New Renault Clio from $16,790

Renault has launched its fourth-generation Clio in Australia with a base drive-away price of less than $19,000.

For the first time since 2007, the Clio will take on mainstream light-car rivals with competitive prices across an expanded five-door hatchback range including four model variants, two turbocharged petrol engines and three equipment grades.

Opening the line-up is the Clio Authentique at $16,790 (plus on-road costs) or $18,990 drive-away (excluding metallic paint), making it far more accessible than the sole version of the last-generation Clio available here, the three-door RS 200 hot hatch (from $36,490).

Engine options are grade-dependant, with entry-level and mid-spec Authentique and Expression models offered with a three-cylinder unit displacing 898cc. The multi-point injected turbo-petrol delivers 66kW/135Nm and is mated exclusively to a five-speed manual transmission.

Mid- and high-grade Clio Expression and Dynamique models are available with a four-cylinder 1.2-litre mill outputting 88kW/190Nm. In contrast to the transmission choice of lower-grade variants, the four-pot comes only with a Getrag six-speed automated manual transmission dubbed EDC (or Efficient Dual Clutch) in Renault parlance.

Renault says it will not offer a turbo-diesel option locally, despite having access to a number of diesel-powered units ex-Europe.

The base Clio Authentique provides buyers with LED daytime running lamps, ‘see me home’ lights, remote central locking, powered front windows and mirrors, cruise control, idle stop-start, air-conditioning, trip computer, cloth trim, twin-speaker single-CD tuner with USB and Bluetooth connectivity and 15-inch steel wheels.

Shell out a little more and the mid-spec Clio Expression rewards budding Francophiles with considerably more kit. At $17,790 (plus ORCs) the in-betweener of the Clio range adds front foglights, a four-speaker Arkamys single-CD tuner with USB and Bluetooth connectivity, satellite-navigation, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearknob, and 16-inch alloy wheels.

Finally, at the top of the Clio tree sits the high-grade Dynamique. It retails from $23,290 (plus ORCs) and adds dusk-sensing headlights, rear parking sensors, hands-free entry and push-button engine start, climate-control air-conditioning, a driver’s armrest, powered rear windows and heated/folding wing mirrors.

Renault offers a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty on all new Clios, with 24-our roadside assistance is included for the duration and capped-price servicing offered for the first three years. Service intervals are set at 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first, and each service is fixed at $299. Renault currently offers zero per cent finance on all passenger vehicles and can even offer insurance in-house (which is underwritten by Alliance).

Like any car in this category with ambitions of attracting tech-savvy younger buyers, the Clio is poised to please. High-grade Clio models feature Renault’s tablet-style R-Link infotainment system which offers a user-friendly seven-inch touchscreen alternative to the long-criticised OEM Renault system.

The stylish ‘floating’ unit offers audio, Bluetooth telephony, internet, real-time navigation and vehicle connectivity pages. It is fully customisable, includes voice control functionality and steering column-mounted switches.

Option packages extend to an Electric Pack for mid-grade Clio Expression (offered as standard on the high-grade Clio Dynamique) or a Premium Pack for the high-grade Clio Dynamique.

The former adds dusk-sensing headlights, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear power windows, electric-folding door mirrors, and hands-free entry and push-button start to the Clio Expression’s standard specifications for $300.

The latter sees the high-spec Clio Dynamique adopt an upgraded four-speaker/dual-tweeter 3D Arkamys audio system with enhanced sat-nav interface, R-Sound, voice recognition and rear-view camera.

A long list of personalisation options is also available including coloured decals ($350), metallic paint ($550), a fixed panoramic sunroof ($1490), coloured interior trim ($250) and coloured 16-inch alloy wheels ($750).

Speaking at the local launch of the new Clio, Renault Australia Managing Director, Justin Hocevar, said the pint-sized hatch represents exceptional value for prospective buyers.

“This is without a doubt the most exciting product launch I have had the privilege of being involved with,” exclaimed Hocevar.

“The new Renault Clio is a brilliant light car and through a high level of standard equipment, fantastic new engines and exceptional handling I’m confident the new Clio will appeal to Australian new car buyers.

“Renault is renowned for its expertise in small hatches and the new Clio embodies the best of the Renault brand. We have a fantastic value proposition in terms of a beautifully designed vehicle with high levels of personalisation, at an extremely competitive price.

“Supported by our rapidly growing dealer network, capped-price servicing and best-in-class warranty, this all equates to the new benchmark light European hatch in the Australian market.”

Hocevar said Renault Australia has already seen strong demand for the new Clio on its looks alone, adding: “I’m confident that when customers experience the car they will find it exceeds their expectations.”

The Renault Clio has long been a favourite in the European ‘super-mini’ category, attracting more than 12 million sales globally since 1990. At the end of 2012 in Europe, it was the third best selling car in its class.

But in Australia the Clio’s focus as a sports hatch prevented it from competing against more mainstream light-size hatch models. Judging by its no-nonsense pricing and competitive kit list, Renault Australia seems poised to address this issue.

The new Clio will compete against no fewer than 34 direct competitors, led by the strong sellers in the soon-to-be-replaced Mazda2 (with year-to-date sales of 11,012 units), Toyota’s evergreen Yaris (9800), the Indian-built Hyundai i20 (8361), Suzuki’s Swift (7425) and Mitsubishi’s budget-busting Mirage (6908).

Renault Australia says it expects the new Clio to achieve sales somewhere in the vicinity of 2000 units a year -- a vast improvement over the single Clio registered in July and the 74 sold this year.

2013 Renault Clio pricing (plus ORCs):
Authentique TCe 90 -- $16,790
Expression TCe 90 -- $17,790
Expression TCe 120 (a) -- $19,790
Dynamique TCe 120 (a) -- $23,290

Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...

Don't forget to register to comment on this article.