Updated 2023 Renault Clio priced from £21,295
Heavily revised hybrid-only Renault Clio available to order from August
Renault has revealed full UK pricing and specifications of its recently updated Clio supermini. Now available with a sole hybrid powertrain, the new range undercuts the previous hybrid model’s starting price at £21,295, rising to £24,095 for the highly-specified Esprit Alpine model. The new Clio is available to order from August this year, with customer cars arriving by the end of the year.
Split into three trim levels, each comes comprehensively equipped. The base Evolution model with its headline-capturing £21,295 price point includes 16-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors and two 7-inch displays, one in front of the driver and the other a touchscreen infotainment system. From here the £22,695 Techno model adds front parking sensors, wireless charging for your smartphone, ambient lighting inside the cabin and larger 17-inch alloy wheels.
Topping the range is the Esprit Alpine trim, which will set you back £24,095. As well as introducing a unique and sporty design inspired by Renault’s Alpine brand, it also includes a larger pair of displays inside, growing to 10-inches behind the steering wheel and 9.3-inches for the now Google-integrated infotainment system. It also adds heated front seats and steering wheel, plus more active safety features including active cruise control.
The Clio will be available with a single E-Tech hybrid powertrain option in the UK paired exclusively to an automatic transmission. Producing a maximum combined 143bhp, the Clio is capable of running purely on electricity at speeds of up to 40mph for short distances.
Renault has now confirmed official fuel economy figures, with a CO2 rating of 96g/km, a 3g/km improvement over previous Clio E-Tech. Fuel economy is also up from 64mpg to 67.3mpg. No performance data has been revealed, but the current Clio E-Tech just slips under the 10-second marker from 0-62mph, topping out at 112mph.
The Clio is a crucial model for Renault, given that it’s sold more than 16 million units since it was first launched in 1990 – with 1.1 million of those cars going to the UK. For the update, the French brand has focused on styling and tech for this mid-life update of the Clio. A new front end draws comparisons with the new all-electric Megane E-Tech, Austral SUV and the Scenic Vision concept.
The new Clio’s LED headlights are slimmer than before and are joined by a dramatic lighting graphic that will feature across the wider Renault range in time. The LED units come in conjunction with a sharper new bumper design, fresh colour options and new wheel designs of up to 17 inches.
Alongside Renault’s focus on better quality materials within the cabin, the brand has also focused on sustainability. There’s no longer any leather inside, while the majority of the fabrics used are partially made from recycled materials.
The new Clio will enter a challenging supermini market. Despite the Ford Fiesta going out of production this year, key rivals like the Vauxhall Corsa and Peugeot 208 have proven to be extremely popular in both combustion-powered and full-electric form. The new Clio, on the other hand, will slide between the two, offering an efficient hybrid alternative, leaving its all-electric Zoe and the forthcoming R5 to occupy the all-electric supermini space. With the demise of the RenaultSport brand, the new Clio won’t form the basis of a compact hot hatchback either. Instead, Alpine will be tasked with developing a hot small EV, previewed by the Alpine A290_ß.
Now read more about the upcoming Renault 5...
