Renault Clio E-Tech Hybrid: small car convenience, big car manners

More often than not, road trip stories start with an early-morning squirm through dormant streets, or a spirited hack down empty back roads at first light. This one doesn’t. This one begins instead with a 10-minute drive down a dual carriageway, followed by a hop onto the M25. 

At least the destination is a little more romantic: the Lake District, which means I have 350-odd miles to cover. In an ideal world, I’d be ensconced in a big, smoochy luxury saloon. But instead, my weapon of choice for this road trip is the humble Renault[1] Clio. 

Once upon a time, the idea of undertaking such a long trip in such a small car would have inspired fears of headaches from buzzy engines, back-aches from thinly padded seats and hip-aches from awkwardly positioned pedals. 

Today’s tiddlers (those that are left), however, are much more accomplished all-rounders that are far more capable of holding their own out on the motorway. But is there a limit to their ability? Just how far can you go in a modern small car like this one before it starts to feel out of its depth? I’ve got 12 hours – six there, and six back again – to find out. 

Pros

  • At ease on the motorway
  • Comfortable, smart cockpit
  • Brilliant fuel economy

Cons

  • Ride can be a bit sharp
  • Some quality question marks
  • Rear seat space is middling

Hybrid theory

Renault will tell you that this is a brand-new Clio, but in fact it’s a facelifted version of the fifth-generation model launched in 2019[2]. A year after its introduction in petrol form, Renault added the E-Tech hybrid model to the range, and originally the plan was that this would be the only version of the Clio to be imported after this latest mid-life primp.

However, Renault has taken note of the current squeeze on its buyers’ finances, so pure petrol models with lower price tags will now be coming to the UK too – though only with the weedy, 89bhp 0.9-litre engine. 

Good job the hybrid isn’t exactly bad value; the entry-level Evolution costs £21,295, which seems like distinctly reasonable sums when you consider you get 143bhp and an automatic gearbox as standard. 

Meanwhile, the top-of-the-range Clio Esprit Alpine we’re testing here comes in at £24,095 – and at the time of writing, it’ll cost you exactly the same monthly figure as the Evolution on finance, making it something of a no-brainer. 

And as I ease through the cloying M25 traffic, the E-Tech’s big advantage reveals itself: in these conditions, with regenerative braking allowing the full hybrid battery to charge itself regularly, it’s capable of deeply impressive fuel economy. 

The in-car trip computer nudges its way gradually up to an astonishing average of 63mpg before we turn off onto the freer-flowing M40 – though even here, where the battery gets less of a chance to recharge, that figure still refuses to dip below 60mpg. 

Not so fast

By the way – don’t imagine its Alpine badging makes this Clio a hot hatch in the vein of the fabulous Alpine A110[3]; this is purely a looks’n’spec package. But it works, giving the Clio more style than most of its rivals from without, and within, a set of luxuriantly upholstered, heavily bolstered sports seats. 

References

  1. ^ Renault (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  2. ^ fifth-generation model launched in 2019 (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  3. ^ Alpine A110 (www.telegraph.co.uk)

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