New small hatchback goes hybrid-only and adopts Renault’s fresh family face On sale August Price from £22,000 (est)
George Hill george.hill@haymarket.com
WHETHER IT’S GOING for a lunchtime walk or eating more greens, sometimes the smallest of steps can herald a healthier lifestyle.
Similarly, the Renault Clio has undergone a small but significant change as part of a mid-life health kick: this new version will be offered solely with hybrid power.
You could see it coming, though; the change means the Clio is now more closely aligned with other hybrid-only options in the small car class, including the Toyota Yaris and Honda Jazz – our 2023 Small Car of the Year.
In fact, the Clio’s E-Tech hybrid system is carried over from the pre-facelift model and still produces 143bhp, but its CO2 emissions are reduced slightly, from 97g/km to 93g/km, moving it down to the same 23% company car tax band as the Yaris. As before, it’s offered only with an automatic gearbox.
Helping to delay the Clio’s aging process is a dramatic new look, inspired by the Megane E-Tech electric family car and upcoming Austral family SUV. The Clio’s nose has been under the knife and incorporates new full LED headlights and a chequered grille bearing Renault’s latest, simplified emblem.The surgery has been less drastic at the back, with a new tail-light design and tweaks to the lower bumper.
In line with other models in the Renault line-up, the first rung on the Clio’s trim level ladder is Evolution, which includes such niceties as automatic windscreen wipers, tinted rear windows and rear parking sensors as standard. Next up is Techno trim, which adds automatic headlights, a leather steering wheel, front and rear parking sensors and switchable driving modes.
Topping the range is the Clio Esprit Alpine, which takes its name from Renault’s sports car and motorsport
