Renault Clio 2004 review

The Clio gets a facelift for 2004, but the main change is under the bonnet. The 100bhp dCi unit is supremely refined and gives the Renault an edge over its arch-rival, the Peugeot 206 HDi, which delivers only 90bhp. The Clio's styling changes might be minor, but it's still an appealing package.

If you see a particularly smug-looking Clio driver, the chances are that the car has a diesel engine under the bonnet. While the new firebreathing Renaultsport 182 model - which we drove in last week's magazine - offers plenty of thrills, it's arguably more satisfying to know that your motor can travel at least 65 miles on each gallon of fuel.

The latest Clio dCi is a car which promises to offer a little of the 182's performance without hitting economy too hard. Renault has tweaked the 1.5-litre diesel engine to deliver an extra 20bhp, which takes the total to 100bhp at 4,000rpm, while torque output rises to an impressive 200Nm - the same as the Clio 182. Combine these numbers with a low CO2 figure of 113g/km and fuel economy of 65.7mpg, and it sounds like good news.

And the engine works well in reality, too. The unit has such a smooth power delivery, courtesy of a new turbocharger, that you hardly notice when the boost kicks in. It's a touch less responsive below 1,500rpm, but above that mark there seems to be a never-ending supply of pulling power for the driver to call upon.

What's more, unlike some diesel units, the Clio's does not mind being revved hard, either, and will happily zing round to the 5,200rpm red line. Even at such high engine speeds it isn't coarse, and there's little of the usual oil-burner clatter at start-up.

The unit is impressively refined when the Clio is cruising on a motorway, too; so much so that you sometimes forget to change up into fifth gear be-cause there's very little noise filtering through to the cabin. In fact, the only serious disappointment is that the new motor fails to comply with Euro IV emissions rules - which is a financial blow to company car users.

Renault's engine upgrade coincides with a facelift of the Clio range, designed to keep it fresh until a new model arrives next year. There's a revised front bumper with a wider air inlet, while Dynamique trim models have a body-coloured rear spoiler. But this is so tiny it's virtually invisible, and the bumper changes do nothing for the nose.

The front is not helped by the plastic 'veins' on either side of the Renault badge, as they look cheap and fussy, but the foglights add a sporty touch. Interior tweaks are understated, too. The Dynamique model we drove has aluminium-style dash inserts and door handles, and the seatbelts now match this silver shade as well. There are also new dials, which have been taken from the M�gane, together with a digital dashboard display.

But the problem is that the modifications are too minor to bring any real improvement, and there's plenty of cheap plastics still in evidence. This is all the more disappointing when you sit in the Renaultsport Clio 182, which has soft-touch materials on the dash. Apart from the engine, the dCi 100 is mechanically the same. This means it's a perfectly competent car to drive, but not designed to feel sporty. The heavy diesel unit affects the ride slightly, as the Clio tends to jolt over bumps, but otherwise it's comfortable and capable on B-roads or motorways.

All in all, it's great news for the Clio range, because there's no denying that 100bhp and 65.7mpg is an excellent combination.