has its work cut out, going up against some of the fiercest competitors in the segment, like the new Volkswagen Polo, Mazda 2 (also very compact in the rear), and the polished new Hyundai i20 and Kia Rio!
Renault hasn’t sold 15-million Clios for nothing, and those who find the Polo and its counterparts too big and too boring will undoubtedly find a lot to like in the latest iteration of the evergreen Clio.
Download the new Renault Clio V brochure here
Pricing
- Clio V 1.0 Turbo LIFE – R309 900
- Clio V 1.0 Turbo ZEN – R324 900
- Clio V 1.0 Turbo INTENS – R349 900. (Driven on launch with added Option Pack)
Options include:
(Prices are inclusive of VAT)
- Metallic paint – R2 500
- INTENS Option Pack – R15 000
- 9.3″ Media Screen, Rear Camera, Front PDC and 17″ Diamond Cut Alloy Wheels.
The new Clio Model range comes with a 5-year/150 000km mechanical warranty and a 6-year anti-corrosion warranty. Services take place at 15 000km intervals, and a standard 2-year/30 000km service plan applies.
Keyword: All-new Renault Clio V finally sets foot on South African soil