This is the new Renault Clio: sexy, athletic and tech-savvy in its sixth generation

Whenever you are invited to the unveiling of a car, the hype (interest) is very high. Especially when it is a bestseller that has already been on the market for a long time. The decision to modify its look, both inside and out, as well as tinkering with the engines and other aspects, can either help the car and the brand keep writing a success story or dig their own grave. My surprised face on seeing what was behind the cover did not leave me indifferent, and I am sure that it is going to give many other European firms a headache.

Six generations, enviable figures

The Renault Clio reached the market in 1990 and since then five generations have followed one another, with 2025’s being the sixth. It is, quite simply, the best-selling French car of all time, and 17 million units have been sold. From the successor to the famous Supercinco, which arrived as a small, rounded car, to the latest one, very high-tech and increasingly attractive.

Paula Fabregat-Andreu: “It is the sexiest car we have”

The project director for the A and B segments is a woman from Valencia, who proudly presented her latest creation to our group of journalists. Far from relying on something already invented or following the line of other models such as the Symbioz or the Captur, she told us how they wanted to give this new Clio a completely unique identity.

Starting at the front, we notice a completely new grille but with the diamond gradient we already knew from other models. The lines are low and the bonnet long, and the whole ensemble (including the red colour) gives it a look reminiscent of Mazda but also of the Seat León. I even thought of Jaguar… But there is nothing to compare it with; it is something entirely new. The lights complement it to create a truly penetrating gaze. In fact, each side has been widened by 2 mm, giving it a width of 1.77 metres (previously 1.73 m).

From the side, the athletic figure stands out, with a sloping roofline and a finish that adds that sporty touch. The car now has larger wheels and the tracks have been widened by 39 mm, making it more aerodynamic than the fifth-generation Clio. The length of the car has also increased, now reaching 4.12 metres long (previously 4.05 m). Faithful to the car’s image, it has rear door handles integrated into the window.

The rear is where part of this bold design lies, as the car features 4 rear lights, something rare to see in this segment. It is right here that I see a resemblance to the Alfa Romeo Junior. The Renault logo has been placed in negative form to continue these sloping rear lines.

As for the bodywork, it will have 7 colours available in total, 2 of them new: a red and a green. The brand tells us that red is the best-selling colour in Spain, although this new shade differs from the existing one.

On adopting this new style for other models, Paula replied bluntly: “Each car has a different type of customer, and that is why we want them to be different.” Although time on the market will tell whether doing so would be a good idea, of course.

Interior with fewer changes than the exterior

This Clio has the same steering wheel as other models in the range, including the multi-sense button to change driving mode. And with it, the ambient lighting colour, which we can see on the dashboard but also on a piece placed on the front doors. In total, there are 48 shades to choose from.

Interior space remains very similar, and the boot offers 391 litres of capacity (depending on the engine chosen), although the loading lip has been lowered by 44 mm to make it easier to put things in and take them out, at customers’ request.

The technology includes the OpenR Link multimedia system with integrated Google, so the car is always up to date and more comfortable for the user. All of this is embodied in two linked 10-inch screens. It is also a much safer car, as it features up to 29 driver assistance systems, a fairly high figure for this segment. It must be that the arrival of the Chinese brands is making its mark… Some new and noteworthy ones are: front and rear detection with emergency trajectory correction, automatic emergency braking in reverse, and the safe exit alert for occupants.

In terms of design, the Esprit Alpine version (the one shown in the photos) stands out with the gradient on the dashboard air vents. It mimics the colour of an exhaust pipe and was one of the “small” things that cost the design team the most work.

Engines of the Renault Clio

Faithful to what works for them and what has given them a clear lead, there is no shortage of a full hybrid E-Tech version, although to the delight of all kinds of customers, there are also other engines.

Starting with the hybrid with 160 horsepower, capable of reaching 0 to 100 km/h in 8.3 seconds and of driving in town and around it up to 80% in electric mode. With these figures, we have a car that is more efficient than a traditional petrol model but also better than the previous one, which had 145 horsepower. It has a 4-cylinder 1.8-litre engine, to which two electric motors are added with a 1.4 kWh battery. This system can operate in 15 different combinations, depending on the situation, in order to be as efficient as possible. This version is paired with an intelligent multimode clutchless gearbox.

To satisfy the rest of the customers, Renault has wanted to bring a 3-cylinder 1.2-litre TCe engine producing 115 CV, which can be had with a manual or 6-speed automatic gearbox. There is also the 120-horsepower LPG version, whose tank has been enlarged from 32 to 50 litres, so that it will be able to cover about 1,450 km.

Its price will be revealed in October, at the same time that orders open for this bold new generation, which will surely continue breaking records.

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackRenault Clio20 versions · from 16,390 €