Test Car Specifications
Model: 2024 Renault Clio Esprit Alpine E-Tech 145 Full Hybrid
Price: From £19,000 (estimated)
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol with electric motor
Transmission: six-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Power: 143hp
Torque: 205Nm
Emissions: 95-109g/km
Economy/Range: 67.2mpg
0-62mph: 9.3 seconds
Top speed: 108mph
Boot space: 301 litres
Styling
The biggest changes to the Clio can be found on the outside, where it has a new front-end design including a fresh grille that's more in keeping with the new Austral SUV. There's a tweaked rear, too, with the new Renault logo taking centre stage. And Renault has also launched the Esprit Alpine trim level, which debuted on the Austral and replaces the old R.S. Line versions as the sportily styled model in the range. That comes with Alpine branding on the wings and wheels, which have a fake central wheel nut, designed to look more like a Formula 1 wheel.
Interior
If you thought the Clio's exterior update was small, it has nothing on the interior changes. In fact, the biggest change is the inclusion of the digital instrument cluster as standard on even the cheapest models, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto tech is included as standard across the range.
Other than that, the arrival of the Esprit Alpine trim level is the biggest bit of news. That car comes with sporty seats and tricolour embroidery on the dash, as well as neat red, white and blue stitching on the steering wheel. There's blue stitching on the seat belts, too, but otherwise it's all very familiar.
Of course, all this consistency has its advantages. The Clio has quite a few hard plastics knocking about, particularly on the doors, but that's to be expected in a small and relatively cheap car. And anyway, the way in which the materials fit together is largely very good, and the switchgear feels robust.
Practicality
Because the visual updates are minor, the Clio’s dimensions are unchanged, and that means you get a pretty sizeable boot. In fact, the basic Clio’s 391-litre luggage bay is larger than that of a VW Golf. Of course, the high-end hybrid versions lose some of that space – 90 litres of it, in fact – but even a 301-litre boot is big enough to be getting on with. The only criticism is a slightly cramped rear bench, but the seats back there are surprisingly comfy and only the tallest adults will struggle for headroom. If you’re sitting behind a tall driver, though, legroom is less than ideal.
Performance
In the UK, Renault will offer the Clio with a choice of two different engines. The cheapest option will be the 1.0-litre 90 TCe, but the company is putting the emphasis on the E-Tech 145 Full Hybrid we tested. Both engines are already part of the Clio line-up and neither has been altered with the arrival of the new model.
That means both provide ample performance, with 0-62mph times around the 10-second mark, but efficiency is the key. You'll get about 50mpg or so from the 1.0-litre, but the hybrid promises an even more impressive efficiency of 67.2mpg. Admittedly, you probably won't get that in the real world, but around 60mpg is probably achievable without too much effort.
Ride & Handling
As with so much else about the Clio, the driving experience is more or less unchanged. The steering feels slightly meatier and more substantial than that of the Seat Ibiza or, indeed, pretty much any other supermini on the market, and that's combined with a dogged agility that makes the Clio very pleasant to drive. It isn't quite as nimble as the Fiesta, but it lopes around like a bulldog, with purpose and eagerness, if not huge amounts of finesse.
That said, the body control is remarkably good, with no real dive under braking and limited roll in corners. It's quite mature, but it comes at the cost of ride quality, which is a little more brittle than it is in, say, a Peugeot 208. It isn't disastrous, but French cars are usually known for their comfort, and the Clio isn't really set up that way.
Value
Renault hasn't yet confirmed prices for the UK, but we're expecting them to be broadly similar to the outgoing model. That means a starting price in the region of £19,000 or £20,000 while top-of-the-range versions such as this Esprit Alpine hybrid will come in at around £24,000-£25,000. That's reasonable value for something so spacious, and so well equipped. Our test car came with heated sports seats, a reversing camera and the larger touchscreen, as well as climate control and all the Esprit Alpine interior and exterior features.
Verdict
The changes to the Clio are minor – there’s no getting around that – and those who’ve just taken delivery of the outgoing model need not worry. But the changes have modernised the Clio and made it easier to live with, which is bound to go down well with customers. In essence, though, this is still the same likeable small hatchback we know and love.
