A new look for an old friend

TONY CONLON

A RECENT encounter with the latest Renault Clio brought memories flooding back of a different world not all that long ago – one where you were able to head abroad on holidays without a care in the world.

Over the past number of years, friends in Alvor, Portugal, would give me the loan of a car for the period of my stay there. I’d collect the keys, walk to the underground car park, open the driver’s door, then the bonnet, reconnect its battery and cross my fingers.

In all those years, that 22-year-old faded blue Renault Clio has never failed to start. Indeed, it has given me more joy than many of the sparkling new cars I’ve been privileged to get to test-drive over almost forty years.

It has reliably brought us to the shopping centre and the beach – and everywhere in between - on numerous occasions. Indeed, we have seen most of the Algarve through its windscreen. It has never failed to start, runs on the smell of petrol despite its older technology and even has air conditioning to cool us down from the heat of high summer. Of course, it could be more powerful but that would defeat the purpose of having a relaxing, leisurely holiday.

It’s because of that Clio, one of my dearest Portuguese friends, that this latest, fifth generation Renault Clio got my full focus.

Although I always feel some anticipatory excitement when collecting a new car for review, sitting behind the wheel of a new Valenica Orange-coloured Clio brought an added frisson: the gorgeous design and eye-catching colour of the hatchback stirred up a desire to quickly start up the engine and head off into the sunset.

There was a feel-good factor and sense of familiarity from the off. Sitting into its new seating, controlling it via its new smaller and more elegant steering wheel, I was almost transported back to the long, leisurely days of last summer and the sun-baked stretch of tarmac between Alvor and Portimao.

Although it retains a similar-ish look to its more recent predecessor, this new Clio, which was launched just before the model’s 30th birthday, is easy on the eye.

More elegant and dynamic from all angles, the new Renault is the first model to be built on the new CMF-B (Common Module Family) modular platform. Comprising 85% new parts, the new platform delivers improvements in space, safety, technology and weight-saving. Its streamlined underside, coupled with the car’s sculpted lines, has succeeded in lowering the aerodynamic profile of the Clio.

Awarded a five-star EuroNCAP rating, the latest model is around 50kg lighter, stronger and safer than its predecessor. It comes complete with full LED headlamps across the range, though I much prefer the latest C-shaped daytime running light signature.

Although the latest Clio has more compact exterior dimensions, it offers better interior and boot space. Boot capacity is claimed to be the largest in its class as it increases to 391 litres. Fold the seats and space grows to 1,069 litres.

With 15 million examples having found homes since its 1990 introduction, the new Clio is available here in Expression, Dynamique, Iconic and RS trim levels. Powered by 1.0 litre 75 and 100bhp petrol engines, diesel and CVT automatic versions are also offered. An E-Tech hybrid will also join the party soon.

There’s a totally revamped interior sporting higher quality materials and the latest tech. A key component of the bold new look is the optional Smart Cockpit that features both a 9.3-inch multimedia screen (€400) and a 10-inch TFT instrument cluster. Interior storage space weighs in at 26 litres.

The test model I drove was the Iconic version with the excellent TCe 100 engine. Sitting on larger 16” alloys, this five-speed version showed great ability from a performance and economy perspective - average fuel consumption was 5.6 l/100km, or 50mpg.

With a more responsive steering and a nicer, more balanced suspension set-up, this Clio handles better than any Clio I’ve driven before.

Fitted with many safety aides, this latest model may put my old Portuguese friend in the shade. But I see this good value, hugely improved car gaining lots of admirers, even if we don’t have the sunshine.

Test model price: €20,290 ex-works.

Read Tony Conlon's Motoring Column every week in the Meath Chronicle