Top 3 things you need to know about the new Renault Clio
As one of the original founding pillars of Renault’s local revival, the Renault Clio has always been a mainstay model for this brand in South Africa. And, looking at the current-generation car, it’s difficult to believe that it’s been part of our motoring landscape for more than 7 years already. But there’s a new Clio on the way any day now, so we investigated the upcoming model to give you an idea of what to expect.
South Africa missed out on the first-generation Clio, but its Clio II successor was a massive hit on local soil. Its popularity remained through the third- and fourth (current) generations, but, thanks to familial competition from its Sandero and Captur siblings, the Clio has been pushed slightly upmarket to become ever more sophisticated as the years went by. This applies to the upcoming Clio as well: while it certainly looks familiar, it is very much a different car underneath.
Related: Which Renault Clio trim depreciates the fastest?
1. All-new platform
The previous two Clio generations were based on the “B Platform”, co-developed by Renault and Nissan to underpin their respective supermini-class cars. While it’s proven to be very long-lived, the advances made by its competitors (Peugeot 208 and Volkswagen Polo, amongst others) have prompted the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance to develop an all-new component set for their next generation of small cars.
The new Clio was chosen as the introductory model for the new “CMF-B” platform, followed soon after by an all-new Captur (which we can also expect in South Africa very soon). As always, the priorities in the new platform’s development were weight reduction, improved crash safety, and reduced manufacturing costs, but it was also designed to allow for future installation of hybrid drivetrains.
Related: Five differences between the 2020 (second-generation) Renault Captur and its predecessor.
2. New engine line-up
One of the key upgrades for the Clio V will be under its bonnet, where an almost completely-new engine family will power the upcoming Clio. We don’t have confirmation about the planned local model range yet, but overseas markets receive a new 1.0-litre 3-cylinder engine as the smallest power unit, with outputs ranging between 74 kW and 86 kW. If this option makes it to South Africa, it will mean the end of the 0.9-litre 3-cylinder turbo mill as the Clio entry point, and mark a significant step forwards in terms of smoothness and drivability.
Alternative European petrol powertrains include a 1.2-litre 16V non-turbo 4-cylinder, a 1.6-litre 16V non-turbo for the hybrid variant, and a 1.3-litre turbo mill (shared with the Mercedes-Benz A200, amongst others). Europe also receives the well-regarded K9K 1.5-litre turbodiesel, but, seeing as this engine didn’t make it to SA in the Clio IV, it’s again unlikely to be available here. Transmission options will include 5- and 6-speed manual gearboxes as well as a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, depending on the trim level and engine specifications.
Related: In the outgoing Renault Clio range, the 1.2T GT-Line trim hit the sweet spot - although you can only get them used, these days.
3. Plenty of up-to-date tech
One of the Clio IV’s strong suits was its comprehensive standard equipment package, and the Clio V seems set to continue this trend. As with the outgoing model, a colour touchscreen infotainment system will take pride of place, this time with a larger (9.3-inch) display, and still with full smartphone mirroring and TomTom navigation on hand.
Other upper-class features include a configurable TFT instrument cluster, automated parking, LED headlights, lane keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, and surround-view cameras. Of course, the feature list will depend on the selected trim level, but it’s nonetheless gratifying to know that this equipment could be had in a car of this class.
Related: Is the Renault Clio good for new drivers?
