The Renault Clio 5 (read our informative launch report here) is proving to be highly popular as families start to scale down to beat fuel price hikes and the skyrocketing interest rates. So, if you're looking for an economical hatch, is the Renault Clio 5 (read our car review here) big enough for your daily needs? Let's focus on how spacious it is:
In front
The Renault Clio's front area is quite generous for such a compact vehicle, with enough of head- and legroom for drivers well over six feet tall and little chance of elbowing your passenger in the ribs.
Is the Renault Clio 5 good for long drives?
Compared to the Clio of the previous generation, there is much more space for odds and ends thanks to a larger glovebox, respectable door bins, storage in the centre armrest, and a deep tray in front of the gear lever - but it gets a bit cramped when two phones and charging cables have to reside in there.
Top 3 things you need to know about the Renault Clio 5
On the back seat
The Clio's rear space is adequate for a vehicle of this size, although taller adults may find their head quite close to the roof lining. Their knees will be pressed up against the front seat if the person in front of them is of a similar height.
Is the Renault Clio 5 a safe car?
The relatively wide back seat and the relatively low floor hump should make it a little bit simpler for three skinny passengers (not leggy supermodels though) to fit in the back - but let's be honest; you don't buy a Clio because you need a roomy rear bench.
Flexibility and seat folding
The 60/40 split folding back seats seen on every Clio are standard in the small car segment. They enable you to transport a long or bulky item, such as long pieces of luggage, or sports equipment, while also transporting one (or maybe 2 at a stretch) rear passengers.
In the boot
On paper, the Clio appears to have a boot that is large by class standards, with a boot capacity of 391 litres. What exactly does that mean in practise? The Clio won't have any trouble hauling a stroller, the kids' school bags, or your weekly groceries. If you fold the rear seats flat, it will swallow 1069 litres! A colleague managed to fit five overnight bags into Clio's boot, which is quite impressive.
The dual-level boot's size can be optimised by removing the false floor. Lifting large objects in and out of the lowest part of the floor might be a bit awkward - you should definitely lift with your legs, not your back!
Verdict
As far as small cars go, the Clio is perfect for couples, small families, or perhaps a single parent with up to 3 younger kids. In Europe, bigger families buy smaller cars but South Africans do need their space. The point is, the Clio is not ideal if you have to seat taller passengers on the second row but as a daily family runabout that doesn't have too many (older) members, it's a great little hatchback to own.
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