Renault Clio Expression 2014 Long-term review - 4

At the mercy of the motoring.com.au team, the Renault Clio has fared well to date. So it was time to up the stakes – and add small children to the equation.

After two weeks sprawled out in a BMW X5, a family road trip in the Renault Clio sounded like absurd proposition. But, we pushed through with Easter-egg-induced enthusiasm on our side.

Our round trip spanned from deep bush to beautiful bayside, with a ferry-trip in-between.

Undoubtedly, comfortable kids make for a happy road trip. And the Clio easily accommodated two childseats, with room to breath. Both kids were happy and safe in the second row of Renault’s light hatch.

On our journey from Melbourne to Daylesford, the Clio sat firmly on the freeway and the 1.2-litre turbocharged engine was confident and obedient, with energy enough for overtaking. Winding country roads saw the Clio reach its peak form. It felt well planted, with just the right amount of lean into the corners, and sprightly form on exit. It was fun to handle.

Out back of Daylesford on some less forgiving road surfaces, there were a few creaks and rattles emerging from the rear of the Clio, however, it held tight, even on rather poor, unsealed roads. Noise intrusion was also more obvious on poor roads, but on the freeway the Clio delivered a well insulated cabin.

Yes, the Clio is slow off the mark, but from there on in, the transmission is decisive and quick. It feels most happy revving.

The Clio continued to impress on some very functional criteria, namely, the 300-litre boot. This generous level of luggage capacity makes it possible to load-up for a weekend away without cramming the cabin full of luggage overflow. It moves the perception of light car capability beyond its dimensions, and rightfully so in the case of the Clio.

But it wasn’t all joy in the Clio, the rearward visibility is very poor. And in the absence of parking sensors and a reversing camera, this pint-sized hatch proved problematic on more than one occasion when it came to parking and negotiating tight spaces.

And as mentioned in previous installments, small ergonomic glitches included the cruise control buttons being spread across the centre console and steering wheel. Also, the audio controls are on a stalk, which simply adds another reference point for the driver to navigate. None of which were major flaws, but minor niggles to an otherwise well-executed interior.

Technology worked well in the Clio. The satellite navigation got put through its paces on our road trip, and it proved simple to use and provided clear and timely instructions.

The Clio’s flat, credit-card style key continues to divide opinion. Big enough to not get lost in your hand bag, light enough to carry on your person, but too big to comfortably store in your pocket. At least when you’re in the car, there’s a handy slot to store the key in the centre console.

While the Clio does require premium 95 RON unleaded fuel, it proved an economical unit at the end of our test period, producing an average consumption of 5.5L/100km for the most part, stepping up to 6.9 with some additional urban driving on the clock.

Engaging, comfortable, economical, good looking and surprisingly practical -- at the end of its stint with my family, the Clio proved to be quite the crowd-pleaser.

2014 Renault Clio Expression pricing and specifications:
Price: $19,790 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol)
Output: 88kW/190Nm
Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 5.2L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 120g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP