Renault Clio GT-Line

Hitting the sweet spot

By Martin Pretorius

Here's an interesting piece of trivia for you: back in 1982, Renault was one of the first companies to arrive at the hot hatchback party, with a turbocharged version of the Renault 5 (ancient predecessor to the Clio), which produced all of 82 kW. Heady stuff, back then. There has since been a long succession of hot small Renaults, with power outputs increasing to such a degree that the current Clio RS Trophy now boasts a faintly ridiculous 162 kW. As the power increased, so did the handling abilities, rightfully earning Renault a spot in the halls of fame for their proficiency at chassis tuning.

And, as the cars became faster and faster, and better around the racetrack to boot, the cars have become much more sharply focused. Suspensions became stiffer, wheels grew bigger, and the body styling more outrageous. It's now gotten to the point where the top Clio is a track-focused little beast with rock hard springs and semi-slick tyres, along with a really rorty engine sound. It looks the part too, with big air intakes in front and a cocky wing on the back, and it's big fun (if tiresome) to drive.

GT-Line wants to be like a Clio RS, except...

But what about those buyers who want a Clio that's a little more sporty than the mostly adequate 0.9 turbo, still want to change their own gears (the RS is only available with an auto, as is the 1.2T Expression), but don't actually need all the power on tap from the full-fat car? There's a Clio for just those people too, and it's called the GT-Line. Think of it as an RS Lite, if you wish. Much of the RS's sporty feel (in daily driving, at least), but with less noise and power than the range topper – and with less flashy styling and a vastly lighter pricetag, too.

Clio GT-Line engine and gearbox

Inside the engine compartment is a drivetrain combination new to the Clio, which combines a 1.2-litre turbo mill (almost identical to the one in the 1.2T Expression) with a 6-speed manual gearbox (instead of the 1.2T's dual-clutch auto). Score one for driver involvement thanks to that third pedal, but there's an added bonus in the form of a little helping of extra torque. Power remains identical at  88 kW, but peak torque skips from 190 Nm to 205 Nm. It's still more of a grunter than a screamer, with peak power arriving at only 4900 r/min and peak torque coming on stream at 2000 r/min, but the power band is fairly wide, and the engine stays reasonably smooth through the rev range.

Performance and economy

It doesn't sound like much – there's a muted woosh when worked hard, but it's almost inaudible for the most part. The gearshift is a delight, swapping its well-chosen ratios with precisely defined motions to keep the little engine doing its best work. The GT-Line isn't a quick car in modern terms, with the 0 – 100 km/h dash dispatched in a thoroughly average 9.0 seconds en route to its 199 km/h top speed, but it is very flexible. That wide torque spread gives it an easy-going nature, although boost lag is quite severe just above idle speed.

As with the performance, fuel consumption is acceptable rather than amazing. Our test vehicle returned an average consumption of 6.8 ℓ/100 km – quite a way off from Renault's claim of 5.3 ℓ/100 km, although still decent enough for a car of this size and performance.

Inner Beauty

Getting into the cabin is a bit of a treat, because Renault decided to endow the GT-Line with some RS-inspired styling themes. The steering wheel is all but identical, except for the absence of the RS badge. The same applies to the seats, which are deeply sculpted and supportive, but also superbly comfortable. In line with the recent Clio facelift, the dashboard benefits from some soft-touch materials, and there's a new infotainment system with a colour touchscreen and integrated navigation. It feels a whole lot more upmarket than before, even if it doesn't quite reach the Polo's premium ambience.

Ride and Handling

The seats might be RS-inspired, but the suspension thankfully didn't draw inspiration from the same source. The emphasis is on a supple ride, yet this doesn't come with the penalty of soggy responses and heaps of body roll. Instead, it remains smooth and unflustered over broken roads, while keeping unwanted body motions in check around corners and ensuring good directional stability. As for outright dynamic abilities, the GT-Line will likely surprise a few owners with the way it turns into corners and stays planted even at high speeds. That sporty edge which defines the Clio RS is missing, but overall, this is a far more agreeable configuration for daily use.

Verdict: It's not really a hot hatch.

With 88 kW compared to the 82 kW in its ancient forefather, it's quite amusing that this power is now only suitable for a mildly sporty version of this small hatch instead of an all-out brute, which is what this kind of power would have ensured 35 years ago. But, while the Clio GT-Line is more comfy cruiser than track-ready missile, there's quite enough oomph in the engine room for most conditions. It's also nicely specified to give a sporty feel without demanding the comfort compromises of its big sister.

Most importantly, it's good value, with comprehensive kit (including climate control, automatic LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, navigation, and cruise control) at a very reasonable R264,900 sticker price. That value proposition alone is enough reason to forgive it for the slightly dull performance, with those great seats and comfy ride merely sweetening the deal. There's very little RS in here, really – and it's all the better for it.

Renault Clio GT-Line 88 kW Specifications

Engine	:1197 cc Petrol, turbocharged and intercooled
Gearbox	:6-speed manual, front wheel drive
Output	:88kW @ 4900 r/min, 205 Nm @ 2000 r/min
Performance	:0-100 km/h in 9.0 seconds, max speed 199 km/h
Consumption (official)	:5.3 ℓ/100 km average
Luggage compartment	:300 - 1146 litres