Renaultsport Clio 200 Cup

THE old Clio 197 was one of the sharpest and most affordable hot hatches around, so it’s no bad thing that this revised car feels so similar. The handling is fantastic, the chassis is as playful as ever and the engine still loves to be pushed. This Cup is well priced and great fun, but its firm ride and stripped-out cabin might make it too compromised for some.

ALL hail the hot hatch king! We were blown away on our first encounter with Renaultsport’s revised Clio 200, awarding it our full five-star rating. That was on a track: now it’s time for
the ultimate test on UK roads.

The 2.0-litre motor has been reworked to receive a gentle 3bhp boost, while peak torque of 215Nm arrives 150rpm lower than in the car it replaces. But a still heady 5,400rpm means this version retains the Clio 197’s unique appetite for revs.

We tested the Cup chassis, which has a firmer set-up than the Sport. It is stripped of kit, too, saving 36kg. Despite being fitted with 15 per cent stiffer dampers and a lowered ride height compared to the Clio 197 Cup, it feels less crashy over bumps – although it’s still very firm. The steering, brakes and gearchange are as sharp as ever.

Styling revisions are scarce and limited to a lower front air intake, remodelled headlights and a gloss black grille.

The Cup’s spartan interior is not for the faint-hearted, but it does give the car a focused edge, and keeps the price low. For those who demand more of life’s luxuries, the Sport delivers
all the thrills, but with fewer compromises.

Rival: Abarth Grande Punto Esseesse
AT 178bhp, this lags behind the Clio in power, but it has precise handling and is hugely desirable, too.