Renault Clio 2006 review

Building on the virtues of the latest three-door Clio, the five-door adds a practical dimension to Renault's capable hatch. With larger proportions than its predecessor, the supermini has the space and versatility to appeal to many compact family car buyers. And while it is expensive in top-spec Initiale trim, the quality cabin materials provide an upmarket feel.

The three-door version of Renault's capable new supermini, the Clio, has been in UK dealers since October, yet production of this variant has only just begun.

Bosses expect the five-door Clio to make up a quarter of UK sales. Thankfully, the cute styling has been retained on the new machine, but the back is more upright, with a squared-off hatch to accommodate the extra doors.

Inside, rear passengers get lots of headroom, although space for their legs is tight. While it's no worse than in many other superminis, taller occupants will feel cramped. However, there's plenty of room for luggage - at 288 litres, the boot capacity is exactly the same as the three-door's. Opt for the top-of-the-range Initiale trim and you get an extra storage compartment fitted as part of the parcel shelf. This zips open, and can be used to store flat objects, such as a first aid kit or map.

As well as identical boot space, the expensive-feeling interior plastics are carried over from the three-door model. This Clio seems like a very grown-up car, and build quality can't be faulted - it's significantly more robust than most other superminis.

Our Clio was powered by Renault's 1.6-litre engine, which is sourced from the larger M�gane. The unit produces 109bhp and 151Nm, 90 per cent of which is available from 2,000rpm.

It certainly feels responsive, and the newcomer has no trouble keeping up with motorway traffic. However, at high cruising speeds the motor sounds a bit boomy. While refinement is impressive compared to the previous-generation model, there is more engine noise pres-ent than you would expect from such a high-quality car.

The Renault is accomplished in all other areas. Ride quality is comfortable over most road surfaces, and it's only when you venture on to rougher back roads that the wheels transmit any vibrations back into the cabin. The steering is light enough for easy city use, although it feels artificial at speed due to a lack of feedback.

However, in the quest for honours in the supermini class, it is build quality, interior space and styling that matter most. The latest version of the new Clio is hard to fault against these criteria - it's equally impressive whether it comes with three doors or five.