By Jonathan Crouch
Until now, hybrid technology has usually been decreed too pricey for the supermini segment but Renault has attempted to democratise it with this car, the Clio Hybrid. It's a little pricier than an ordinary Clio but the French brand hopes you'll be impressed by the key WLTP figures here - 64.2mpg on the combined cycle and 98g/km of CO2, plus there's an 'EV' option that gives limited all-electric driving range.
This Clio is a 'self-charging' full-Hybrid unit like that in, say, a Toyota Yaris. Renault makes much of the way the design of this car's engine borrows from its F1 racing technology. Like the racing powerplant, this one is extremely compact and features two electric motors, one with 36kW on the rear of the gearbox and one with 15kW on top of the transmission, along with a four-cylinder 1.6-litre 140hp normally aspirated petrol engine. The gearbox is an auto of course and the motor is powered by 1.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack located beneath the boot floor. The rest of the drivetrain has somehow been shoehorned beneath the bonnet.
There's plenty of mid-range pulling power - the petrol engine musters 144Nm of it, whilst the electric motor generates 205Nm and the HSG (High-Voltage Starter Generator) delivers an addition 50Nm. The result is excellent acceleration - especially at speeds of between 50mph to 75mph where the battery assists with sharper responses than a conventional petrol or diesel engine, enabling a 50mph to 75mph time of just 6.9 seconds. But efficiency is this car's primary purpose and Renault claims that a Clio Hybrid will be able to travel for 80 per cent of urban journeys on battery power alone. Plus the car is able to travel up to 38mph in all-electric mode.
As usual with a Hybrid. Renault has done what it can to make this car affordable but we venture to suggest that £20,000-£22,000 will still be a little more than you might have expected to spend on your next supermini. Even one with F1 technology and 60mpg economy? If that's enough to make you dig a little deeper into your budget, we think you'll be intrigued by what you'll find here.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Renault Clio Hybrid
PRICES: £19,950-£22,095 – on the road
CATEGORY: FULL-HYBRID
INSURANCE GROUPS: n/a
CO2 EMISSIONS: 98g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-62mph 9.9s / Max Speed 113mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 64.2mpg
BOOT CAPACITY: [litres] 366-1054 [est]
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height mm 4050/1988/1440 mm
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here