Bassoul-Heneine, the official distributor of Renault cars in Lebanon, handed us the keys to an all-new Renault Clio IV for a weekend test drive. The car in question is the Expression TCe 120 model, featuring a turbocharged 1.2-liter four-cylinder engine that produces, as the name suggests, 120 horsepower. After driving the little hatch, in rainy conditions (hence why the car is not so clean), for two days, I was hesitant to return the keys on Monday morning, it was that good.
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Design/Quality: 9/10
The Clio IV is one eye-catching little hatch and a huge improvement compared to its predecessor. It boasts aggressive design features, including large angry-looking headlights with daytime-running lights, in addition to a pair of equally “furious” taillights.
My favorite design cue on the new Clio, however, is the sexy rear haunches that, alongside the optional 16-inch five-spoke rims, give it a really sporty edge.
One thing I also love about the Clio IV is the rear door handles that are integrated into the frame of the upswept rear window, which makes it look more like a 3-door coupe.
Inside, the Clio TCe 120 uses attractive and solid plastics that form one neat-looking package, giving the cabin a premium feel. In other words, it looked like an interior from a more expensive car.
Performance: 8/10
You would expect an average performance from a compact family car like the Clio, but the French car is shockingly good – it is fantastic.
The 1.2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine – that pumps out 120 horsepower and 190 Nm of torque – feels effortless and is surprisingly quiet; I found myself easily pulling impressive speeds on some very demanding mountainous roads, even with air-conditioning on.
The throttle needed some getting used to, but it’s nothing worrying, and the braking was particularly good, not too soft and not too abrupt.
Renault’s 6-speed EDC dual-clutch transmission is smooth and responsive – you can barely sense it. Moreover, it offers a manual-shifting mode for those of you who like to perform the shifting operations themselves.
Economy: 10/10
The best aspect of the new Clio is the outstanding fuel economy, and we’re not talking about an entry-level 90-hp car, we’re discussing a 120-hp capable little hatch.
The fuel gauge refused to bulge. Seriously, I thought there was something wrong with the fuel gauge, until the needle moved a little on Sunday, and that’s after spending the whole of Saturday behind the wheel.
Aside from the thrifty EDC gearbox, the Clio’s fuel consumption is reduced thanks to “vent control”, which, according to Renault, optimizes the vehicle’s aerodynamics by automatically adapting the flow of air through the radiator to the engine’s cooling needs. Clever stuff, Renault, clever stuff…
Ride: 10/10
Another thing the Clio excelled at, other than fuel economy, was the ride quality. It was super comfortable and balanced on our bumpy and pothole-dominated roads; the steering was precise and the front seats were very relaxing and gripping, the rear seats not so much, but the kids won’t mind. I’ve been in plenty of small city cars, and to be honest, the Clio outmatches most of its rivals in the comfort department.
Tech: 8/10
The new Clio has all the tech-features you would expect from a modern family hatch, including an adequately sized touchscreen with multimedia, GPS navigation, Bluetooth, USB/MP3 and radio. It also comes with a Start/Stop button, a tyre pressure monitoring system and another interesting system, dubbed the Energy Smart Management (ESM), that optimizes electricity consumption and recharges the battery using the kinetic energy recovered when braking and decelerating.
If that’s not enough, you can add more options such as a rear parking sensor, automatic light & rain sensor, regulated air-conditioning and more.
Final Score: 9/10
In conclusion, the Renault Clio Expression TCe 120 is a superb little hatchback thanks to its outstanding fuel economy, its unmatched comfort, its better-than-average and keen performance and, of course, its every-day practicality. It perfectly suits our demanding roads and it’s great place to be in, whether you’re stuck in city traffic or while driving up the mountains.
The Renault Clio Expression TCe 120’s price starts at 19,950 US dollars, excluding registration, and it’s worth every penny.