In a world of Bluemotion, Ecomotive and EfficientDynamics, Renault’s eco-car branding is refreshingly simple. It’s called, well, “Eco” and in the case of the latest Clio takes emissions down to 94g/km.
That translates to 78.4mpg on the EU Combined cycle, or a theoretical range of 948 miles. It also means zero vehicle excise duty, no need to pay the London congestion charge and, for fleet customers, a benefit-in-kind rating of 13 per cent.
So it’s cheap to run and, at £12,450 (£12,200 for the Clio Expression diesel plus another £250 for the Eco upgrades), not all that expensive to buy either when compared with a VW Polo Bluemotion (£14,860) or Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 ecoFlex (£14,340). In fact, says Renault, it’s the cheapest three-door, sub 100g/km supermini in the UK.
So what does that extra £250 buy you? Well, there’s some “Aero” trims for the 15-inch steel wheels, a set of ultra-low rolling resistance tyres, a body coloured rear spoiler, taller gearing and revised engine mapping for the 1.5-litre diesel. So, not a lot really, but for £250 what did you expect?
Crucially, however, those changes do reduce CO2 output from 106g/km to that 94g/km headline figure, saving you £20 a year in vehicle excise duty, which combined with the fuel savings and, if you drive in the capital, congestion charge exemption, means that somebody driving 10,000 miles per annum can feasibly recoup enough over the first couple of years to offset the extra initial outlay. And that’s not something that can be said for all of these eco editions.
Power output is 88bhp at 3,750rpm and the torque peak of 148lb ft arrives at 1,900rpm, equating to acceleration from 0-62mph in 11sec and a 113mph top speed.
The standard specification includes a five-speed manual gearbox, height adjustment for the steering wheel and driver’s seat, electric windows and door mirrors and a basic phono connection that allows you to hook up your MP3 player to the stereo. The only must have extra is manual air-conditioning at £575.
There’s no hiding the fact that the Clio is now a pretty old design (this current version first appeared in 2006), nor that rivals have moved on when it comes to the quality of trim materials used in the cabin. The hard plastics of the dash and doorcards in particular look low rent and the controls for the stereo are about as far away from logical as you can get.
The Renault Clio Eco does, however, still drive pretty well in town, where its compact dimensions and readily available torque make nipping through traffic almost enjoyable. It’s certainly better than a Polo Bluemotion, in which the complete absence of torque below 2,000rpm means you have to rev it like a lunatic to avoid bogging down.
On the open road the Clio is competent, if uninspiring. The engine is refined when on the move (albeit noisy at idle) but a Suzuki Swift or Ford Fiesta will run rings around it for ride and handling. Where they sparkle with steering feel the Clio’s helm is distinctly inert. Turn in at speed and it leans uncomfortably on its outside front spring, a point that the slightly awkward, arms stretched out driving position exaggerates. So you tend to have to hold on tightly as the body rolls its way around corners, all the while jiggling around in the seat as you bounce over bumps in the road surface.
It is all fairly predictable stuff for what is essentially a bog standard supermini. That might sound fairly damning, but the fact that this low emissions Clio is entirely unremarkable is perhaps its biggest asset. It drives like a normal supermini, with no holes in the torque curve and no silly dials telling you how economical you’re being. If you didn’t see the “Eco” badging you just wouldn’t know it was a “green” car.
Perhaps that’s why achieving anything like the claimed 78.4mpg is all but impossible unless you’re on a mission to hold up traffic. In normal driving the best we could get out of the Clio was 58mpg. Disappointing that might be, but it still equates to a range of more than 700 miles from one tank of diesel, which is good for a supermini.
So is it worthy of consideration? Well, if you regularly drive in the centre of London and need a cheap, reliable and practical car then this particular Clio makes a good deal of sense. For everybody else our advice would be to spend slightly less on the car and slightly more on the VED and get a Suzuki Swift.
THE FACTS Renault Clio Expression Eco
Tested: 1,461cc four-cylinder turbodiesel, five-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive
Price/on sale: £12,450/now
Power/torque: 88bhp @ 3,750rpm/148lb ft @ 1,900rpm
Top speed: 113mph
Acceleration: 0-62mph in 11.0sec
Fuel economy: 78.4mpg (EU Combined)
CO2 emissions: 94g/km
VED band: A (£0)
Verdict: Just a few years ago this Clio’s combination of performance and economy would have been remarkable. Today it’s average - a bit like the rest of the car
Telegraph rating: Three out of five stars
