"I also tried to imagine myself aged 22 and driving this car for the first time", wrote Chris Harris back when he drove
the Clio in March
. As luck would have it, your correspondent doesn't turn 23 for a couple of weeks so hopefully can provide some kind of relevant input on this debate.
Previous Renaultsport experience has been limited to the Twingo 133 and Megane 265 Cup, both RS models of the old school; unashamedly raw, uncompromising and bloody good fun. To experience the latest Clio after those two is to be surprised, initially at least.
It's just far more amenable when you're not at maximum attack, auto 'box slurring through ratios as you mooch around and clever dampers providing a level of compliance the Fiesta can only dream of. The interior ambience is leagues ahead too; it looks modern and funky from the driver's seat, the R-Link that comes with the Lux pack providing another world of app connectivity. Not perhaps the primary PH concern, but it must hold massive showroom appeal.
The issue the Clio has, from the perspective of a 22-year-old hot hatch lover at least, is that it doesn't offer the same instant gratification of the Fiesta. We live in a world of on demand this and takeaway that, wanting everything now. To some extent we expect the same from our cars. Where the ST will have you grinning your face off by the third gearchange, the Clio needs a longer acclimatisation period. It will disappoint slightly on a test drive where the Fiesta could well have you signing the finance agreement after a few miles.
Give the RS200 a chance though and it truly shines. It may be a little more hidden than previously, but there's no doubt that Renaultsport magic is still there.
In Race mode, the 'box parps its way up through the ratios and allows downshifts to swing all the way back to 6,000rpm. Neither car has a great amount of steering feel, but Clio's electric system is nicely weighted and gives you the confidence to place it really accurately. Turn in on a trailing throttle and the rear adopts a beautiful oversteering arc to keep the nose locked onto line. Get into a flow, use the fabulous brakes to further manipulate the attitude and carry even more pace and the Clio just feels fantastic.
The suppleness of its suspension gives the Clio a real advantage over the Fiesta in Britain, retaining composure where the stiff ST can occasionally get deflected and feel a bit ragged.
We all know the Clio is a fair bit more expensive than the Fiesta. But the Clio feels like it's worth £20K; there's an air of maturity and sophistication pervading it that the Fiesta patently lacks. The question is, do hot hatch buyers want maturity and sophistication?
RENAULTSPORT CLIO 200 TURBO
Engine: 1,618cc 4-cyl turbo
Transmission: 6-speed dual-clutch auto, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 200@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 177@1,750rpm
0-62mph: 6.7sec
Top speed: 143mph
Weight: 1,204kg
MPG: 44.8mpg (NEDC combined)
CO2: 144g/km
Price: £18,995
