Renault Clio

The Renault Clio is a subcompact car produced by the French automaker Renault. It was launched in 1990 and it is currently in its third generation. The Clio has seen substantial commercial success since its launch, being consistently one of Europe's top-selling cars. The wide range of engine options and the amount of space offered make Renault Clio suitable to a variety of budgets.

Renault’s Clio offers a wide range of diversity making it appealing to a wide range of buyers. It offers a range of body styles, three and five door options, a wide choice of engines and it is the biggest car in this class. The Clio benefits from an enhanced suspension system designed for improved ride quality and grip. Despite its compact dimensions, the car provides good cabin space and passenger comfort. Engine and road noise is successfully kept to a minimal even at motorway speeds. Comfort levels are high for both front and rear passengers. Renault has made the Clio from high quality materials. The exterior has a solid, durable appearance, and inside all the surfaces feel of good quality and well constructed. The doors open wide and the seats sit high enough for passengers to slide in. The boot is also easily accessible and the tailgate is wide. The Clio provides much better cabin space than most of its rivals. Even in the three-door model, rear space is very good, while front seat passengers have an abundance of head, leg and elbow room for a car in this class. The car’s price and style will be appealing to young buyers, while the car’s practicality and improved cabin space will be more appealing to families and more mature drivers. Renault Clio is an ideal choice for a small family with an average budget.

The Renault Clio was voted 1991 European Car of the Year, and the Clio immediately became one of Europe's best-selling cars, as well as the first Renault to be consistently among the top-10 best sellers in the United Kingdom. It propelled the company out of the crisis it was going through during the 1980s.

Since its release in 1990, Renault Clio was manufactured in three different model types or generations. The last, third generation, was launched in 2005. Just like in 1991, this model was also awarded the European Car of the Year award. The model that was Clio's predecessor was the legendary Renault 5, a very popular small car from the Renault family.

I personally had the pleasure of driving a Renault Clio and I can say that I was very satisfied with the car and it's performance. It was the model with a 1.2 engine so it was not a really "fast and furious" experience, but the car's comfort and behavior were quite pleasant. There is a sort of calm you feel while driving this car, I don't know how to describe it. It feels like every part of the car is somehow connected with you. Maybe it is the softness often attributed to French cars that's responsible for this, but it is a really good feeling which makes for a richer and fuller driver's experience. I drove some German and Japanese cars too and I can't tell I felt anything like this with those cars. My friend drives the Sport version of Renault Clio and he also agrees with me on this, so it can't be a coincidence or my imagination.

Anyhow, I think that Renault Clio deserves all the rewards it won over the years and I am looking forward to seeing the fourth generation, which should be released soon. I hope that I will have a chance to drive it too.