Renault Clio Dyn. 1.2 TCe 100
Can French contender overcome older design and less power to win this shoot-out?
The Clio has an impressive heritage, having racked up more than one million sales over 20 years. But compared to the Volkswagen Polo, it’s a relative newcomer. The current design is now four years old, although a facelift last year has maintained the car’s appearance with a new nose and fresh rear-end styling, aswell as some minor detail changes.
At the front, the Clio takes its lead from the latest Mégane, thanks to bold headlights and a smooth, faired-in snout. It won’t be to everyone’s taste, but the Renault has a distinctive feel. At the back the updates are harder to distinguish, with a new bumper and light clusters sharpening the looks.
Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the Renault Clio
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We’re comparing the three-door Polo here, but even without the five-door body in our pictures the Clio is clearly the older design.
Jump inside and the cabin lacks the immediate visual appeal of the Polo. While the quality of materials is good, the centre console appears plain and its stereo is dated and over-complicated.
All variants from Dynamique trim upwards feature an attractive and high-quality soft-touch dash. The TomTom Carminat satellite navigation is great to have, too, yet it’s awkwardly placed on top of the dash and can be accessed only using the remote control, which is easily lost in the cabin. The leather multifunction steering wheel is another thoughtful touch and the Clio also features cruise control as standard – both it and sat-nav cost extra in the Polo.
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It’s in the back where the Renault really scores, though. Making full use of its 2,575mm wheelbase – 105mm longer than the Polo’s – it has comfortable rear seats and the most head and legroom here. The Clio can also carry nearly 300 litres of luggage; drop the seats and boot space rises to an impressive 1,028 litres.
Unfortunately, the car comes only with a five-speed box. This means it is not the most refined choice at motorway speeds, where it can struggle to keep up with fast-moving traffic. Put your foot down in fifth and you have to wait for the engine to respond – the Clio took 19.2 seconds to accelerate from 50-70mph in top in our test.
In terms of dynamic appeal, both models are impressive. Whether you’re looking for a comfortable motorway journey or a quick B-road trip, you won’t be disappointed by either of our contenders. However, supple suspension means the Clio scores a marginal victory for comfort. The trade-off is a chassis that doesn’t quite live up to the control provided by the VW, although the Renault is still an engaging choice to thread down a twisty road.
There’s a far bigger gap between our rivals on price. At £13,600, the Clio is £1,100 cheaper and comes much better equipped as standard. The curtain airbags, sat-nav and multifunction steering wheel alone would add an extra £1,745 to the cost of a Polo.
After three years, though, our experts predict the French car will be worth £1,400 less than its opponent, so you’ll make most of that money back. Factor in the VW’s lower running costs, and the Renault has a lot to do.
Details
Chart position: 2
WHY: A subtle mid-life makeover, including new front and rear styling, has kept the Clio looking fresh. Characteristically agile and fun to drive, but is the 1.2-litre TCe engine the perfect companion?
