In an exclusive event for Car Of The Year members, Renault showed all the details of the renovated cabin of the new Renault Clio.
The fifth generation will hit the market at the end of the first half and, having been on board one of the first prototypes, what I can say is that the French brand has made a real revolution in the cabin of its best-selling.
The Clio dominates the B-segment since 2013, with sales rising year after year, being the second best-selling car in Europe, surpassed only by the Volkswagen Golf.
Despite this, the fourth generation, which is now withdrawing, was not without criticism, which was mainly directed at the quality of the interior materials and some ergonomic issues. Renault listened to the critics, gathered a specific working group and the result is what can be seen in the images, which I had the opportunity to meet first hand, in Paris.
great evolution
As soon as I opened the door of the new Renault Clio and took the driver's seat, it was easy to see that the quality of the plastics on the top of the dashboard is much better, as well as on the front doors.
Just below this area, there is a personalization zone, which the customer can specify within the eight distinct indoor environments , which also change the coverings of the console, doors, steering wheel and armrests.
The steering wheel was replaced by a smaller one and the instrument panel is now fully digital and configurable in three graphics, according to the driving mode chosen in Multi Sense: Eco/Sport/Individual.
There are two instrument panels, depending on the version: a 7″ and a 10″. Renault calls the new interior the “Smart Cockpit” which includes the largest central monitor in its range, the Easy Link, connected.
This central monitor type “tablet” now has 9.3″, a more efficient anti-reflective surface and much more contrast and brightness.
The icons are more separated from each other, to facilitate the choice while the car is in progress. But Renault also realized that not always the best solution is to have everything within the system menus , that's why he highlighted a set of piano keys, placed under the monitor and, below, three rotary controls for the climate control, which makes it much more accessible.
The console was placed in a higher position, which brought the gearbox lever closer to the steering wheel. There is a good storage space in this area, such as induction smartphone charging and electric handbrake.
The door bags now have a really usable volume, such as the glove compartment, which increased from 22 to 26 l in capacity.
Laurens van den Acker, Director of Industrial Design, Renault GroupThe fifth generation Clio is very important to us, because it is "only" the best seller in the segment and the second best-selling car in Europe. It's an icon! Inside, we made a real revolution, with notable progress in perceived quality, greater sophistication and a strong technological presence.
More space
The front seats are now those of Mégane , with more leg length and a more comfortable backrest shape. They also have greater lateral support and gain in comfort. In addition, they are less bulky, saving space in the cabin.
The feeling of spaces in the front seats is clearly better, both in width, where 25 mm has been gained, and in length. The steering column is advanced 12 mm and the glove compartment cover is further back 17 mm, in both cases to improve knee room.
The dashboard design has been greatly improved, with straight lines that underline the wider cabin width and much better air conditioning grilles, one of the criticisms of the previous model. There are two new levels of equipment, the sporty R.S. Line which replaces the previous GT Line and the luxurious Initiale Paris.
RS Line
Moving on to the rear seats, you can see the better quality of the rear door handle, which remains “hidden” in the glazed area.
The lower roof requires some head care , when entering, but the rear seat is more comfortable. It has more room for the knees, due to the “hollow” shape of the backs of the front seats, the central tunnel is low and there is also a little more width, which the brand estimates at 25 mm.
Finally, the suitcase has increased its capacity to 391 l , has a more regular internal shape and a double bottom, which helps to form a large flat surface when the rear seats are folded down. The loading beam is a little higher than in the previous model, for reasons related to the requirements of insurance companies.
More news
The Renault Clio debuts at new CMF-B platform , already prepared to receive electrified variants. Under the “Drive the Future” plan, Renault has announced that it will launch 12 electrified models by 2022 , being the Clio E-Tech the first, next year.
According to public information, but not yet confirmed by the brand, this version should combine the 1.6 gasoline engine with a large alternator and a battery, for a combined power of 128 hp and five kilometers of autonomy in 100% electric mode.
By 2022, Renault is also committed to making all its models connected, which will already happen with the new Clio, and placing 15 models on the market with autonomous driving technologies, at different levels of driver assistance.
From 1990 to the end of 2018, the four generations of Clio sold 15 million units and after having analyzed it from the inside, this new generation seems well prepared to continue the success of its predecessors.
Initiale Paris