Renault has unveiled the next generation of its Clio hatchback scheduled for sale in late 2025.
The car is sized 4,116 x 1,768 x 1,451 mm (160.8 x 69 x 56.7 inches) large with a wheelbase spanning 2,591 mm (101.2 inches). The trunk size is decent at 391 liters (13.81 cubic feet) before you fold any seats, and the ground clearance amounts to a city-friendly 142 mm (5.5 inches).
On the outside, the car resembles the Embleme Concept from the last year, but looks much less smooth and more boxy compared to it. It also features a rather elaborate front fascia with V-shaped DRLs, a sculpted hood and a hexagonal radiator grille. Flared rear fenders and flush door handles accentuate the sportiness of the new Clio’s coupe-like silhouette.
Inside, the infotainment system resides on dual 10.1-inch displays and supports Google Services straight from the factory. The steering wheel and the seats are also new, and the ambient lighting system picks the color based on the drive mode selected. Customers can choose from multiple textile trim options, while Alcantara is restricted to the pricey Esprit Alpine spec.
In its flagship form, the sixth-gen Renault Clio utilizes the company’s latest hybrid powertrain known as the E-Tech 160. It utilizes a 1.8-liter engine rated at the titular 180 PS (178 hp / 132 kW) and 172 Nm (127 lb-ft) of torque to sprint 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 8.3 seconds. Renault remains silent about the electric motor, but goes as far as to claim that 80% of all urban drives can succeed in all-electric mode. That’s quite surprising, considering that the battery capacity is tiny at 1.4 kilowatt-hours.
Low CO2 emissions and an average fuel economy of 3.9 liters per 100 kilometers are also listed under the advantages of this powertrain. That converts into 72.4 miles per British liquid gallon or 60.3 miles per the U.S. gallon, if you are curious. Drivers are free to switch between five hybrid system modes and four drive presets.
A couple of wallet-friendly specs are also available. One uses a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine and outputs 115 PS (113 hp / 86 kW) with up to 190 Nm (140 lb-ft) of torque. This one can be optioned with a six-speed DCT, but otherwise ships with a six-speed manual transmission. A bi-fuel engine is also available with 120 PS (118 hp / 88 kW) and 200 Nm (148 lb-ft) on the spec sheet. Renault says both take 10.1 seconds to launch from zero to 100 km/h.
