The Clio is one of Europe's favourite hatchbacks, but Europeans have smaller families and narrower city streets! Should you buy a Clio if you have a significant other and one or two children?
The Renault Clio is currently in its fifth generation and has become quite a sexy little car over the years. It goes without saying that it’s perfect for couples or singles, but families? Let’s take a look at the Clio’s safety, convenience and overall practicality. Or, click below to read our launch report.
Space
The Clio is a small car but there’s certainly space for two or maximum three rear passengers, as long as they’re not taller than 1.6 metres. Most primary school children are about this height, but taller kids may have issues with legroom. I am 1.72 metres tall and if there’s a person of similar size sitting in the front passenger seat, I would be a bit short on space, but it’s fine for short journeys.
The rear middle child has access to a three-point seatbelt, but it will be a squeeze if it’s a larger child or adult. It is a bit too narrow for a fully-grown person with regular-sized hips.
Only the top-spec Intens model has a central armrest cubby in front and the seats are covered in cloth, not leather.
The boot is not very big either, at 391 litres. My kids’ two school bags fit inside but there’s not room for much else. A compact pram or stroller should fit, but groceries or anything else will have to ride on the bench or rear footwells. There’s a bit of a loading lip that may make it difficult to lift a heavy stroller over it as well. The rear seats can be split and folded if you need to transport longer or oddly-shaped items.
The Clio has Isofix fittings in the front passenger seat and two sets in the back, but because the rear doors don’t open very wide, it may be a bit of a struggle, especially with a rear-facing seat. If you are thinking about buying a Clio, be sure to take your baby stroller and child/booster seat with you to see how difficult (or easy, perhaps) it will be to install.
Safety rating
The Clio has a five-star safety rating awarded by EuroNCAP. Life models have 4 airbags each, while Zen and Intens models have 6 each. All models have ABS, brake assist, hill-start assist, traction control, stability control, cruise control, rear park distance control and a multifunction steering wheel, to name the most vital safety stuff. Click below to download and view the full spec sheet.
Download the new Renault Clio V brochure here
Life with the Clio
We spent a few days commuting in the ‘Intens’ derivative and were very comfortable indeed. The 5-speed manual is immense fun to drive, it has a banging sound system, the touchscreen is a cinch to use and of course, it has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for full hands-free driving. Fuel economy is not as impressive as I had hoped, returning a figure of about 7 litres per 100 km after mixed driving.
The Clio has 74kW and 160Nm of torque. Its top speed is 187 km/h and its 0-100 km/h sprint time is 11.8 seconds.
Power is sufficient if you don’t mind stirring the gearbox, but I kept wishing for a sixth gear, which would have been helpful in keeping the fuel consumption a tad lower.
Verdict
For a family with one to two kids, the Clio works well, but I’d rather opt for a pre-loved diesel Duster SUV because of the additional boot space and fantastic fuel economy. It’s also easier to install car seats when there’s a bit of ground clearance.
While it may be tempting to opt for a compact SUV in the shape of the Kiger or even the Triber instead, trust us when we say the Duster is the better option.
Worthy hatchback contenders from other manufacturers, include the Toyota Starlet, Kia Rio, and Hyundai i20.
Pricing
Renault Clio 1.0 Turbo Life | R309 999 |
Renault Clio 1.0 Turbo Zen | R324 999 |
Renault Clio 1.0 Turbo Intens | R349 999 |
The Clio gets a 5-year/150 000 km warranty and a 2-year/30 000 km service plan.
*Pricing is correct as of November 2022 – please consult the Renault Clio microsite for the latest prices.
Ané AlbertseAné was bitten by the motoring bug at a very young age. Her mom recalls her sitting in her stroller as a 3-year old, naming every car that came past. She was working as a freelance motoring journalist for publications such as Rapport and City Press, when AutoTrader nabbed her for good. She lives in the Western Cape with her two kids and two cats.View News & Reviews
Keyword: Is the Renault Clio good for families?