F1 technology brings humble hatch to life.

Bearing in mind the success of hybrid power in Formula One, it can be assumed that a lot of the clever technology at the peak of motorsport is trickling down to the sort of cars we normal folk drive. That’s certainly the case with Renault. Well, at least that’s what they tell us. 

Renault of course has a proud history in F1 (they rebranded their team in 2021 to call it Alpine to reflect their sporting brand) and frequently supplied engines to other teams. 

Consequently, it was surprising that it took until 2020 before Renault finally dropped a hybrid powerplant into the Clio - which has now been with us for well over 30 years. Here is the latest version. 

It’s very easy to assume that electric and hybrid cars are designed purely for the cities and that they’re only happy trundling around busy streets rather than dashing along the motorway. Wrong. The Renault Clio has always been equally happy as a school run/glorified shopping trolley, but it’s also hugely capable of being a long-distance holiday machine or commuter shuttle, and the arrival of E-Tech Hybrid technology has merely sharpened the Renault Clio’s case. The fact that the Clio also looks good both inside and out, means it will continue to do well in the UK car market. 

The hybrid E-Tech version is the most powerful and one of the quickest in the Clio range with a 0-60mph time of just under 10 seconds and a top speed of 112mph. Under the bonnet, you’ll find a 1.6 litre petrol engine developing 143 bhp. Two electric motors help out. Although the hybrid Clio is sufficiently quick for most people, it’s not about power, it’s about efficiency. Renault reckons that you’ll manage 80% of town driving on battery alone and save around 40% on fuel. This equates to an average fuel consumption of 62.1mpg. Be really gentle with the throttle, and you can reach high 30s mph on battery power alone. Drop the gear lever into D and the car operates like any standard automatic, however, pull the lever further back into B and you will increase the amount of engine braking and therefore increase the amount of power that returns to the battery. It’s not quite two-pedal driving, but it’s not far off. Power goes to the front wheels via a 6-speed automatic gearbox. In town traffic, you can waft along in silence with the electric motors doing all of the work. As soon as you need some power and performance, the petrol engine fires up and joins in. It’s seamless. The auto gearbox is also excellent: no high revving, droning CVT gubbins for the Clio. 

Oh, and the Renault Clio E-tech is great for business users thanks to Benefit In Kind rates of 22%. 

Prices start at £19,095 for the entry-level Clio, but you’ll need to search down the back of the sofa for additional loose change because the Clio E-Tech hybrid tips the scales from £22,095. However, we reckon that’s still decent value. You get satellite navigation, DAB radio, Bluetooth, rear parking sensors, cruise control, powered folding heated exterior mirrors, powered windows (the rear ones are dark-tinted), a 7inch colour touchscreen, air conditioning, and a host of safety kit. To be honest you’ll not need to dip into the extras brochure because this is a really good level of standard kit. There’s also a premium feel to the interior. 

Out on the road the Renault Clio has always been good to drive. The ride is a tad on the firm side of comfy, but this makes for really good handling. The seats are comfortable, there’s loads of storage space and the boot is large enough to cope with a family holiday or a major weekend shopping trip. In other words, if you want a lively yet economical car that is good to drive and well-equipped, the latest Renault Clio E-Tech will fit the bill. 

And if you bump into that nice Daniel Ricciardo, you can tell him that you drive a similar car to the one he used to pilot. 

Words: Graham Courtney

Pictures: Renault