If a car has a glitch or fault, it doesn’t matter if complex hybrid/EV or simple ICE car.
Well yes and no, it really depends on how you view and/or tolerate imperfections in a new car. It sounds like you have very high expectations and would be very intolerant of faults. Whether this is right or wrong is perhaps a separate issue, but I think your expectations are maybe too high, certainly when it comes to a maker like Renault. It doesn't take much research to learn that they don't exactly cover themselves in glory when it comes to reliability and customer service. And while they aren't the worst (step forward Land Rover/Range Rover), they are a long way from the best. On top of this, the Clio E Tech is (I think) their first attempt at a self charge hybrid, a fairly complex type of drivetrain merging electric and ICE propulsion along with two separate means of slowing the car down.
So the two viewpoints I see are, firstly that a simpler car would be a better choice for someone with a low tolerance of faults/glitches/niggles because there is less to go wrong. Secondly is that you should have done your homework when it comes to reliability and/or customer service, especially so when buying the first example of a complex car means you are effectively being a guinea pig.
Toyota are generally regarded as making the most reliable cars in the world and have been making self charge hybrids for 27 years now. But while very very reliable under most circumstances, there are issues with batteries going flat if unused for longer periods. So if a manufacturer like Toyota, with all that experience behind them, are still having problems under certain circumstances, it is beyond me why anyone would expect Renault to nail it first time!.
IMO what you need to do is get out of that car as soon as is practical or possible to do so and get into something simpler and/or more reliable*. Also take it as a lesson to do your research when it comes to buying a car. By that I don't just mean whether the car itself is likely to be reliable, but also looking into whether the manufacturers customer service in general is good or bad. Also looking into the actual dealer itself, because they can make or break an owners experience. To that end I remember reading about the then new (to the UK) JD Power survey on customer satisfaction when it comes to cars. One thing struck me was that the reliability of the car itself wasn't (up to a point obviously) as important as how the dealer dealt with any issues.
* I'd suggest maybe looking at the new Suzuki Swift. This is a MHEV (mild hybrid, so wont run on electric power alone), but they are very efficient. I watched a recent What Car video review of a Swift vs a new MG3 HEV (self charge hybrid, like your Clio) and the Swift recorded higher MPG both in town (which I was very surprised at) and on the open road.
The other obvious option is the Toyota Yaris. If serviced within the dealer network, Toyota will extend the warranty up to 10 years (a year at a time once the standard warranty runs out). There is also a Mazda badged doppelgänger, but not sure if that has similar arrangements re the warranty, probably not.
What do car magazines actually do for customers? I mean why would their legal team help customers on consumer rights issues for free?
Basically it is about publicity. I'm not suggesting that they will actually go to court on your behalf (certainly not for free). But if a manufacturer or large dealer group hear that a popular publication like What Car has got involved with your case, it is often enough to get something done simply to avoid negative publicity. And on the other side, if they successfully help a car owner resolve their issues, there is a good chance said car owner will become a lifetime subscriber!. Not saying they will definitely help if you fee you have a case, but cant hurt to try?
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