Renault Clio 0.9 TCe 90 CV, test drive (Exterior design, interior and finishes)

We continue with the city car from Renault that has just hit the market. We’re talking about the Renault Clio we tested with the three-cylinder turbo petrol engine producing 90 CV. Everything about the 0.9 TCe 90 CV, including how the car handles and its consumption, which we analysed in the first part of the test.

Now, in the second part we turn to the finish, the exterior design and the interior space. A design that represents a significant step forward in terms of exterior lines, now more modern and avant-garde. But the interior has also undergone a radical change.

Exterior design

Looking at the new Renault Clio from the outside, several points will catch your attention. First, the front with the large brand rhombus and the LED daytime running lights integrated into the small grille.

Another striking feature is the side line and the lower door sills in glossy black, which give it a sporty touch. The chrome part of these black strips on the grille and doors can be personalised in red or blue, depending on the exterior colour you choose.

The rear door handles are hard to miss: in keeping with the sportiness of a three-door, they are set into the door frame, more concealed than usual (a technique that is not new).

Meanwhile, the rear has radically changed its light clusters compared with the previous generation, yet it stays faithful to simple lines at the back, highlighted by the chrome strip along the lower part of the tailgate.

There will be no three-door version, but there will be a Grand Tour.

From the base trim onwards you get LED daytime running lights and 15-inch wheels with wheel covers, while the 16-inch alloy wheels on our test unit are specific to the Dynamique trim.

But the exterior design doesn’t end there. In the new generation they have placed emphasis on personalisation,a trend that is fashionable in city models. The new Clio now offers different bodywork personalisation packs ranging from the wheels, the roof (which can be fitted with decorative vinyls), red or blue stripes on the grille and lower door sills, to the steering wheel and dashboard trim.

Using the 3D configurator on Renault.es, I configured a Clio showing these customisable elements. Some are really interesting for those looking for a car that stands apart from the rest, such as colour accents on the chrome areas, coloured wheels or a two-tone dashboard.

Interior design, space and finishes

The interior keeps a sober look but with more elaborate design elements, such as the instrument panel, a set of spheres with a rather eye-catching design. From the second trim level (Expression) onwards it already features a 7-inch touchscreen navigation system, which becomes the centrepiece of the dashboard.

That said, the glossy black finish (seen on the centre console and doors) is a feature of the Dynamique trim, and not very practical if you are looking for practicality. It looks very attractive, but fingerprints show up quickly and dust is far more visible than on a matt finish (though it comes down to taste, and there are personalisation options).

And what does the base trim have instead of the navigation system? The console is identical, in matt plastic, but instead of a screen it has a radio (optional) with USB and Bluetooth, quite complete in terms of features.

Build quality has improved greatly in the new Clio, and the dashboard is now almost entirely covered in soft-touch plastic that feels pleasant to the touch and marks a clear break from the more austere and lower-quality finishes of the previous generation. That said, we shouldn’t forget that it is still a city car, and there are areas where the finishes are typical of the segment.

The driving position is slightly elevated, although the driver’s seat can be adjusted for height (the passenger seat cannot). There is enough legroom, and it is easy to find the most comfortable position thanks to the steering wheel’s reach and height adjustment.

One detail that could be offered, even if only as an option, is an armrest, which is always appreciated on long journeys. Some rivals in the segment offer one as an option, and only for the driver’s seat.

In the rear seats the space is smaller, especially for head room, a point to bear in mind, since legroom is very similar to the rest of the models in the segment. Electric rear windows are an extra.

Storage and boot

In terms of storage, the new Clio still offers a good deal of interior versatility, from the various cup holders in the centre console to places to leave your things, such as the one above the glovebox.

The boot has a capacity of 300 litres, a very good figure in the city car segment. However, its drawback is the loading height: it is a large boot but also a deep one, so loading bulky items is more awkward because of that depth.

In the third part of the test we will put the finishing touch to this Renault Clio by analysing the equipment, prices and the overall verdict on the car.

Photos | R.R. and Diego G. Moreira

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackRenault Clio20 versions · from 16,390 €