How is the Renault Clio 5 performance?
Designed for young, upwardly mobile individuals in South Africa, the Renault Clio 5 is the perfect car to elevate your daily commute. With efficient engines and respectable acceleration figures, the Clio 5 strikes a perfect balance between power and fuel economy. Its agile handling and advanced safety features ensure a thrilling yet secure driving experience.
Very few manufacturers have a history in Formula 1. Those that have ventured into the crucible that is the pinnacle of global motorsports have enjoyed the benefits of the research and development that goes hand in hand with motor racing. Big budgets and a hunger for victory see teams push the boundaries of what the internal combustion engine is capable of. There are very few manufacturers that understand this challenge better than Renault.
Related: What is the fastest Renault Clio 5?
Renault Sport (R.S.), the performance sub-division of Renault, has used Formula 1 technology to great effect in their road cars and much of this has filtered into the technology employed in Renault's passenger cars. It's no different in the latest generation Renault Clio 5 - excellent performance from a small, compact engine.
Renault Clio 5 powertrain
The Renault Clio 5 is available locally in only one engine and gearbox configuration locally. While other markets get the 1.3-litre petrol or 1.5-litre diesel, South Africa only gets the smaller 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder power plant.
This engine is nothing to be scoffed at, and the turbocharged petrol engine produces 74 kW at 5 000 RPM with the torque output coming in at 160 Nm from the 2 750 RPM mark. This engine sends power to the front wheels through a single gearbox option, that of the 5-speed manual with no automatic EDC option available locally.
This gives the Clio a 0 to 100 km/h sprint time of 11.8 seconds and a top speed of 187 km/h. While these figures may seem down on what is out there, rest assured that this is more than ample and the Clio will have no problem sticking with or passing traffic.
The benefit of selecting the 1.0-litre TCe engine is that the running costs are kept in check and the claimed fuel consumption from the Renault Clio in all three trims is listed as 5.7 l/100km. From our experience, this figure is easily attained and a bout of highway driving will see it tumble even lower.
Brakes and assistance
On the Life and Zen trims, the Clio 5 is equipped with disc brakes at the front and drums at the rear. This is upgraded on the Intens version which is fitted with disc brakes on all four wheels. All models are fitted with anti-lock brakes (ABS), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) to keep the car level and reduce braking distances as well as emergency brake assist (EBA) to help in emergency situations.
An electronic stability program (ESC) will individually and automatically activate the brakes on each wheel in the event of an emergency situation to help prevent a spin. All models are fitted with this feature.
