SMALL FRENCH & CHIC (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 112

This fifth generation Clio supermini, launched in 2019, proved to be familiar, yet thoroughly different, returning Renault to a position of real credibility in the small car sector and offering the kind of complete package that the brand hoped could return this model line to its old position as one of Britain's favourites. Tougher segment competition certainly forced the French brand to up its game with this 'BF'-series design, particularly in terms of cabin technology, fit and finish, and the company responded impressively here, ticking these boxes while also adding in greater practicality, extra safety, more sophisticated media technology and a sharper look. There's plenty to like here as a used buy.

Modelsword count: 27

5dr Supermini (0.9 SCe petrol / 0.9 TCe 90 petrol / 1.0 TCe 100 petrol / 1.3 TCe petrol / 1.6 E-Tech hybrid / 1.5 dCi diesel)

Historyword count: 355

The Renault Clio. It's the definitive expression of this French brand's vast experience in the supermini class, building on the company's reputation for creating compact cars that are characterful, comfortable and technically accomplished. These are qualities that go back all the way to the famous Renault 4 and 5 models of the Seventies. But were brought right up to date in 2019 with the fifth generation chapter of this popular model line. Back at the turn of the century, the MK2 Clio was the first small car to properly prioritise safety - and that subsequently had a lot to do with the fact that it became one of only two models ever to gain the coveted European 'Car of the Year' award on two occasions. But the MK3 version of 2005 rather lost its way, as Renault unwisely took its eye off this core contender and invested heavily elsewhere in an electrically-powered motoring future the market wasn't quite ready for. The fourth generation design of 2012 had to be better - and was, billed by stylist Laurens van den Acker as the car that would 'make people fall in love with Renault again'. He styled this fifth generation model too, but the big news here was found inside. Where the MK4 'BH'-series Clio looked quite smart in the showroom but felt somewhat cheap once you took a seat in the cabin, this one upgraded you quite a lot. There was also a stiffer, lighter CMF-B platform that enabled the design team to deliver the impressive conundrum of smaller exterior dimensions but a more spacious interior, including a class leadingly-large boot. Overall, around 85% of the components in this MK5 design were new and on the engine front, there were fresh 1.0-litre and 1.3-litre turbo petrol units, in 2020, Renault launched an E-Tech petrol full-hybrid variant. Safety and infotainment both also took a step forward with this MK5 Clio and original customers could even specify a mild degree of autonomous driving technology. The car sold in this form until mid-2023, when it was heavily facelifted and the range reduced to just the E-Tech full hybrid model.

What You Getword count: 593

Like its direct predecessor, this fifth generation Clio aimed to act as a standard-bearer for Renault's renaissance in its approach to vehicle design, with inspiration that, like that previous car, drew heavily on Dutch stylist Laurens van den Acker's futuristic 'DeZir' concept car of 2010. This means that at first glance, you might think it very similar to the MK4 model it replaced - same pinched-waistline door mouldings, same upturned rear window sills, same one-box silhouette: the profile window aperture is actually identical to that of the previous model. But look closer. For a start, this was that rarest of things, a replacement car that was actually smaller than its predecessor - though not by much. And beneath the skin, around 85% of all the stuff you couldn't see had been completely redesigned. In short, this was about as different as an all-new car tended to get back in 2019. And when we tried it back then, we said that we couldn't immediately think of a bigger step forward in interior design and quality in any car we had recently tested. That feeling of second class citizenship delivered by previous Clio cabins was well and truly banished here. In favour of soft-touch trimming, tactile touch-points and a distinctly Audi-esque feel to parts of this completely revitalised design, particularly the fascia-wide ventilation strake and the circular ventilation dials that sit mid-way down the centre stack. Smart piano key switches feature just above, plus various satin-finished metal embellishments and the redesigned, more enveloping seats also played their part in helping to push this car a little more up-market. Jump out of a Fiesta, a Corsa or something Korean from this period into one of these and you'd feel like you'd been upgraded to Business Class. Various screens help of course with the whole more sophisticated demeanour, particularly the central 'EasyLink' portrait display, available in either 7-inch or, as on plusher variants, in 9.3-inch forms. You can also view another screen through the re-designed three-spoke steering wheel. Plusher variants got a 7-inch TFT configurable instrument display which, at the top of the range, could be upgraded by original customers to a wider 10-inch monitor (though hardly anyone took up that option). In the back, the thinner front seat backs freed up an extra 26mm of extra knee room in this fifth generation model but even so, one tall-ish adult can still only just about still behind another - and you wouldn't really be wanting to do that for very long, room for knees and legs being at something of a premium. Headroom isn't great either, thanks to that somewhat swept-back roof line which was 43mm lower in this MK5 model. Some overall figures might help give you some class perspective here; legroom in this 'B5'-series Clio measures in at 620m, with headroom at 910mm. In contrast, a rival Volkswagen Polo from this period gives you 690mm of leg room and 950mm of headroom. As one writer pointed out at launch, it was all rather more 'Asterix' than 'Obelix'. But does that matter, given that for the majority of buyers, these rear seats will be used only occasionally for adults and more regularly for children? Only you can decide. We'll finish with a look at cargo space. Where this Clio atones for its somewhat restricted rear seat surroundings by somehow managing to serve up the largest boot in the supermini segment. There's 391-litres of storage capacity in a petrol variant; that's actually more than you get in a Focus or a Golf from the next class up.

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