Renault Clio review

It’s very familiar. That’s because Renault has used the same setup here as it has in its recent EVs. That means you’ve got a driver-focussed cockpit with two crisp 10.1in screens. The dial display has a number of different options including the ability to stick a map straight in your eyeline, while the central screen looks after your infotainment.

Top spec Esprit Alpine trim adds plenty of actual Alcantara and a strange oil slick style finish to the plastic on the dash.

But there are proper buttons too!

There certainly are. You get a proper row of controls to look after the climate rather than it all being buried in a touchscreen. You also get the chunky media stalk behind the steering wheel that Renault has been using since it was founded in 1898. Looks retro, but it’s actually very useful.

There are plenty of controls on the steering wheel for ADAS (all trim levels get adaptive cruise control as standard now) and for changing the displays, plus there’s a ‘Multi-Sense’ drive mode button down below too.

What is it like in the back?

Renault reckons the increase in size has given rear seat passengers more space in this latest Clio, and while it’s still quite tight for anyone over 6ft there is decent space for a supermini. It feels a little more spacious than the R5, although with lots of black plastic and fairly small rear windows it is quite dark back there.

Even further back there’s a decent amount of boot space with 391 litres of room in the pure petrol car. For context, the current VW Polo gets 351 litres of room. The battery for the hybrid is under the boot floor though so does impinge on space slightly, shrinking the total capacity to 309 litres.

Anything else I need to know?

Interestingly for a relatively simple supermini, Renault is now offering a fancy Harman Kardon audio system for the Clio. It sounds excellent and makes use of five different ‘soundscapes’ that were apparently developed in collaboration with Jean-Michel Jarre. Nice.

Oh, and in more practical news, the parking cameras are now much improved and there’s even a 360-degree view available.