Renaultsport Clio 197

The latest in a long line of performance Clios has a lot to live up to. But Renault has done a great job of making the 197 more comfortable without spoiling the driving thrills that made previous cars such fun. Mature styling, one of the finest chassis on the market and a competitive price tag will ensure the Clio 197 is a sure-fire hit. In RHD British guise, it’s one of the best hot hatches available.

It’s the number every performance car fan is talking about – 197. While entry into the full-sized hot hatch market now requires at least 200bhp, Renault’s latest fast Clio is raising the bar for feisty superminis with a thrilling power output that knocks on the door of the class above.

Following in the wheeltracks of a long line of legendary performance Clios, including the Williams, 172 and 182, the new model certainly has a lot to live up to. But can it really offer the entertainment of its predecessors while also being bigger, safer and more refined? We put the newcomer through its paces on UK roads for the first time to find out.

While it may be called the Renault­sport Clio 197, the newcomer actually produces 194bhp – the number in the name refers to the engine’s power output in PS. The car has the same basic motor as the outgoing 182, but it has been reworked to deliver more power and is mated to an all-new six-speed manual gearbox. This transmission promises to be the perfect accompaniment to the recently introduced Clio’s nimble chassis.

Before you even get behind the wheel, it’s hard not to be impressed by the Renault’s muscular styling. With beautifully shaped, bespoke, wide body panels, it shuns the trend to bolt on needless spoilers, instead relying on under-body aerodynamics to improve performance. Far from being there only for show, the rear diffuser adds up to 40kg of downforce without dramatically increasing drag.

Inside, the sporty makeover is equally subtle. The Renaultsport-branded seats offer plenty of support, while the high-quality dashboard gets a classy silver finish. Crucially, the driving position is spot-on, with plenty of reach and rake adjustment on the wheel and perfectly positioned pedals. And it’s when you’re sitting comfortably behind the wheel that you can experience what the 197 is all about. Start up the 2.0-litre engine, and you are greeted with a sporty exhaust note which sets the tone for a thrilling drive.

Work the new short-throw gearshift hard and 0-62mph takes only 6.9 seconds, but making the most of the Renault’s performance isn’t easy. Peak power doesn’t arrive until 7,250rpm, and you also have to wait until 5,550rpm for maximum torque. Even in sixth, driving at 70mph on the motorway equates to a buzzy 4,000rpm.

But the Clio is happiest when you’re pushing on along a twisty road. The chassis is fantastically engineered, with a nose that darts into corners and a rear that edges out in a controlled manner if you lift off the throttle mid-bend.

While the electric power-steering isn’t instantly responsive around the straight-ahead position, it has a meaty feel and gives plenty of feedback in corners. What’s more, the chunky rim and red line that marks dead-ahead on the wheel add to the feeling of race-bred control. So has Renault built the perfect hot hatch? Very nearly. Predict­ably, the car’s stiff ride is rather harsh on longer journeys, and the short gearing means that laid-back motorway cruising isn’t really an option. However, all is forgiven when you see that the Clio costs £15,995 – nothing else at this price comes close for sheer driving entertainment.