- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
0.9T, 3 cyl.
- Engine Power
66kW, 135Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 4.8L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
5 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2013)
First drive review: Renault Clio RS
The new Renault Clio RS is a very different beast to its predecessor.
Drive has just tested the new 1.6-litre turbocharged model on some slippery roads in southern Spain, where it proved to be a far more mature offering than the fun, focused three-door that preceded it.
The version we drove was the Sport model - a softer, less focused RS than the one we'll get in Australia. Ours will be the Cup, which gets stiffer springs (27 per cent in the front, 20 per cent in the rear) and sits 3mm lower.
Renault says the new model is more focused on day to day driving than the last one, and it instantly feels more composed and comfortable than the third generation model, which was only sold with the hardcore Cup chassis.
Pushing hard out of a slippery corner in the new Renault Clio RS is a very different sensation to the previous model.
The new turbocharged 1.6-litre engine whirrs and whizzes under the bonnet, and a wallop of torque comes on from just 1750rpm - considerably lower in the rev range than the third-gen Clio RS. As a result it thumps you in the back, while the front wheels scramble for traction.
The exhaust burble is a pleasant accompaniment, but the raspy note from the resonator under the bonnet (Renault calls it a sound pipe) is something of an acquired taste.
The RS is rapid (0-100km/h in 6.7 seconds) and the six-speed dual-clutch automatic shifts smoothly and cleverly for the most part, although our test car was quite insistent on shifting down a gear to access more power rather than relying on the low-rev push of the engine. We also noted some turbo lag from a standing start, but the Clio RS does have a launch control system that is sure to prove popular with boy racers.
Those types will also like the Sport mode, which sharpens throttle response, steering reactions, lessens the car's stability and traction control intervention and speeds up the gear shifts. Then there's Race mode, which makes it all the more manic, bringing sharper acceleration and disabling traction control.
Bearing in mind that the car is not running the more performance-oriented underpinnings, it doesn't feel as focused on thrills in normal driving. The ride is compliant and comfortable rather than flat and sharp, and there's even a touch of body roll through the bends.
We will have to reserve our judgment for the car's local launch in early 2014, though.
The steering offers good feel, but is perhaps not as sharp as some previous Clio RS owners may expect. There is also some torque steer (where the steering wheel tugs at the driver's hands under acceleration) evident.
It isn't a quiet car at highway speeds, with notable wind rustle and coarse surface road noise intruding into the cabin. On the topic of the inside, the thick windscreen pillars hamper the driver's vision during cornering and on city streets, and the thick back-end pillars mean rearward vision is not great. We expect Renault will offer the car with a standard reversing camera, and if the company isn't planning to, then it should reconsider.
The Clio's interior looks more modern and feels far more driver and passenger-conscious than the previous version, with the large touchscreen media system cleaning up the appearance and making the stereo a lot easier to use. It doubles as a simple, clear sat-nav unit, and can also show up Renault's RS Monitor info, such as lap and acceleration/deceleration times and G-forces.
While the previous model's air-con controls were confusing, the new one's simple ventilation buttons are a revelation; very logical.
Also improved is the speedo, with the hard to discern analog dial replaced by a large digital readout. The seats are comfortable and supportive, too.
However, our test car had some creaky plastics, and that typical French trait of having tiny cup-holders and a lack of central stowage. The car has now got a set of back doors, which open up to a fairly spacious rear seat. However, buyers should take note that no Clio model has rear seat airbag protection. Despite this, the Clio has been awarded a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating.
The new Clio RS feels more grown up than ever before. Some people may love that, and Clio RS traditionalists may not. But what could ultimately determine the success of the new Clio RS in Australia will be its price - the current version starts well above rivals like the VW Polo GTI and Citroen DS3 D-Sport, at $36,490.
Let's hope Renault can be a bit more mature about that, too.