The Renault Clio has been one of the most impressive small cars around for some time now, and this latest version more than stands up to its established rivals, as well as the more recent entrants into this crowded section of the market. The 2016 Renault Clio is as practical as anything in its class, which means despite looking pretty diminutive at first glance, it’s easily big enough to accommodate four adults, and there's enough space in the boot to handle the weekly shop for the family and more.
The 2016 Renault Clio in Detail
Our version of this enduring and delightful little car comes with two petrol engines and one diesel to choose between. The base engine is a 1.2-litre petrol developing 75 horsepower and 107 Nm of torque and it's available in the Expression and Dynamique Nav trims, but not the top-of-the-range Dynamique S Nav trim. The next engine in the lineup is a 1.5-litre turbo diesel producing 90 horsepower and 220 Nm, and that can be had in all three trim levels. Last but certainly not least is the most economical of the two petrols, which is a three-cylinder, 0.9-litre unit giving you 90 horsepower and 140 Nm of torque to play with.
Transmission
All models come with a five-speed manual gearbox except the Dynamique S Nav dCi 90 Auto, which as the name suggests, comes with a six-speed automatic mated to the 1.5-litre turbo diesel engine.
All three engines are good in their own right, but the diesel offers the most power and the best economy, so it's likely to be the one the majority of buyers will opt for.
Renault Clio Fuel Economy
As far as fuel economy is concerned, you're not going to be visiting a fuel station too often whichever version of the 2016 Renault Clio you go for. The "worst" engine as far as efficiency is concerned is the standard 1.2 petrol, but even that one returns an impressive combined figure of 51.4 mpg. The three-cylinder turbo gives you an extra 10 mpg for a combined figure of 61.4 mpg, but the diesel is the real winner, even if you go for the automatic gearbox. The Eco version of the diesel with manual box returns a staggering 88.3 mpg combined, while the standard version only sees that figure reduce marginally to 85.6 mpg. Adding the automatic box does affect fuel consumption, but you're still going to be seeing a pretty frugal 80.7 mpg combined.
The Clio Has Plenty of Space
There's a reasonable amount of space for four adults in the 2016 Renault Clio, and the amount of available boot space is exactly what it should be for a car of this size. The rear seats are of the 60/40 split folding variety, so you've got more cargo room available if you don’t need the rear seats for passengers.
The Secret of the Renault Clio's Appeal
The Clio has always been a good-looking car, and this fourth-generation model is no exception. Customisation is a big deal with cars in this section of the market these days, and the Clio offers more than most in this area. That's definitely a good thing as this is a car that's always appealed to a largely youthful audience, so allowing such a degree choice in the Clio's styling will only widen that appeal even further.
Article source: http://www.kearys.ie/blog/2016-renault-clio-review.html
