Review of the new Renault Clio 20th

Who'd have thought it? Twenty years have flown by since the Renault Clio was unveiled as the successor to the aging but enduringly popular Renault 5 and after three generations, it's still going strong. To celebrate the longevity of its supermini favourite, Renault has launched the Clio 20th special edition. It's a high specification model that's attractively priced and designed to show how far the Clio has come since the original model wowed the crowds at the 1990 Paris Motorshow.

The motor industry moves at quite a pace and over the course of its two decades in the public eye, the Clio has needed to move with the times. Its manufacturer Renault has been at the forefront of vehicle safety over the years to the extent that the Clio was the first supermini to gain four stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests in 2000 and the first to achieve a full five-star rating in 2005.

We can also see how far engine technology has progressed using the Clio as a case study. Way back in the early 1990s, the Clio had a 1.9-litre diesel engine that could lumber up to 60mph in just under 15 seconds and achieve combined cycle economy of 51mpg. Today's Clio is available with a 1.5-litre dCi diesel that can cover the sprint in 12.7s and return over 64mpg. That's despite the fact that the modern Clio weighs 230kg more. The only problem from Renault's point of view is that the Clio's rivals have progressed at a similar rate but the French marque is banking on the Clio 20th giving it an edge.

"The Clio is twenty and the 20th special edition models look like a fitting commemoration of that fact"

The Clio's better engines find their way into the 20th special edition models. The highlight amongst the two petrol choices is the 1.2-litre TCE engine which generates 99bhp with the aid of a turbocharger. This feels particularly sprightly in the Clio and thrives on a more vigorous driving style. With this unit, 0-60mph takes 11s and 114mph is attainable. The alternative for petrol buyers is more powerful but thirstier, a 1.6-litre VVT unit with 126bhp on tap. It offers 0-60mph performance of 9.3s and brings more yet sportiness to the party. Renault's 1.5-litre dCi diesels make up the rest of the range, this time in 85bhp or 105bhp forms. It's a solid engine with a good hit of torque from low revs but little to excite in the upper echelons of the rev range. The 85bhp option feels quicker than its 12.7s 0-60mph time and 108mph top speed suggest and the 105bhp model is quicker still.

Today's Clio is a big car, even by modern supermini standards. It weighs-in at well over a tonne and performance isn't overly exhilarating with the less powerful engine options installed. The refinement in the cabin is very impressive whether you choose petrol or diesel with minimal wind and road noise. As with all Clio IIIs, there's tenacious grip and taut body control that invites swift cornering. The ride quality also wouldn't seem out of place in a car a class higher.

There's no mistaking the 20th special edition Clio for a standard version. It's got special 20th badging on the B-pillars and inside on the door sill kick-plates. The cars also come with a gloss black finish on their front bumpers and door mirrors unless you opt for the Pearl Black paint which results in these appendages being coloured anthracite grey. 16" alloy wheels are also standard.

The Clio's generous size helps it serve up plenty of passenger space and the quality of the cabin environment also impresses. There's a generously proportioned boot of 288 litres that will come in handy and can be extended simply by folding the rear seat backs. Beneath the skin, Renault's focus has been on increasing refinement on the Clio and today's model features upgraded sound-deadening measures to combat engine, transmission and wind noise.

The pricing of the 20th special edition Clios places them towards the upper end of the Clio range but they do come with a lot of equipment. They're based on the Dynamique TomTom trim level, so they come with Carminat TomTom satellite navigation, climate control, cruise control, electric folding mirrors, keyless entry and start, a speed limiter and a Bluetooth phone system. Renault is only offering the 20th edition in the Clio's five-door bodystyle.

In terms of fuel economy, the feisty 1.2 TCE turbo unit that gets nearly 49mpg despite its lively performance but the 1.6 VVT unit can only manage 41mpg. Predictably, none of the petrols can hold a candle to the 1.5 dCi diesels with regards to running costs. The 85bhp version can return over 64mpg on the combined cycle with 115g/km emissions putting it amongst the greenest superminis around.

The Clio is twenty and the 20th special edition models look like a fitting commemoration of that fact. They give customers the chance of purchasing a very well-specified five-door Clio that looks a little different from the norm at a very reasonable price. You can't say fairer than that, particularly as this third generation of Renault's supermini remains one of the top models currently available in its class.

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