Renault Clio 2001 Review

In Europe it's a best seller - more than 6.3 million Clios have been sold in the last decade. The Clio has a lineage that goes back to the Renault 5 of 1972, itself a 20 year veteran of the European small car market. By comparison Toyota has sold almost 26million Corollas in three decades, and it's had the benefit of the lucrative US market.

So it seems strange initially that Renault isn't using the Clio to hunt volume for its fledgling Australian franchise. The sales target of 1200 in the first year would be eclipsed by the Corolla in just two weeks.

Why is this so? Part of the story is exchange rates between Europe and Australia, part of it is Renault's softly, softly approach to its fourth attempt at our highly selective, and highly cynical market. Australians don't suffer fools, so Renault needs to be sure the Clio works here first.

The Renault Clio will go head to head with Peugeot's 206 and the VW Golf in the premium light car market. Renault will sell three models, ranging across two bodystyles and three four cylinder engine variants.

The least expensive model in the range is the Clio Expression, at $19,990. Packaged in a compact five door body, the Expression comes with a spritely 1.4 litre engine that makes full use of its 72kiloWatts of power, driving the front wheels through a five speed manual transmission. A four speed automatic gearbox is available for an extra $2200.

Our initial thoughts were that the 1.4 litre four would be underpowered for Australian use. It isn't. The engine is quite free-revving especially given its relatively small displacement, and easily propels the 1004kg Clio down the road. Keeping up with traffic is a doddle, and cut and thrust lane changing is easily accomplished in the compact, responsive Expression.

Even on some of the larger hills around Adelaide - the sight of our two day introduction to the range - the smallest Clio aquitted itself capably enough. Sure, there are some instances where the 127Newton metres of torque is found wanting, but not with five gears to choose from in a tightly slotted box.

We only had the opportunity to drive the 1.4 litre in concert with a five speed manual. With a four speed auto gearbox it's likely to be another story altogether.

The Clio points and steers well, helped no doubt by its light weight and 'wheel at each corner' design. Measuring just 3773mm in total length, it's 43mm shorter than a 5-dr Holden Barina yet rides on a similar wheelbase, and is near enough to the same height and width that it makes no difference.

The Clio is a little short on legroom in the rear and headroom's tight, too - and that's assuming you can get in and out of the back. It's probably one of the more difficult rear pews to access on the small car market today.

The said, there's no problem with first class seating. The front seats are well bolstered and firm, and allow enough adjustment to seat most shapes and sizes. The driver gets height and lumbar adjustment on the seat, and height adjust on the steering wheel. The seatbelts are also height adjustable for a good fit across the shoulder.

All Clio models get antilock brakes, four airbags and remote cetral locking. Power windows are standard across the range, though only fitted to the front doors of the Expression. Power mirrors are also standard fitment. Funnily enough, the Expression doesn't get a CD player, instead offering the owner the use of a tape deck. In this day and age that's a faux pas.

The next model in the Clio range is the $23,990 Privilege, which comes standard with a bigger 1.6 litre four cylinder engine, again mated to a five speed manual gearbox. Ask for an automatic gearbox and, though you'll pay just $500 for the privilege (sorry), you lose the 1.6 litre engine and get the 1.4 instead.

Power gains are small. The extra 200cc only nets an extra 7kiloWatts, not a lot in real world terms. But lets talk torque - and an impressive 21Newton metres extra makes a big difference to the driving experience. It's not until you drive the bigger version that you realise the short comings of the 1.4, itself a willing and enthusiastic performer.

For our money the 1.6 is the pick of the two, especially given the very little difference in claimed fuel consumption figures. And we'd reckon that because you'd need to bury the boot more often with the smaller engine is likely to lead to heavier fuel consumption in the long run.

One point worth considering with all the Clio models is their need for more expensive premium fuel. Renault says the Clio will run happily enough on standard petrol, but they recommend owners buy the higher quality stuff as often as possible. An extra 8cents per litre quickly adds up, no matter how frugal the car.

The Privilege includes all the features of the Expression model, adding climate control aircon, alloy wheels, a CD player, different interior trim and fog lamps.

The Clio Renault Sport tops the range at $32,990 with a ripper 2.0 litre four cylinder engine mated to a sweet five-speed manual gearbox. Clearly the pick of the range for those in a hurry, the Renault Clio RS is undoubtedly the best budget performer on sale in Australia today. Bar none.

The Clio RS is no stranger to Australia, we were lucky enough to receive 85 of the superceded model to whet our appetites. Understandably most of these were snapped up before they hit the docks. The Clio RS went on to win MOTOR's coveted Bang for your Bucks award, beating Porsches and BMWs in the process. The new model is even better.

The highly strung, incredibly revvable 2.0 litre twincam engine produces a searing 124kiloWatts of power at a heady 6000rpm. Not a lot in outright terms, but coupled with slick, short gearing - now even shorter thanks to a reduced final drive ratio - and an ultra light 1035kg body, and you understand that this is a serious performer.

Do the sums: a Renault Clio RS (1035kg / 124kW) has a better power to weight ratio than the current Subaru WRX (1390kg / 160kW). Couple that to a front drive chassis that can make Honda's Integra Type R feel soft by comparison and you know you're driving something special.

Clio RS gets plenty of goodies to justify the extra spend, though we'd argue the performance boost is probably worth it alone. A six stack CD player, Xenon headlamps and high performance tyres on 15inch alloy wheels ease the guilt. Then there's the Renault Sport seats, sports steering wheel and gearshift, rain sensing front wipers, light sensing headlamps, leather upholstery and a boot luggage net. Enough?

One of the things we really like about the Clio RS is that it doesn't scream its performance from the rooftops - a real sleeper. Docile and understated enough around town, show it a deserted, twisting stretch of blacktop and let it unleash the Schumacher side to your personality.

Renault's 2002 Clio range is impressive in all its incarnations, from the spritely 1.4 litre Expression, through to the road-ripping 2.0 litre Sport. The only blight we found on our short introduction to the range is a tight back seat and the unavailability of the auto gearbox with the 1.6 litre engine. If neither of those things are important to you, then perhaps the Clio deserves your attention.

CarPoint will be conducting its usual in-depth road tests on each model in the range early 2002.