Test drives are often embarked upon with Marcel as photographer, co-driver and general companion while I distil thoughts and sometimes find it hard to put them into words.
She handles like the well-bred Clio she is. With remarkably little roll, she hustles through bends as only a small French car can
The new Clio that we had out and about proved an easy ride actually, and factually providing decent comfort for five adults and a fascinating driving experience for all of us brought up on four- or even six-cylinder vehicles.
The 0.9 TC E 90 that we enjoyed has a three-cylinder, 12-valve mill with only 898 cc to stir quite a large car into an ever interesting life. However, it does have Turbo Direct Injection and we really wanted not only to belt down our super highways, but also put the car through quite a thorough test.
The last Clio we had out and about was a most interesting high-speed chariot, getting to the magic ton in only 7.1 seconds, and of course, this small-engined, most frugal Eco 2 Clio is not meant to be in the racing category, but how willing is the little engine when faced with a thoroughly foul, narrow, bumpy and very steep hill?
We used the somewhat lumpy road towards Il-Fawwara and then proceeded at a fair gait up the hill which arrives at the top next to San Lawrence ruined church, with the Laferla Cross and Annunciation church 300 metres to our right. The hill is a real beast and yet, two up, in low gear, we pranced up the steepest bits with neither let nor hindrance.
The bus route along Dingli Cliffs is more than adequately surfaced for a rural bus route, and we and many visitors all enjoyed the sweeping bends, Armco barriered to stop an inadvertent fall of many hundreds of metres into the sea far below. A photo session was held a scant couple of metres from the edge before the car was more firmly put through its paces.
This is, of course, the latest version, a far cry from the first ever Clio that came out a considerable number of years ago and has been constantly revised to take what was for its day a very pleasant, cool, French offering into the highly sophisticated, much sought after paragon of motoring fun that she has now become.
She handles like the well-bred Clio she is. Acceleration was most pleasantly brisk, the steering light and positive, the brakes more than adequate from all speeds, with fair progression and a gentle touch. Seats back and front grip well, and with the seat belts properly adjusted, the car, with remarkably little roll, hustles through the bends as only a small French car can.
Standard equipment is really quite exceptional. Anti-lock brakes and Brake Assist see to the car stopping nicely. Traction Control with ESP helps to keep the car on the ‘black-top’ even in somewhat lousy weather conditions. Cruise control is useful on longer journeys, possibly. The five-speed manual gearbox, on the other hand, is a joy to use, and it needs a fair amount of stirring to keep the little engine buzzing at its three-cylinder best, especially on demanding, twisty Maltese or Gozitan roads.
Before embarking on an even short journey, the height and reach of the steering may be adjusted and the pilot’s seat raised for ever better forward vision.
There is a navigation system that we ignored, a leather steering wheel which is an ever-popular piece of gear unless, like this scribe, a wooden rim on the wheel is the preferred choice. The Stop/Start engine button is mildly retro, but great fun and works well with the keyless entry system.
A small, high-revving engine can present the manufacturer with expensive problems because although the digital speedometer lets everyone know exactly what speed over the ground is being registered, the majority of non-enthusiastic motorists have absolutely no interest in the rev counter, which must be used to establish safe engine speed limits. That being the case a speed limiter is standard, and even the daftest driver won’t be able to burst the mill by over-revving it.
Luggage capacity is great, especially with the split rear seats down. The profile is vastly improved with the rear spoiler, fog lights and LED daytime running lights, and as the car sits on 16-inch alloy wheels the whole stance is aggressive, purposeful and very, very French.
The climate control system works to perfection, as does the Audio Media Radio, USB, AUX, and Bluetooth.
This is for us the best day-to-day Clio yet, and on the roads we used, the variable-rate electric power steering really was worked hard and fast.
Verdict
Comfort
This car can be driven hard and has proper suspension to give a good ride.
Performance
A great ride from a three-cylinder 898cc engine.
Cool
As cool as the ice on a polar bear’s snout.
Quality
Renault has put together rather nice vehicles.
At a glance
Economy
combined 75.7 miles per gallon.
C02
99 g/km
Engine
Three cylinders, 12 valves all in an 898cc volume developing 90 bhp and 135Nm of pulling power. Turbo charged, direct injection.
Dimensions
Five seats, five doors. Overall Length 4,062mm, width1,945mm with mirrors extended. Height 1,448mm.