Test drive by Renault Clio 5 doors 2001 - 2006 hatchback

They meet on a dressing, they see over the mind

In poor countries where the car often serves as a means of expression and a demonstrative sign of belonging to a particular social layer, it is especially important that even small and cheap cars look like a maximum of money. That is why sedans are appreciated there, which are less practical than the hatchbacks, but at least externally resemble representative models. Knowing about the preferences of buyers, manufacturers specifically for these markets are developing three -block modifications based on existing double -bearing cars. Moreover, in order to save funds for design and production, designers go through the smallest resistance, that is, they put the trunk to the hatchback, trying to use the maximum elements of the original version. The side doors and even the roof remain almost untouched. It is far from necessary to go for examples - for example, the Chevrolet Corsa Brazilian sedan is built on the basis of Opel Corsa, the Indian Ford Icon is a modified Ford Fiesta, and the Chinese Donfeng ZX988 is nothing more than Citroone ZX with a separate trunk. Yes, and our ninety -ninth can be attributed to them. As a rule, the first victim of such operations is aesthetics.


The designers set to choose in the strict conditions of the technical specifications from several evils smaller, as a result of which the appearance of a foreign drawing inevitably violates the verified proportions of bicrobial machines. And our guest today, Renault Clio Symbol, can serve as material evidence of how difficult it is to work with tied hands. The second -generation Clio itself is the most important car with a complete way, in Europe sold only with a three- or five -door body. However, the tail, as if growing at the car after a plastic surgery, breaks its current image. There is no dispute, the powerful feed part of Clio Symbol in the back of the back looks quite pretty, but with a cheerful muzzle with a good-naturedly bulging glade and a smiling slot of the radiator grate, it clearly dissonates. However, we would not want to delve into emotional assessments, especially since in terms of taste and color, everyone has their own priorities, and many Clio Symbol will probably seem cute and charming, something like a dolphin. As for the body, it has one curious and very practical feature: the front wings are made of flexible plastic, so they are not afraid of easy contact with foreign objects.
 

The interior of the car looks more victorious than that of Vazovskaya dozens, but it is made of much better materials, and it is assembled to glory - nothing bursts anywhere, does not creak and does not rustle. The only remark arose to organize the driver’s place: for a tall person, the back of the chair is short, and the headrests are at the level of the neck. Otherwise, everything is wonderful - the seat is wide, moderately soft, with good lateral support and a wide range of adjustment in the longitudinal direction. Is that the lambs that change the angle of inclination of the back are small, but how often do they have to use?
 

The three -spoke steering wheel is not a masterpiece of design, but it has excellent geometric parameters, and it is quite convenient to use it, despite the lack of adjustment of the column. In the chubby central part, the airbag is hidden, which is included in the list of standard equipment. (It also includes a hydraulic mission and immobilizer). The left steering wheel switch is overloaded with functions: firstly, it is equipped with two rotating sectors that control the head light and fog, and secondly, a sound signal button is located in the French manner in the end. The dashboard is a visual sample of asceticism: three dark dials on a dark background, white numbers and the absence of a tachometer. The ventilation control unit, consisting of three round handles, is just as simple and logical, but this is only a plus. I was pleased with the work of deflectors - soft and clear, like on expensive cars.
 

You can’t call the pockets in the doorway in the doorway, but the items that are not fitting in them can be attached to a hefty glove box, and every little thing on the shelf, which is below to the left of the steering wheel. True, it is still not worth trusting the glove compartment of valuable things, since he is deprived of the lid, putting his contents for public display.
 

The rear passengers are not so free. It is more difficult for them to get into the car because of a sloping roof, because of it, high passengers have a hard time. In the back seat there is a lack of legs space, which develops into a sharp one if you are sitting in front of you tall people. The absence of headrests only pushes to the conclusion that in the second row in Clio Symbol will be most comfortable for children or adolescents.
 

One of the main advantages of the car is its bottomless trunk. He seemed so huge to us that there was not even a question whether the back of the rear seat folds or not (no answer - no). Later, having checked with the numbers, we realized that the impression is not so deceptive: the cargo compartment Clio contains 510 liters, and the trunk of the legendary 140th Mercedes-for some 15 liters more.
 

In general, the car did not cause any special emotions: in something it is not bad, in some way she leaves much to be desired. Sometimes even a sinful thought crept into the head that those $ 8600 that they were asking for Clio Symbol - it seems to be a bit too much. This continued until the moment we went on the road. And then it became clear that the car was able to drive, and how to drive!
 
The 1.4-liter K7 GUGU motor brilliantly combines traction and dynamic capabilities. If you want - touch in the first gear, if you want - in the second, the engine will not protest. He with amazing enthusiasm responds to the actions of the accelerator pedal at almost any speed and on any gear, even when driving in the city on the fifth. Moreover, the motor is ideally combined with a gearbox that is distinguished by a harmonious selection of gear rates without any hint of stretching, so characteristic of French machines. They must admit: K7J - to date, the best gasoline engine of such a displacement from the ever met.
 

We received a new confirmation that not all hydraulic power steering are flawed: the one that is installed on Clio Symbol is able to provide good reactive effort in the turns of various degrees of complexity and reflect the adhesive capabilities of the tires depending on the road situation. The car is characterized by a slight insufficient turning, and the moment of disruption of the front axle into the lateral sliding can feel and learn to predict even a very experienced driver. And the drift should not be afraid at all, unless, of course, to provoke it. The loss of the clutch of the rear wheels with the coating threatens only when passing S-shaped turns to the limit. Thanks to this set of qualities - a reference motor, an excellent steering, clear work of the box and impeccable pedal drives - confidence and complete understanding arises between the driver and the car. Add here moderate rolls of the body on turns and good visibility due to the absence of the rear head restraints and the rear window going on the roof, and you will understand that the machine control can give pleasure. And urban residents will appreciate the extraordinary turbidity of a car, capable of turning around in Mercedesian on a tiny patch.
 

The Clio Symbol brake amplifier was too powerful, as a result of which the machine reacts sharply even to a light pressing on the pedal. At high speeds, this does not interfere, but when traveling in a dense flow will require time for addiction.
 
We will not say that the smoothness of the course is recklessly sacrificed. The adapted suspension easily swallows small coating defects, and on large pits she never suffered in breakdowns. At the same time, all medium -sized irregularities are well felt in the cabin, and on the gentle waves there is sometimes a vertical buildup of the body.
 
Without a doubt, the appearance of Clio Symbol in the Russian market is far from symbolic. This car really seems well adapted to the conditions of Russian megacities - maneuverable, dynamic, easy to control and, very important, constructively simple, and therefore maintainable. If we talk about design, then he is an amateur. But we are sure that there are many lovers.
 
The name of the ancient Greek Muse of the History of Clio appears in the Renault model line for more than ten years. In the spring of 1998, the premiere of the second -generation machine was held at the Geneva Motor Show, the development of which cost in an amount exceeding 1.3 billion American dollars. Symbol sedan, recently supplied to our country, has been produced in the Turkish city of Bursa since the fall of last year. Its production was engaged in the subsidiary of OYAK-RENAULT, founded thirty-five years ago, which in 1976 connected to the implementation of the Corporate Ring (Renault International Group) corporate program. Even then, the goal of Ring was to create production or organization of industries around the world, taking into account the requirements and specifics of local markets.
 
On November 1, 1997, the Renault company and the Moscow government signed an intention to create a joint venture for assembling French cars. A joint venture, the named Autoframos, was established on July 2, 1998, and its first products were the Megane Classic sedans, which was later joined by the Turkish Renault 19. Clio Symbol can also receive Moscow residence permit, but only if cars are imported so far, so far as they are imported. Because of the Black Sea, there will be a steady demand.
 

text: Leonid Klyuyev
photo: Vladimir Ostanin
 
  
 

 
 

Source: Wheel magazine [No. 43/2000]