The idea of a Renault Clio with a bigger boot might not be enough to set your pulse racing but The Clio Sport Tourer makes plenty of real world sense. Retaining the polished driving experience of the Clio hatch but adding useful extra cargo space, it's a great solution for family buyers who thought fun, low cost supermini motoring went out the window as the stork flew in.

Car buyers with lots of stuff to transport will be forgiven for thinking that an estate version of a supermini may not be the solution to all their problems. Many will presume, quite reasonably, that a supermini is a small car and no amount of estate-ification is going to render it big or practical enough to carry everything they need to. Renault's Clio Sport Tourer is just such a vehicle - an estate version of the marque's popular Clio supermini - but before you dismiss it as lacking capacity, it might pay to put your pre-conceptions to one side and take a closer look.

There are plenty of MPV products based on small cars that concentrate on providing a roomier, more versatile space for families and if it's a larger quantity of luggage you want to carry then surely a larger car might be the thing. Renault's Clio Sport Tourer sets out to offer the nimbleness and verve of the Clio from a driving point-of-view but with an extended load bay tagging along behind to increase the amount you can take with you on the journey.

Renault has proven with the various Renaultsport versions of its Clio that the supermini can be transformed into a grade one hot hatchback via a few well-judged modifications. The Clio Sport Tourer doesn't have these but the basic Clio DNA is very much in evidence. There's nothing to suggest that you're piloting an estate version once you're in the driving seat, the Tourer turning, gripping and accelerating with all the alacrity of its close relative. The engine range is comprised of five units and opens with a 75bhp 1.2-litre. Next comes, possibly the star of the show, Renault's 1.2-litre TCe 100bhp turbocharged engine which has a vigorous turn of pace despite its small capacity. Then there's the 1.6-litre VVT-i unity that comes with an automatic gearbox. The diesels are Renault's trusty 1.5-litre units in 86bhp or 106bhp form both are appealing choices with good flexibility and exemplary refinement.

"With 439-litres available, the boot's 50% larger than a standard Clio's."

The Clio Sport Tourer's compact size makes is a breeze to get around town in with the torque of the diesels and the eagerness of the TCe petrol engine making stop/start progress that bit more enjoyable. Take to the open road and despite the lack of serious power form any of the engines offered, the Clio is just as impressive. The power-assisted steering is very light and this doesn't help you position the car with confidence at speed but the ride is comfortable and progress is extremely quiet even with those diesel engines installed.

Doubts about whether the Clio Sport Tourer will be big enough to meet your requirements can be allayed to an extent by the fact that the Clio is one of the largest and more spacious superminis on the market. Only to an extent, however, because the Sport Tourer is still one of the smallest compact estates. The car is 4,202mm long which is just over 200mm longer than a standard Clio but it has an identical wheelbase of 2,575mm. This tells us that the extra capacity of the estate version has been achieved by hanging a bit more out behind the rear wheels. The pugnacious stance of the supermini has been lost in this process but the Sport Tourer's extra size has been well integrated into the clean lines that are unmistakably Clio. The crux of the whole Sport Tourer concept is the boot and with 439-litres available, it's 50% larger than a standard Clio's. Fold the seats down and 1,277m3 is opened up.

The Sport Tourer's load area is well shaped and thought has gone in to making it easy to use. The rear seats split 60:40 and are simple enough to fold down. Renault claims that with the smaller section folded the Clio can still accommodate four adults with a load length of 1,450mm but the two adults in the rear had better be small ones. The sill height, at 581mm, is low enough to hoist heavy items onto and the boot comes with a clever under-floor compartment. This allows the load cover to be stored out of the way when not in use or can be opened-up to increase the load volume by 72-litres.

The Clio Sport Tourer comes in two trim levels - the budget Expression and the sporty Dynamique. Expression allows buyers to express themselves with electric windows, the removable load floor, 15" alloy wheels, electric door mirrors and a height adjustable driver's seat. The Dynamique models look much more appealing with the addition of a leather steering wheel and gearknob, air-conditioning, automatic wipers and automatic headlamps. The premium of nearly £900 you pay for the Dynamique will be viewed as a worthwhile one by many, not least because of that model's classier interior trim.

The Clio Sport Tourer is pitted against a raft of small cars that major on practicality. There are mini-MPVs, van based MPVs and the more directly comparable compact estates, so the choice available to buyers is considerable. The relatively premium pricing of the Clio will even open up the possibility of larger estate cars so despite its considerable qualities, the Sport Tourer will have a fight on its hands to sell in big numbers.

With only one engine edging over the 100bhp barrier, it's safe to say that low costs are more of a Clio Sport Tourer strength than raw pace. This, of course, is exactly how it should be considering this utility vehicle's target market. Fuel economy and emissions are extremely good. Combined cycle tests show the 1.2-litre entry-level unit returning 47.9mpg and 139g/km emissions but the livelier TCe petrol is actually more efficient with 48.7mpg and 137g/km. The diesels still trump the petrol units with both coming in over 60mpg on the combined cycle. The 86bhp offering actually getting 64mpg and 117g/km making is a very affordable car to run and the most cost-effective choice for those covering moderate to high mileages.

The resale values of Renault's Clio tend to be comparatively strong and there's no reason to expect the Sport Tourer version to falter from that path. Insurance costs are low thanks to the moderately powered engine range and although Renault has a hit and miss reliability record, the Clio Sport Tourer's components are proven.

If you want to carry a lot of stuff, a small car like Renault's Clio probably isn't the ideal starting point but if you'd like an increased luggage capacity married to the compact dimensions and nimble handling of one of the market's leading superminis, the Clio Sport Tourer could be the answer. The Tourer offers real extra practicality over the standard hatchback and with its economical engines yielding low running costs and hushed refinement, there's a lot to like.

Think of the Clio Sport Tourer as a Clio with a bigger boot and you'll be very near the mark. Is that worth paying the premium Renault asks? Well, the Tourer's similarity to the hatchback in all respects bar its extra space makes it a very adept product, fun, frugal and refined. Add on the increased luggage space and you have an extra dimension with no real drawbacks. For some, the space available won't be sufficient but if you can fit everything you need to inside, the Clio Sport Tourer will make a fine family companion.

TOP 5 CLIO DEALS

The results below show the top CLIO deals on buyacar

	Renault Clio 1.5 dCi 86 Dynamique 5dr Tourer Estate
	ETR	Mthly £230	Saving £2,090	Price £11,820
	Renault Clio 1.2 16V Dynamique 5dr Tourer Estate
	ETR	Mthly £202	Saving £1,773	Price £10,487
	Renault Clio 1.2 TCE Dynamique 5dr Tourer Estate
	ETR	Mthly £214	Saving £1,901	Price £11,059
	Renault Clio 1.6 VVT Dynamique 5dr Auto Tourer Estate
	ETR	Mthly £241	Saving £2,146	Price £12,214
	Renault Clio 1.5 dCi 106 Dynamique 5dr Tourer Estate
	ETR	Mthly £244	Saving £2,210	Price £12,450

typical 12.75% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000