Renault Clio
Papa, Nicole and Thierry Henry have been and gone, but the Renault Clio is going nowhere - at least, that's what company bosses hope
Bigger doesn't always mean better, but the Clio is a vast improvement over its predecessor. Refinement is impressive, while the new cabin is solid, more stylish and trimmed with classy soft-touch materials - if you buy the right variant. With a wide engine line-up and first-rate safety, the new Clio does all the important things well.
The French supermini has been a huge hit since its arrival more than a decade ago, and the all-new version is designed to be one of Britain's top 10 sellers.
It has already impressed us at its European launch, but to see how the newcomer fares on UK roads, we took the wheel of the 1.4-litre Dynamique - tipped to be the most popular model.
The third-generation Clio adopts Ren-ault's familiar corporate look, with large angular headlamps dominating the front and a tailgate with a dash of M�gane. A rising shoulder line and prominent grille combine to give the car a distinctive appearance - although it is not as pretty as the new Fiat Grande Punto or as neat as the next Toyota Yaris.
Dynamique versions also get 15-inch alloys, body-coloured door mirrors and front foglights. It's inside where owners of the current Clio will notice bigger changes, though, with an emphasis on improved quality. But beware... while the Dynamique has smart rubberised controls for the air vents, lower-spec Extreme or Expression models don't get the same classy soft-touch dashboard.
In addition, optional air-con adds £500 to the cost of the likely best-seller - which seems absurd when this is something most buyers will want.
Anyone who's owned an older Clio will be familiar with soft suspension, lots of body roll and a car that is tiring to drive on long journeys. But the latest version addresses these shortcomings.
Refinement is impressive and occupants are well insulated from what's going on outside. Sadly, this extends to the electric power-steering, which is over-light and has an almost artificial feel. Yet the newcomer is much more stable in corners than the old model, and less bouncy over uneven surfaces.
The 1.4-litre unit delivers more than acceptable performance, with 0-60mph taking 11.3 seconds. For buyers who need extra pace, a 111bhp 1.6-litre is available. Entry-level cars get a 75bhp 1.2, and there's a trio of diesels.
While the three-door model is on sale now, the five-door won't arrive until January. Whichever variant buyers choose, they will be get a machine with a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating and six airbags as standard.
For its latest advertising campaign, Renault has decided to dispense with the services of celebrity footballer Thierry Henry. And while he may have taken a touch of the previous-generation model's Va Va Voom with him, if that's the price of better refinement and interior quality, then it hardly represents a mas-sive own goal by the French firm.
