Renault Clio RS 200 EDC 2015 Long-Term Test
Once the epitome of the hot hatch genre, the new RS is warm by comparisonLong Term Test (Conclusion)
During our time with the Clio RS, emotion, logic, age and experience all played their part in dissecting Renault’s updated RenaultSport Clio.
Initial impressions saw ‘remember when Davis’ pondering the 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated RS of yesteryear, while a smaller-capacity turbocharged replacement sat in the waiting.
Following this, ‘sentimental Newton’ mourns the taming down of what was once the epitome of the hot hatch genre; all the while, clinging onto his time in the McLaren 650S.
I approached the Clio RS 200 EDC Cup with less baggage.
The new Clio offers more sophisticated kit, its faster, more efficient, more practical – and possibly the sweetest of changes, it’s $4700 cheaper than its predecessor, now priced at $31,790 (plus ORCs). Admittedly, the Brembos and snug Recaro seats are no longer.
There’s also no manual box, which pains the purists; Renault’s efficient dual-clutch transmission takes its place. A peace offering comes in the form of paddle shifts and three self-select drive modes – Normal, Sport and Race – to change the tune of the drive as you wish.
Switch to Race mode and use the paddle shifts, and the RS shows form akin to its predecessor. Pushing the revs beyond the norm, it sounds great and feels excellent. Decisive. Engaging. Fun.
Our vehicle features the stiffer Cup chassis and 18-inch wheels, which seems slightly at odds with gaining a broader appeal, but it has its benefits. The Clio feels tight and obedient, dipping into corners and skipping around winding country roads with youthful vigour. It’s hard in the seat though, and a little noisy too.
Featuring five doors and with 300-litre boot capacity, the little Clio is more versatile than before – deceptively so, coping with the family load (including child seats) with relative ease. A good level of technology ensures the creature comforts afforded across its rivals, with the exception of a reversing camera and parking sensors.
However, if the Clio RS is going warm and mainstream on us, it’s also going to have to sort out things like Bluetooth connectivity, which was consistently patchy.
The turbocharged petrol is also not as frugal as the numbers suggest, returning a fairly consistent average of around 8.2L/100km.
Removing some of the rawness, but not entirely, the Clio maintains street-cred for its race-inspired hatch, while enticing new buyers with kit and cost savings. There’s enough character and plenty of sporty design cues to form a meaningful bond, but competitively priced rivals throw logic in your face.
So, yes, consensus is that Renault’s refreshed Clio has lost some of the magic; but not everyone will notice…
2015 Renault Clio RS 200 EDC Cup pricing and specifications:
Price: $31,790 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 147kW/240Nm
Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 6.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 144g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP
>> Cabin comfort
>> Race-inspired bling
Not so much:
>> Firm ride
>> Road noise
>> Lacking technology
>> Renault Clio RS 200 EDC Cup Long-Term Introduction
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