Renault Clio IV, top dog in the subcompact hatch segment?

[NLxAROSA]

Recently, Renault announced the latest incarnation of the Clio. Available as a five-door only. Of course, RenaultSport will also do their hot-hatch magic tricks with this one, and the new Clio IV RS will feature a modified version of the 1.6 turbo engine from the Nissan Juke, as well as a dual clutch semi-auto transmission.

 

[G.T.Ace]

Looks neat! Fan of the Clio since ages, great to see they are still making new ones.
The rear is a bit too Seat-ish, but it looks amazing nevertheless!

 

[Endless-Wilso]

Looks like somthing else thats already being sold but i cant quite figure what?

 

[homeforsummer]

Quite like it. The interior is a massive leap over any previous Clio, or indeed most previous Renaults of any sort.

I don't doubt that it'll make for another excellent Renaultsport model though. Even if they've gone turbocharged and flappy-paddle, Renault really know how to make a good hot hatch.

Looks like somthing else thats already being sold but i cant quite figure what?

Back end is Seat Ibiza-like, and those scalloped sides are very familiar from something else, though I can't put my finger on what.

 

[PAPPACLART]

Not too keen on that, may grow on me.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

3 doors or do not want. And still would take DS3 over it.

 

[homeforsummer]

3 doors or do not want. And still would take DS3 over it.

DS3 is a bit too bling for me. Was concerned about the lack of 3-doors too, but the Clio's looks don't seem too bad even with five.

 

[GranTurismo916]

It looks pretty nice to me...unfortunately I'm in the U.S. and haven't seen a real Renault in my life.

 

[Pagey279]

Looks like somthing else thats already being sold but i cant quite figure what?

This might be it:

The back end looks quite similar to the current Seat Ibiza

As for the front of the new Clio I don't really like it, the badge, and the headlights look as though they are on steroids. They are massive and look way out of proportion to the rest of the car.
But the interior as with most modern cars looks cool, quite a nice place to be. Which is an improvement from past Clios.

 

[Omnis]

Front of that car looks like, "Whatever bruh." It looks so blasé.

 

[eSZee]

Looks like a Golf/scirocco from the front 3/4ths view. Great looking from the side but the big hunches make it look odd from almost every other angle.

 

[NLxAROSA]

And a screenshot of the new Estate, as leeched from a (now removed) video.

 

[homeforsummer]

That actually works pretty well, and given that it appears to have a missing bit of trim on the D-pillar it seems like Renault is going for the "floating" roof effect. Looks quite sleek. They should do a Renaultsport version of the estate...

 

[NLxAROSA]

I'm still hoping (against all odds) they will make a RenaultSport version of the Laguna Coupe.

 

[Lock2Lock]

I hope it will still have a MR drive-train

 

[NLxAROSA]

Still? The only Clio that was MR was the Clio Sport V6, and it went out of production 7 years ago or so.

 

[homeforsummer]

I'm still hoping (against all odds) they will make a RenaultSport version of the Laguna Coupe.

If they do, we unfortunately won't be getting it in the UK as they've discontinued right-hand drive Laguna Coupes. And the normal Laguna, I think.

 

[Lock2Lock]

Still? The only Clio that was MR was the Clio Sport V6, and it went out of production 7 years ago or so.

Well i hope they go back to it

 

[Clark]

As soon as I saw the facelifted Twingo when that came out that the new Clio would be just as hideous.

 

[NLxAROSA]

And finally, some real pictures of the Renault Clio Mk IV RS 200. 200HP/240Nm from a 1.6 turbo. Availably with (semi-)automatic dual-clutch transmission only.

 

[Adam41]

Aha I hate it. I've always thought if I got given a small car I'd want a Polo or a Clio - not any more!

 

[NLxAROSA]

Aha I hate it. I've always thought if I got given a small car I'd want a Polo or a Clio - not any more!

There's always the used MkIII RS.

 

[homeforsummer]

I quite like it. Looks massive though.

The DCT-only thing doesn't really bother me. The more cars I drive the more I realise that most manual transmissions are actually pretty average and don't really add to the experience of driving a car. With the previous Clio it was probably quite good fun to wring out the naturally-aspirated engine with a manual 'box, but with the move to turbo engines I expect the DCT probably suits it more.

Those wanting a more "raw" experience still have the Twingo RS, of course.

 

[Clark]

This new Clio makes be glad that when a new car is realised that I don't like, at least the old one will be as good as ever, and be buyable if I were to ever get the funds.

 

[Alex.]

That is horrifically ugly.

 

[Doog]

Looks like a french take on a Kia Rio, which can be a good thing or a bad thing. I don't really have an opinion on the Rio. The same can be said for Renaults; they just don't speak to me, it's just a car, nothing more, it seems like. I find Renault in general to be very boring, and I wish they would add some more flair to their cars like Citroën have done with their cars. If the Estate version lost the pillar-mounted door handles (a trend I hate), I would like it. But because they're where they are, the front door handles look awkward and out of place. But overall, meh.