Renault's new Clio starts at £14,295 08 | 08 | 2019
RENAULT HAS CONFIRMED its all-new Clio will cost from £14,295. The fifth-generation supermini is now available to order from Scottish dealerships, with buyers able to choose from five engines and four specs. (Related: Renault reveals new 2020 Captur)
Featuring loads of new tech, the latest Clio as already been awarded a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating. The new Clio, which at 4050mm long is slightly shorter than the car it replaces, is also 1798mm wide and sits on a wheelbase of 2583mm, again a few millimetres shorter than that of the Mk4 Clio. (Related: Renault unveils all-new Clio MkV)
The new model is also significantly lighter than the outgoing version, with lightest tipping the scales at just 1042kg, thanks to Renault switching to the all-new CMF-B chassis architecture.
The latest Clio is completely all-new, Renault says, with every body panel slightly different to that of its predecessor, although its exterior is clearly an evolution of the preceding model.
The entry-level TCe 100 — which starts at £15,295 in Play trim — is powered by a 99bhp turbo petrol engine delivering 160Nm of torque. A five-speed manual gearbox is standard, though a CVT auto, which commands a £1400 premium, will be available from November.
The TCe 130 will not be available in the cheaper Play or Iconic trims. Renault has yet to confirm prices of the S Edition trim,, but has confirmed the top-spec TCe 130 RS Line cars cost from £20,295. A a dCi 85 diesel option is available across all three specs priced from £17,250. (Related: Renault unveils limited Clio R.S 18)
Later this year, in October, the Clio range will be further boosted by the entry-level normally aspirated three-cylinder petrol engine fitted to the SCe 75. This will carry the headline £14,295 price tag. The better-equipped Iconic will cost an extra £1000.
The range will also get a further boost in the middle of 2020 with the arrival of a hybrid. Renault claims the newcomer will operate at low speeds in EV mode “around 80% of the time”. Using a 1.6-litre petrol engine mated to a pair of electric motors and a 1.2kWh lithium ion battery, the French carmaker says the hybrid will deliver a 40% improvement in urban fuel consumption compared with a conventional petrol car.
Unlike Peugeot and the e-208, Renault will not offer the Clio in an all-electric form. Instead it will direct buyers to its all-electric Zoe. That said, when Renault’s new Captur arrives on the scene, it will offer a plug-in hybrid powertrain that can operate for many urban journeys on electric power alone.
Standard equipment across the range — even in the entry-level Play spec — is impressive, with autonomous emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, DAB radio, full LED headlights, cruise control, air-conditioning, and electric front windows all included.
The Iconic trim adds 16in alloys, rear parking sensors, keyless entry, plus a seven-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Larger 17in alloys, auto lights and wipers, climate control, and a digital instrument cluster are all standard on the S Edition.
Priced from £17,795, the racy Clio R.S. Line — there’s no full-fat RS-badged hot hatch yet — gets a rear-view camera, adjustable drive modes and some bespoke trim. options for the R.S. Line include a Techno Pack with wireless phone charging, heated leather seats and a larger digital instrument cluster.
Related: Sportier Alpine A110S gets 288bhp
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/Scotcars
Jim McGill