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Renaultsport Clio 200 Raider vs 5 GT Turbo Raider

We bring the new Clio Raider together with its 5 GT Turbo predecessor

Renaultsport Clio 200 Raider vs Renault 5 GT Turbo Raider

Text: Jack Rix / Photos: Pete Gibson

January 2012

Renault isn’t afraid of plundering its past. It recently gave us Gordini special editions of the Clio, Twingo and Wind and now it has revived another dormant badge, with the Renaultsport Clio 200 Raider.

The Raider name first appeared on a special edition of the 5 GT Turbo back in 1990, and unlike the Gordini editions it holds no great significance to Renault’s history. In fact, the 5 GT Turbo Raider was originally called the Alain Oreaille Edition in Europe, to commemorate the rally driver’s French rally championship win. The Raider name was only added when it became clear UK buyers had no idea who Oreaille was.

The new Clio Raider looks spectacular with its Stealth Grey matt paint (Diavolo Red is also available). A gloss black finish for the roof, rear spoiler, front splitter, diffuser, mirrors and 18-inch alloys give the car a menacing presence. A Raider badge is stuck to the B-pillar, while inside, a plaque confirms your place in the 50-car UK production run, plus there are leather Recaro sports seats and a white rev counter.

The GT Turbo looks just as pumped up, with its chunky bodykit and squat stance. Thankfully, this cherished car hasn’t had any of the questionable modifications which were so popular at the time. The unique Sports Blue paintwork is the same colour as used on the first two generations of the Clio Williams, although there are no gold rims here – the Raider comes with 13-inch body-coloured wheels.

The Renaultsport Clio 200 has been one of our favourite hot hatches for a number of years, and the Raider, which is mechanically identical to the £16,930 Cup, does nothing to change that. Hold on to a gear and the Clio feels faster and more alert as the revs rise. The gearchange is snappy and the raspy exhaust note is addictive.

But it’s in corners where the Clio 200 excels, rather than the straights. The front end grips hard as the nose dives in, and small lifts of the throttle allow you to tighten your line whenever you like. It’s conclusive proof that you don’t need masses of horsepower to have serious fun.

Climb into the GT Turbo and you’re instantly made aware of how much progress has been made in 21 years. There’s no power-steering, while the heavy clutch action and seats that you sink into feel alien. But once you experience your first hit of the turbo, it all starts to make sense. The car weighs 830kg and has 120bhp, so it’s still quick, as long as the turbo is on boost.

By today’s standards, the delay between you flexing your right foot and the turbo kicking in is comical, but the way you have to look further down the road and plan ahead is huge fun. In bends it’s more secure than you’d expect – so you can use all of the car’s performance more often than you’d think.

A new Clio is set to arrive in 2012, with a Renaultsport model following soon after, and that means this naturally aspirated engine will probably have to make way for a smaller-capacity turbo. Still, if the 5 GT Turbo is anything to go by, Renault has serious form in that area.

For an alternative review of the latest Renault Clio visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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3 Comments

I don't understand the 4 star rating here, what exactly are you rating? It's a comparison, therefore you should be comparing? Perhaps you are rating your own article, which is lovely, self criticism is for the bold.

I don't see this as a fair comparison anyway, nor a helpful one. The Clio 200 is a fantastic machine and a bargain at just under £17k (let's be realistic, you wouldn't pay sticker price either, I've walked into Renault and they've knocked £1k off before I even started bartering) but the Raider version is completely unrealistic in the pricing section.

By wingman on 2 January, 2012, 2:12am

Jack Rix

Hi Wingman, thanks for your comment. Sorry if the star rating is unclear, in the magazine it's a lot clearer that we're rating the new model - the Clio 200 Raider.

You've hit the nail on the head with the ridiculous price tag too. In standard cup trim, costing just under £17k, this is a five star car as you'll see in my previous review, but the inflated price has cost it a star. The comparison element of this test is intended to add some colour and context to the new model, by taking a look at the past.

By jackrix on 3 January, 2012, 10:32am

Jack

Hi Jack, thanks for the response and clearing up the rating system, I clearly missed where it was pointing at...!

Colour is fine, but more comparisons with current day cars would be more beneficial to your average punter like me. I mainly come to Auto Express to seek out Hot Hatch reviews and as such would like to see more of the Polo GTi/VRs/Cupra vs Clio 200 vs Mini Cooper S vs Fiat 500 Abarth vs Citroen DS3 etc etc. I know these have been done many times before but to me, they rarely get old.

By wingman on 3 January, 2012, 8:10pm

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Pictures

Renaultsport Clio 200 Raider vs Renault 5 GT Turbo Raider
Renaultsport Clio 200 Raider rear tracking
Renaultsport Clio 200 Raider dash
Renaultsport Clio 200 Raider engine
Renaultsport Clio 200 Raider sport seats
Renault 5 GT Turbo Raider rear tracking
Renault 5 GT Turbo Raider dash
Renault 5 GT Turbo Raider engine

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FIRST OPINION

    The Clio 200 is a sensational hot hatch, and this Raider limited edition adds exclusivity. But at nearly £22,000 – £4,700 more than the Cup – it’s costly, especially when the low price is so key to the standard car’s appeal. Driving it back to back with the GT Turbo shows how much more accessible a car’s performance is nowadays. It also proves Renault is in a class of its own for making engaging hot hatches with character.

 

AT A GLANCE

    Renaultsport Clio 200 Raider
    Price: £21,695
    Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 197bhp
    Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
    0-60/top spd: 6.9 secs/141mph
    Econ/CO2: 34.4mpg/195g/km
    Equipment: Leather Recaro sports seats, 18-inch alloy wheels, tinted windows, matt paint, Bluetooth, climate control 
    On sale: Now   Renault 5 GT Turbo Raider
    Price: £10,995 (in 1990)
    Engine: 1.4-litre 4cyl turbo, 120bhp
    Transmission: Five-speed manual, front-wheel drive
    0-60/top spd: 8 secs/128mph
    Econ: 49.6mpg (at constant 56mph)
    CO2: N/A
    Equipment: Remote central locking, 13-inch body-coloured alloys, radio cassette, electric windows, alarm
    On sale: 1990
     
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