Renault Clio 0.9 TCe

Despite its bold looks, the Clio is the weakest car in this test. It’s bigger and lighter than before, plus surprisingly fun to drive, but the cheaply trimmed interior already looks dated in some areas, despite having lots of kit. The new engine can’t match the smooth performance of the Fiesta, either.

The Renault Clio has been bringing French flair to the supermini class for over 20 years now – but the fourth generation is a make or break model for the French manufacturer. Faced with dwindling sales figures in the UK and increased pressure from premium rivals, the brand needs the Clio to be a big success. We were impressed by a left-hand-drive example earlier this year, but how will a UK-spec car fare on British roads?

Luckily, the latest model has been given the kind of dramatic styling update that makes an instant impact in this market. It sits 45mm lower than the outgoing car, and the front and rear tracks have been widened to give the Clio a more dynamic stance.

The oversized ‘lozenge’ badge and slender gloss black grille are inspired by the DeZir concept, as are the slick chrome details and £535 optional Flame red paint. Our Dynamique model comes with a choice of black, white or chrome finishes for its 16-inch alloys, and certainly has more kerb appeal than either rival. This Clio will only be sold as a five-door in the UK (European buyers can get an estate from next month), but rear door handles hidden in the C-pillars give it a coupe-like profile.

The stylish exterior builds a strong sense of anticipation for a high-quality cabin, but once you climb inside, the Clio starts to falter. This model comes with a seven-inch media screen in the centre console, while gadgets like Bluetooth and keyless entry and start are standard, but it feels a long way behind the class leaders for quality. The plastics on the door panels and dash are scratchy and hard to the touch, while the manual air-con dials and small vents in particular feel flimsy.

One novel option is the R-Link system. The £450 add-on comes with an advanced TomTom sat-nav, which includes an app that lets you download various games and social media tools straight to the Clio. One of the apps available is an ‘R-Sound Effect’ programme that allows you to choose how your engine sounds – so you can flick between a V6 or even a race car exhaust.

However, none of these gadgets can hide the fact that the car feels built down to a price – and the perceived quality of the dash isn’t the only issue with the interior. Even though the wheelbase is 100mm longer than the Fiesta’s, the Renault has less space for rear passengers, with the low roofline, small side windows and high-mounted bench making it feel cramped.

The glovebox is tiny, with barely enough room for the slim owner’s manual. Things improve in the boot, though, with a 1,146-litre maximum capacity when the rear bench is folded flat.

Under the skin is a modified version of the previous Clio’s platform, rather than an all-new chassis. The car feels sharper to drive than the Peugeot 208, thanks to its quick, accurate steering and low kerbweight, but the notchy five-speed gearbox and bouncy ride mean it’s not as engaging as the Ford. While it was quite agile through corners and the brakes were stronger than the 208’s, the 89bhp 900cc TCe engine was sluggish in-gear.

The Eco-spec Clio we tested features taller gearing to peg emissions below the 100g/km CO2 barrier, and as a result was 5.5 seconds slower than the Fiesta from 50-70mph in fifth gear. It posted a time of 18.7 seconds, and this lack of pace means you have to plan overtaking manoeuvres carefully.

The engine also sounds strained at higher revs, and as a result the Renault isn’t as refined as its rivals on the motorway.

This lacklustre performance wouldn’t be such an issue if the car was much more efficient than the Ford Fiesta, but their official economy figures are identical, and although Renault offers cheaper servicing and a four-year warranty, the car won’t retain its value as well as the other models in this close test.

On this evidence, the new Clio may struggle to challenge for class honours.