Renaultsport Clio 197

If you think the 207 looks bland and the VXR too extreme, then maybe the Clio strikes the right styling balance. It may not shout from the roof tops, yet the clues are there. The flared arches, deep front bumper and rear diffuser give it a purposeful, if understated, appearance.

	With eight airbags, the Clio is the safest car here, and, unlike the MINI, comes with stability control as standard

The interior won’t set pulses racing, but this car is all about the engine. At a time when most hot hatches are fitted with turbos, the Clio has stuck to a normally aspirated 2.0-litre. The result is a frantic driving experience, as you have to work the Clio’s powerplant hard to get the best from it.

The six-speed gearbox is slick, and it needs to be – you will find yourself using it a lot as you push the motor past 5,000rpm. Once there, the engine truly comes alive, with its howling note and buzzy nature. It spins freely all the way up to 7,500rpm and the short ratios mean it’s easy to keep the revs high.

Luckily, the Renault has a chassis to match its engine. Thanks to its wheel-at-each-corner design, there is virtually no body roll, and the taut set-up means it deals with changes of direction easily. It can catch you out, though, especially in the wet, and the Clio isn’t as forgiving as the VXR or MINI.

However, this just adds to the feeling of driver involvement you get with the 197. If you treat it with a bit of respect, it’s fantastically enjoyable. True, the light, over-assisted steering is too artificial, especially if you’ve just stepped out of the MINI, but it firms up with speed.

With eight airbags, the Clio is the safest car here, and, unlike the MINI, comes with stability control as standard. The £15,995 price tag is high compared to the 207, but it does offer the most powerful engine and a truly thrilling driving experience.