Renault Clio GT 2014 Review

Renault Clio GT

It's no surprise the Renault Clio GT is fun to drive. The garden-variety Clio upon which it's based is one of the most lively light cars available in Australia, nipping at the heels of the Ford Fiesta in terms of handling and rivalling the Volkswagen Polo for ride quality.

Renault massaged the chassis of the standard Clio to deliver the GT’s extra dose of grip and mid-corner fun but it’s done so without killing ride comfort or refinement. The five-door hatchback also looks tougher thanks to larger 17-inch alloy wheels, a sports body kit with new front bumper and LED daytime driving lights too.

There's a twin exhaust system at the rear, while satin-grey inserts on the side doors and rear bumper combine with grey mirrors to deliver a suitably sporty image - especially when combined with the Malta Blue metallic paintjob, which is exclusive to the GT.

Fitted as standard with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic, the Clio GT is priced at $25,290, certainly not the cheapest car in the entry-level sports hatch segment. Models like the Suzuki Swift Sport ($24,490) and Holden Barina RS ($20,990) ask fewer shekels. Indeed, the Clio GT is only $700 shy of the significantly more powerful Ford Fiesta ST -- although that car is a manual-only proposition.

Nonetheless, Renault Australia is convinced buyers will warm to the new GT, particularly those who want an economical car (it drinks petrol at a claimed rate of just 5.2L/100km) that won't rip their arms off when stomping on the accelerator pedal.

The Clio GT gets loads of standard equipment and a strong warranty (five-year, unlimited kilometre), not to mention five year's free roadside assistance. Throw in capped-priced servicing that won't cost more than $299 per annum for the first three year's and you appreciate why the Clio has become Renault's best-selling model range after just six months on the market.

The Clio GT’s kit includes automatic climate control, a touch-screen infotainment system with satellite navigation, cruise control, keyless entry and engine starting, a leather steering wheel, sports seats, alloy pedals, GT embroidered head restraints plus automatic headlights and windscreen wipers.

It's an easy car just hop into and drive and proves to be a handy commuter too, eating up peak hour traffic on a rainy Melbourne morning with composure.

Convenience features like rear parking sensors and Bluetooth audio and phone streaming are also standard.

Sitting in the VFACTs Light car category, it's not the roomiest mode of transport going round, but with a pair of six-foot-plus blokes sitting in the front seats it never felt cramped or as though there were intrusions on personal space. Rear seat room, on the other hand, is a little tight, but no more so than any of its rivals. The Clio’s 300 litres of boot space isn't too bad either.

The ambience in the cabin is par for the course, with soft-touch dash plastics and sensibly placed controls... Except for the cruise control and speed limiter on/off button, which is down near the park brake.

Renault's centre touch-screen system is intuitive and the engine sound effect system is silly but fun. See the video below for evidence.

But an annoying quirk is the trio of beverage holders between the front seats. Only one of them is big enough for a small bottle, while the other two are so small it's baffling.

Renault also sells the Clio GT Premium model which, as the name suggests, has an upmarket appeal. It adds voice-recognition as part of an upgraded R-Link infotainment system, a reversing camera, heated leather-trimmed sports seats, a panoramic glass roof and a RenaultSport rear wing.

The Clio GT Premium hikes the price by $3500 to $28,790 and I'd take the cheaper model every day of the week. It gets the same level of comfort thanks to the supportive sports seats, and visually it's almost identical. The glass roof in the GT Premium doesn't open, and the six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox and turbo-petrol engine are identical across both models, as is the chassis, so there's no difference in the way they drive.

On that subject, the Clio GT is a lot of fun to drive. Although the conditions were best-described as torrential during the car's national launch, Melbourne doing its best impression of a European autumn, the car felt right at home. Funny that.

Fitted with grippy 205/45 R17 Michelin Primacy III tyres and benefitting from sharper suspension, the Clio GT slices through corners with ease. Even on sodden roads, the car feels planted and predictable and is satisfying to guide through corners.

The car's suspension changes (compared to the standard Clio) include five per cent stiffer springs and recalibrated shock absorbers with 50 per cent more damping force at the front axle and 40 more at the rear. These changes allow the car to maintain a flatter attitude through corners, meaning higher cornering speeds and generally more fun.

The neat thing with the Clio GT is that while you can throw it into corners with almost wild abandon -- even in the wet -- it sacrifices little in the way of ride comfort.

On poorly maintained country roads the Clio GT's excellent ride comes to the fore, the suspension absorbing the sort of ruts and gouges in the road that would make a Clio RS 200 owner brace for impact. Another benefit of the compliant suspension is that the car settles into less-than-perfectly surfaced corners without protest.

Like the Clio RS, the new GT model also gets an R.S. Drive function, albeit with two settings not three. At the press of a button it sharpens throttle response, adjusts the steering and hastens gear changes, all of which makes the car more reactive to driver input.

Although the car is easy and fun to drive fast through corners, it does take its time building speed and doesn't have the clout to fire out of bends like its RS 200 cousin. Frankly the 88kW/190Nm 1.2-litre petrol engine struggles at higher engine speeds. It's almost pointless revving the engine above 4500rpm; using the 190Nm of midrange torque is better suited to propelling the 1120kg car.

This is where the steering wheel paddle shifters come in handy, exclusive to the GT and RS models, which give the driver better control over engine speed.

The car is zippy off the line and at speeds under 80km/h it hustles well, but its 0-100km/h time of 9.4 seconds is average.

The Clio GT may not be a speed demon like its 147kW RS 200 sibling, but that was never this car's intention. It looks like a hot hatch, is well-equipped and supported, easy to live with, and confidence-inspiring on winding roads.

Factor in a more appealing price of admission than the RS and we think the GT will find its niche.

2014 Renault Clio GT pricing and specifications:
Price: $25,290
Engine: 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 88kW/190Nm
Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 5.2L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 120g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star NCAP

What we liked:
>> Sporty new look
>> Equipment levels
>> Ride and handling

Not so much:
>> Cup holder fiasco
>> Engine lacks top end punch
>> Cheaper alternatives out there