Renault Clio: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox automobile | {{Infobox automobile | ||
| name = Renault Clio | | name = Renault Clio | ||
| image = Renault Clio V.png | |||
| manufacturer = [[Renault]] | | manufacturer = [[Renault]] | ||
| aka = Renault Lutecia (Japan) | | aka = Renault Lutecia (Japan) | ||
Revision as of 08:55, 4 July 2026
| Renault Clio | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Renault |
| Also called | Renault Lutecia (Japan) |
| Production | 1990–present |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Supermini (B) |
| Body style |
|
| Layout |
|
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Renault 5 |
The Renault Clio is a supermini produced by the French vehicle manufacturer Renault since 1990. It replaced the Renault 5 in the company's model range. Six generations had entered production by 2025, with nearly 17 million vehicles sold during the first five generations.
Most versions have used a front-mounted transverse engine and front-wheel drive. The Clio has primarily been sold as a three-door or five-door hatchback. Saloon derivatives were marketed as the Clio Symbol or Renault Symbol in selected countries, while the third and fourth generations were also produced as estates. The model is sold as the Renault Lutecia in Japan.
History
First generation (1990–1998)
Renault introduced the first-generation Clio in 1990 as the replacement for the Renault 5. The new model abandoned Renault's previous numerical naming system and was positioned as a more modern small car. Three-door and five-door hatchback bodies were offered with petrol or diesel engines.
The Clio was named European Car of the Year for 1991. A sporting Clio 16S joined the range that year with a 1.8-litre 16-valve engine. Renault introduced the Clio Williams in 1993. It used a 2.0-litre 16-valve engine and a revised chassis developed partly to support Renault's rally programme.
Renault also produced an electric version of the first-generation Clio during the 1990s. Its traction batteries reduced luggage capacity and gave it a shorter driving range than the petrol models. Production remained limited.
Second generation (1998–2012)
The second-generation Clio entered production in 1998. Its body was larger than that of the first generation and used more rounded exterior panels. Renault continued to offer three-door and five-door hatchbacks.
A four-door saloon appeared in 1999 under the Clio Symbol name. It was later marketed simply as the Renault Symbol or as the Renault Thalia in some countries. The saloon shared its front structure and mechanical components with the hatchback but used a separate rear body with a conventional luggage compartment.
Renault Sport developed performance versions of the hatchback. The Clio Renault Sport used a front-mounted 2.0-litre engine and front-wheel drive. The Clio V6 used a substantially altered three-door body with a 3.0-litre V6 mounted behind the front seats. Power was sent to the rear wheels. Its rear passenger compartment was removed to provide space for the engine and drivetrain.
The second generation remained in production after the introduction of the Clio III. European versions were sold as the Clio Campus. Renault later developed the Clio Mio from the same basic design for Latin American production between 2012 and 2016.
Third generation (2005–2012)
The third-generation Clio was introduced in 2005. It used the Renault–Nissan B platform, which was also used for the Renault Modus. The longer body provided more passenger space and allowed Renault to offer equipment previously associated with larger cars.
The Clio III received five stars for adult occupant protection in its 2005 Euro NCAP assessment. It was named European Car of the Year for 2006, making the Clio one of the vehicle lines to receive the award twice.
A five-door estate entered production in 2008 under the Clio Estate and Clio Grandtour names. It used a longer rear body to increase luggage capacity while retaining the hatchback's front structure and mechanical layout.
The Clio Renault Sport continued with a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre engine. Renault revised its power output and chassis during the generation, producing the Renault Sport 197 and later Renault Sport 200 versions.
Fourth generation (2012–2019)
The fourth-generation Clio reached dealerships in 2012. It was produced as a five-door hatchback, with the rear door handles placed near the side windows to reduce their visual prominence. A five-door estate was also produced.
Renault introduced the R-Link touchscreen system on the Clio IV. The car received a revised exterior and updated interior equipment during a 2016 restyle.
The Clio Renault Sport changed from the naturally aspirated engine and manual gearbox used by its predecessor to a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine with a dual-clutch automatic transmission. The model retained front-wheel drive and was produced only with the five-door body.
Fifth generation (2019–2025)
The fifth-generation Clio entered production in 2019 on the CMF-B platform. It retained a five-door hatchback body but used a new structure and redesigned cabin. Petrol and diesel engines were offered during the generation.
Renault added the E-Tech full-hybrid powertrain in 2020. It combined a petrol engine with two electric motors and a multi-mode transmission. The traction battery was charged by the engine and regenerative braking rather than an external charging connection.
The Clio V received five stars in its 2019 Euro NCAP assessment. Renault restyled the model in 2023 with a revised front end, new lighting and updated trim levels. Production continued during the introduction of its successor.
Sixth generation (2025–present)
Renault presented the sixth-generation Clio in Munich on 8 September 2025. Production began at the Oyak Renault plant in Bursa, Turkey, and customer deliveries began later that year.
The sixth generation retained the five-door hatchback layout but used a longer body and a redesigned exterior. Its cabin introduced a twin-screen dashboard with the OpenR Link multimedia system on equipped versions.
The initial powertrain range consisted of a 115-horsepower petrol engine and a 160-horsepower E-Tech full-hybrid system. The petrol version was offered with a manual or dual-clutch automatic transmission. An Eco-G version capable of operating on petrol or liquefied petroleum gas joined the range in 2026.
The Clio VI received four stars in its 2025 Euro NCAP assessment. Euro NCAP had changed its testing and scoring requirements since the assessments of the previous generations, so ratings awarded in different years are not directly comparable.
Design and engineering
Mainstream Clio models use unitary steel body construction with the engine mounted transversely at the front. Power is delivered to the front wheels. The Clio V6 was the main exception, as its engine was mounted longitudinally behind the front seats and drove the rear wheels.
The early generations used naturally aspirated petrol engines across most of the range. Diesel engines were offered for drivers requiring lower fuel consumption. Turbocharged petrol engines became more common in the fourth and fifth generations, while the fifth generation introduced the E-Tech full-hybrid system.
Manual transmissions were used throughout the model's production. Automatic versions have used conventional torque-converter gearboxes, automated manuals or dual-clutch transmissions depending on the generation. The E-Tech hybrid uses a multi-mode transmission designed to combine its petrol engine with two electric motors.
Motorsport
Renault developed racing and rally versions of the Clio throughout its production. The Clio Williams formed the basis for Group A rally cars during the 1990s. The wider Clio Maxi was later developed for the Kit Car category.
Later rally versions were built to Super 1600 and R3 regulations. Competition cars based on the fifth generation were produced for the Rally4 and Rally5 categories.
The Clio Cup has operated as a one-make circuit-racing series using production-derived Clio racing cars. Successive versions received safety cages, competition suspension and stripped interiors. Their engines and transmissions were selected according to the road-going generation on which each racing model was based.
2025 Târgoviște incident
On 2 May 2025, Romanian florist Ana-Maria Nistor was driving a Renault Clio through Târgoviște after visiting her grandfather in hospital. At approximately 2:22 a.m., Iakob Ionuț stopped the car, shot and killed Nistor, then took the vehicle.[1]
Iakob drove southeast from Târgoviște at high speed. At approximately 2:38 a.m., he lost control near Ulmi and DJ711. The Clio rolled several times and stopped beside a field. Iakob abandoned the wrecked vehicle and continued on foot.[2][3]