SA Road Tests

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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Many of the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.

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5-G: 2022 Renault Clio V, 100 TCe m/t

Three reasons

Posted: July 28, 2022

The numbers
Price range: R309 900 to R349 900
Engine: Renault H4Dt 999 cc, DOHC 12-valve, inline three with turbocharger
Power: 73.5 kW between 5000 and 5500 rpm
Torque: 160 Nm at 2750 rpm
0-100 km/h: 11.8 seconds
Top speed: 187 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 7.0 l/100 km
Tank: 42 litres
Luggage: 391 – 1069 litres VDA
Turning circle:10.42 metres
Ground clearance: 135 mm
Standard tyre size: 195/55R16
Optional, with Intens pack: 205/45R17
Spare: 185/65R15 on steel rim
Warranty: Five years, 150 000 km
Service plan: Two years, 30 000 km at 15 000 km intervals

For every happening there are reasons; reasons why Renault’s Clio hatchback is the best-selling car in all the civilised world, that is to say France, and Number Two in all of Europe. It has done well in South Africa as well; finding homes with 76 700 local families since first arriving here in that dramatic Millennium Year, 2000.

Clio, Greek muse after whom the car is named; daughter of Zeus and the Titaness Mnemosyne, mythological Goddess of History and Grand-Mistress of the lyre.
 
One is that Clio doesn’t look like every other car on the road. Another is that it doesn’t pander to South Africans’ fixation on huge and unwieldy SUVs and double-cabs; supposedly needed in order to see over the roofs of minibus taxis. Why bother? He won’t let you by anyway; not until he decides to stop without warning, in some awkward place, to pick up or discharge passengers.

Third, and possibly most important, is that Clio is terrific fun to share one’s life with. She’s strongly built, athletic, well-engineered and generously endowed. With communications-, convenience- and safety kit, Gaston.
 
And driving is a hoot. Slip into the fabric covered driving seat - it won’t freeze or scorch your body as seasons change - grab that palm-filling steering wheel, slide the easy-reach gearlever into first, release the clutch and experience true joie-de-vivre.

There are three driving modes – MySense (Normal), Eco and Sport. Each is editable – engine response, instruments, steering-weighting and interior lighting - to varying degrees, but only MySense offers a choice between having a rev counter or not. It isn’t available in Eco and is the default main gauge, with digital speedometer, in Sport. Normal mode is noticeably perkier than Eco, but not quite as quick as Sport, although one could quite comfortably do one’s daily city driving in Eco.

That’s because its turbocharged, one-litre triple is engineered for enjoyment. Torque peaks at 2750 rpm but over 90 percent of its 160 Newton-metres remains on hand to rapidly haul Clio’s perky little derrière, in a snarling seamless rush, between 2050 and 4750. That takes it from around 70 km/h to “Taunting Officer Aggro” - all in top gear.

Sport mode is obviously best for winding, country-road naughtiness although it could almost be criticised because power hits the marshmallow wall – the rev limiter – all too quickly at 6400 in each gear. Although fifth provides lots of fun, let’s not forget third and fourth, as one speed-shifts through an exhilarating, three-pedal tap dance.

Criticisms? There are a few, but it feels almost churlish to mention them. I wish I could turn the satnav off completely when it isn’t needed, driving mode always defaults back to Normal on restarting, and rear seat legroom, for a family of six-footers, is severely cramped. But what’s wrong with “normal” and how many families are all Tricolore rugby forwards? And if one really needs more legroom, Renault offers bigger cars too.

Finally, like that last Ptolomeic Queen of the ancient land of Egypt, Clio rules – elegantly - but still, as she always has, craves the right person to ‘possess’ her.

Test unit from Renault SA press fleet

For more technical details, see the 2022 launch report

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This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is thoroughly researched, given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads or goat tracks as well. As a result, my test cars do occasionally get dirty. It's all part of the reviewing process.

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