Road test: Renault Clio Sport

Comfort and Handling

A short wheelbase and great chassis make punting the Clio Sport around a joy

The top-of-the-line Clio in Australia delivers in spades when it comes to ride and handling, though comfort hasn't been eschewed in favour of flat-out fanging, either.

The suspension setup is similar to that of all Clio's in the range, though low-profile 15-inch tyres are new and the front suspension geometry has been revised with an increase in ground offset (plus a reduction in hub offset) and new damper settings.

Around town and on chopped up main roads the Clio barely notices the bumps and lumps, and sound damping in the cabin is well above average.

Thanks to its small size, changing lanes in heavy traffic never gets too scary, and while the car's performance potential is impressive, it can be driven at low speeds without protest and doesn't mind commuting in slightest.

Parking the Clio Sport is child's play and, with solid rearward vision, it's very easy to quickly and safely nip into and out of a range of parking spaces.

The steering also deserves a mention with its no-nonsense approach: Feedback is direct and torque steer is minimal, and after taking the Clio Sport through the Victorian Alps, I have nothing but praise for the way in which the car responds to driver input.

And speaking of the high country, we were able to test the new-for-2003 Electronic Stability Program (or ESP, which is now fitted to all Clio Sport models) during some very damp and treacherous conditions.

On paper, it works by monitoring the vehicle's road speed, steering wheel angle and the lateral forces exerted on the vehicle, and then either brakes one or more wheels with the aid of ABS, and can also retard engine speed in order to correct the car's trajectory.

In reality, the ESP is definitely a valuable addition, and while you can tell when it's in operation, it's unobtrusive nature means you can concentrate 100 per cent on the next apex without being abruptly shunted about due to heavy braking, for example. Thankfully the ESP is switchable, and a little warning light will flash if it thinks you should turn it on, when you spark up the front wheels, for instance.

Taking on the twisty stuff is what the Clio Sport is built for: The flexible engine, perfectly measured gear ratios, responsive chassis, solid suspension and grippy tyres all combine to form what is an amazingly athletic and nimble four-wheeler.

Rapid changes in direction at speed, pushing to the limits of adhesion and going flat out like a lizard drinking isn't just enjoyable in the Clio Sport, it's almost asked of you by the car's tenacious character. Everything works so harmoniously, and only once did the car feel a bit erky-perky, when the front right wheel scraped the bodywork during an ever-tightening downhill left-hander.

The Clio Sport loves the open road

There was never a lack of grip, even in the wet, and the Clio Sport really does inspire confidence. On the whole, the rapid Renault is a willing companion if you like to drive for driving's sake, rather than just going from A to B.

It's also quite thrifty with petroleum, sipping just 6.8-litres of the stuff for every 100km travelled on highway. The city cycle is pretty good also, drinking 9.0-litres of juice for every 100km travelled in the urban jungle, though expect those figures to double when liberal use of the throttle is involved.

The hot hatch's progressive and powerful and, like the ESP, the EBD is appreciatively discreet. ABS is also there, which helps in less-than-ideal conditions and not once did the Sport feel overwhelmed when braking hard.

The four discs allow you to drive harder into approaching corners, thus braking later, with plenty of bite and together with a cracker of a chassis, the Sport always feels poised.

Engine

Motivating what can be described as a forgiving, yet totally exciting chassis is Renault's magnificent 2.0-litre mill, mounted transversely up front. Vital statistics comprise an aluminium-alloy cylinder head, dual overhead camshafts, 4-valves per cylinder, variable valve timing plus a high 11:1 compression ratio.

Renault's Formula One technology is obviously starting to filter its way into the marque's road-going vehicles, 'coz this little tacker is seriously quick - fast enough to dust many Aussie V8s in fact.

Renault's official figures state that the Clio Sport accelerates from 0-100km/h in 7.3 seconds, but with our massive budget at Web Wombat, we bought a high-tech stopwatch from Target and managed an average of 7.0 seconds flat over multiple runs.

It certainly feels quick and when you're being buried into the backrest of the seat it's hard not to just wind out each gear. Which we did, and though a top speed of 220km/h is listed in the literature, we pipped that by a few kays.

The rev-happy 2.0-litre engine redlines @ 7000rpm, and the acceleration is still quite strong at this point, and one wonders how well the Sport would take to raised rev ceiling... Peak power of 124kW occurs @ 6250rpm, and 200Nm of kicks in @ 5400rpm.

Just by looking at the specification, it's fairly obvious that the Clio Sport likes to be revved hard, yet even with a high and narrow power band of just 850rpm, the Renault is very quick point-to-point. Thanks to the variable valve timing and low kerb weight, the car has plenty of urge lower in the rev range, though keeping the tacho needle pegged above 3500rpm will result in optimum enjoyment.

One of the most enjoyable hot hatches available

The rev-hungry 1998cc DOHC engine is coupled to a JC5-type gearbox, which is a smart bit of kit, and lovely to operate. Essentially the same five-speeder used on other lesser Clios, the Sport gains a bit more poke via the shortening the final drive ratio by 5%.

First gear hits the rev limiter at about 50km/h, and second will reach 100km/h without complaint, and both gears will chirp the front wheels if manhandled.

While I did have a go at the throttle for being overly touchy in the Drive section, the clutch is truly a thing of beauty, and engaging gears quickly and smoothly is both hassle-free and highly addictive.

At the end of the day, the Renault Clio Sport is a standout performer and easily one of the top three hot hatches in Australia, whose excitable personality and compact size work wonders on the senses. Suffice to say, I was extremely impressed with its performance and it boggles the mind to contemplate what the rear wheel-drive 190kW V6-powered Clio would be capable of.

Extras

Automatic switch-on xenon headlights with washers kick off ancillary proceedings, and rain-sensing front wipers come in handy when you try to swtich them on, only to realise you've hit the right-hand indicator.

Climate control with air conditioning, power steering, power windows, chrome sports dials and electric mirrors come standard in the Clio Sport, and potential buyers will also be greeted with a fair amount of handy stowage compartments.

There's the glovebox (illuminated), a storage tray behind the gear lever, deep door pockets, front and rear ashtrays and a cup holder. The interior is rather drab and grey - quite utilitarian - and though there are streaks of chrome here and there, the overall effect isn't what you'd call mind-blowing.

At the same token, it's far from cheap, and while some have mentioned the Clio Sport has a few rattles and ill-fitting interior appointments, the car we tested displayed no such problems.

The 2.0-litre Sport doesn't come with an alarm system, but you do get remote central locking and an engine immobiliser, two interior map lights (one of which is adjustable), and a rather thumping 6-speaker, 6 stacker CD stereo, complete with a steering column-mounted control unit.

Overall: 4.5/5

Renault's 2.0-litre pocket-rocket looks good, drives brilliantly and, best of all, the price of admission isn't astronomically high - it's dollar-to-enjoyment ratio is supreme. Interestingly, while the Clio is a relatively new vehicle range in Australia, Renault has sold more than 6,000,000 units since the introduction of the original Clio 'phase one' model in 1990, and well over 2,000,000 sales since the introduction of 'phase two' in 1998, the latter being the model on test.

Getting to grips with the Clio takes no time at all - save for the funky Euro indicator/wiper placement - and driving it through winding mountain passes at full tilt is quite a memorable experience. Renault seems to have done everything right: The engine and gearbox combination is über-potent, the way in which the car handles high-gee cornering with such balance feels awesome and fit and finish is good too.

Fetching $33,990, the Clio Sport represents good value and it will interesting to see how Peugeot's 206GTi stacks up, when we test it in the next few weeks.

There is a lot to like about the Renault Clio Sport and those looking for something similar in performance but more economical than a blown Aussie 6 or small-block V8 - and who don't mind sacrificing a little space - will be surprised at how quick and deft this hot hatch really is.

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