Another French car – the updated Renault Clio hatch – a nice update mid-year on this light hatch added more features, new technology and sharper pricing, coming on top of Renault’s
five-year warranty and capped price servicing. There’s 17 entries in the light car class – the big sellers Hyundai’s Accent and the Mazda 2 – the Clio is well down the seller list, its sales
this year down 32 percent – in Sept it sold just 76 units. I drove a mid-spec 1.2-litre turbo Clio Zen with 6-speed electronic dual clutch automatic gearbox at $22,990 drive-away, fitted
with a good spread of standard equipment for the light car segment. The updated Zen gets C-shaped LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, 16-inch two-tone alloy wheels, gloss black trimmings on the body while inside a welcome rear view camera, keyless entry, push button start, auto wipers and headlights and sat nav. This latest Renault Clio Zen hatch has style, presence and value. As a driver the 1.2-litre 88kW turbo four-cylinder engine is sprightly and one of the only turbo engines in the light car class while the suspension tune and control is inspiring and distinctly sporty – a good blend of ride and handling. The disappointment is the EDC dual clutch automatic which is hesitant and lacking a hill hold feature – the lack of this feature quickly brought to my attention by Mrs. Berthon. The latest Renault Clio Zen is nicely packaged though and better value – a charming light car.

I’m David Berthon

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