Renault Clio - Renault Clio MK4 - brief test

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Mon 2 Jun 2014 18:18
Renault Clio - Renault Clio MK4 - brief test - Xileno

Had one of the new Clios just for half a day, a 0.9 TCe Dynamique no less. I didn't have it long but it made quite an impression in a short time

Good points:

Very smooth and comfortable. Not fast of course with such a small engine but it has a relaxed sound to it and not noisy. Seats very comfortable, having had Renaults before this is one area where they excel. Steering felt light but also quite direct, the suspension coped well with the potholes and other surface imperfections that seem to dominate the roads these days. I thought the fit and finish was perfectly good.

Bad points:

None that I can think of, only a few subjective things, I'm not a great fan of the shiny black cabin trim that cars seem to have these days. Fiesta is the same. It shows marks easily. I'm not sure I like the 'hidden' rear doors on the Clio either - I know it saves the manufacturer money in tooling and these costs can be passed back to the buyer but they don't quite look right to me.

Overall this was a fine 'small' car, I would certainly give the Clio serious consideration if looking in this sector. For me it's too small a car, I wish Renault still imported the Laguna into the UK as I would get one of those without hesitation.

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Mon 2 Jun 2014 22:28
Renault Clio - Renault Clio MK4 - brief test - RicardoB

Funnily enough I too had one of these for a day last week as my Laguna coupe was in the dealers (it's got to go back again when the needed part arrives - one of those things with complicated modern cars).

I agree with your observations, especially the suspension being quite comfy (mind you, my Lag coupe's is rock hard) and the seat seemed fine (I saw HJ's review where he said the wheel/pedals on RHD ones are a bit "out" and as I do sometimes have back probs, I was a tad worried, but it seemed OK for me)

I was interested to see how the engine would cope and I was quite impressed. OK, you won't win many races, but it's not designed to. And as other reports of these new small 3-cylinder engines from other makes have stated, there is a characterful sound when accelerating quickly.

Personally I'm not keen on digital speedos - sort of looks a bit of a miss match with the dial rev counter and other gauges. It also seems mean of Renault not to put the Start/Stop button on the UK driver's side. If you have a passenger, you, er, have to reach in front of their leg. (Oooer!)

The car I borrowed also had a satnav, but again, minus points - not postcode based.... Backward step compared to the one in my four year old Laguna. So what a faff to type in town/road etc - not that I bothered or needed to.

I also agree re the shiny plastics - hope that's just a passing phase.

And finally, the LED DRLs - oh dear... they look like the sort boy racers buy fron Halfords and stick on, say, an elderly Clio, Corsa etc!

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