Our website specializes in news on many areas : News Of Car, Car Reviews, Used Car, SUV Car, Brands Car, Car Service, Auto Car and more… Hope to bring you the most useful and hot information.

CAR REVIEW: Renault Clio's 898cc engine proves less is more

Small is beautiful in the case of the tiny 898cc petrol engine that powers the latest Renault Clio.

Conscious of the fact that some motorbikes have bigger engines than this supermini, I’d mentally prepared for a very leisurely week of driving.

So it came as a pleasant surprise to find that this sub-litre powerplant is actually quite characterful and seldom seems to be noticeably underpowered.

The three-cylinder 90hp unit features an ultra low-inertia turbo that swings into action from low engine speeds, developing 135Nm of torque at just 2000rpm.


There are some flat spots in performance but, if you work the car hard enough, it will get from a standing start to 62mph in a respectable time of just over 12 seconds on the way to a potential top speed of 111mph.

And if you feel that an engine of this size is perky enough in the performance stakes, then you’ll undoubtedly be rewarded with some impressive running costs.

The TCe petrol engine will return 56mpg on the combined cycle and 114g/km of CO2, which are figures to challenge the perception that you have to run a diesel car to cut down running costs.

For those keen to maximise fuel economy, there are several aids to help you on your way, including a driving style monitor, which rates your performance with green, yellow or orange, while there’s also a Gear Change Indicator on the dashboard.

The fact the engine weighs so little also helps the car’s nimbleness when it comes to handling, with the front of the Clio being very eager to turn.

The steering is relatively fast and quite light, which means the Clio turns in quickly when there’s a decent level of grip on offer.

However, there is an element of body roll to watch out for in the corners.

In the heavy rain brought about by last week’s Storm Freya, the Clio coped well with the variable levels of grip caused by standing water on road surfaces.

Petrol models are accompanied by a five-speed manual gearbox, which is a bit lacking in precision, so isn’t great fun to use.


In terms of looks, the Clio has a clear sense of style, with notable features being its bold nose, which was updated in 2016 as part of a mid-life refresh.

Its eye-catching curves and disguised rear door handles hidden in the C-pillars are also nice touches.

Inside, the cabin has a modern and classy appearance, with one of the main features being a user-friendly tablet-style control screen.

There are still some scratchy plastics but the overall ambience is excellent, with the interior now featuring the type of finishing material more generally reserved for Renault’s higher-end models.

With an extra 30mm over its predecessor, the Clio has been stretched somewhat, which makes for a roomy interior.

Headroom and legroom in the front is especially good, and the boot is class-leading, but the Clio isn’t quit so specious in the back seats.

Indeed, its low roofline, small side windows and high-mounted rear bench make the back seats a little tight for taller passengers.

There’s plenty of storage space around the cabin, including cubby holes in front of the gear stick, central armrest and door panels.

As is the trend these days, Renault is offering personalisation options which include bodywork decals for the roof and matching colour schemes for the paint and interior.

The 0.9 TCe engine is available with ‘Play’, ‘Iconic’ and ‘GT Line’ trim levels.

Prices start from about £14,000, which is a figure that undercuts a number of key rivals.


In conclusion, the Clio offers great fuel economy, low emissions, a car that’s practical and can seat five, is reasonably good fun to drive, and has decent equipment levels.

Related Posts:

Tags

2019 Acura RDX 2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia 2019 Audi A6 2019 BMW 8 Series 2019 Cadillac XT4 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt 2019 Hyundai Veloster 2019 Kia Stinger 2019 Land Rover Range Rover Velar 2019 Lexus UX 2019 Mazda CX-5 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2019 Ram 1500 2019 Volkswagen Jetta 2019 Volvo XC40 Acura Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi auto shows Bentley best online car buying sites BMW brands car Bugatti buy a new car Cadillac car accident car advertising car automotive car autos car brands car comparison car concept car dealerships car for sale car insurance car models car prices car racing car repair car reviews car rumor car service car specs car tuning car vehicles cars of the future Chevrolet compre car Dodge donate car Ferrari Ford Genesis Honda hot car 2019 Hyundai Jeep Kia Koenigsegg Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Maserati Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz Mini coupe Mitsubishi news car 2019 news of cars Nissan Porsche quotes car Ram rent car Rolls-Royce sports car spy shots Subaru super cars suvs car Suzuki Tesla the best car truck 2019 Toyota trader car used car need sale Volkswagen Volvo

Blog Archive