Renault Clio Hatchback (05 on) - Review

The Clio scores well here thanks to its vast interior and excellent engine refinement. The diesels feel particularly relaxed at cruising speeds and vibration from the engine as well as wind noise and tyre noise are well suppressed - as a result the Clio genuinely feels like a car in the class above helped further by the plush interior. Lower priced models offer air conditioning as a £550 option, which could prove worthwhile, not only in terms of passenger comfort, but also when it comes to sell. Be warned that base-level models get a different - and far less appealing - interior with cheaper-looking plastics.

The roomy interior offers excellent storage, with a huge glove compartment (more than nine litres) and long bins in the doors. Some versions offer drawers under the front seats. The rear seats split and fold from Expression specification upwards, and the boot offers a minimum of 288 litres of storage space - slightly larger than hatches like the Volkswagen Polo and Peugeot 207.

Much of the inspiration for the interior of the Clio is taken from the Megane with an abundance of soft-touch surfaces along with simple, clear instruments and an uncluttered dashboard. Visibility is good on the whole, apart from the thick windscreen pillars occasionally obscuring the view at junctions, although its size counts against it when manoeuvring or judging its extremities. The driving position remains slightly off-set to the right with tight space for the clutch foot, although it's not as bad as the previous model. It's also worth noting that less expensive models don't offer reach adjustment for the steering. Facelifted models are pretty much the same inside, although there is now more variety in terms of trim and upholstery designs.