Test drive by Renault Clio 5 doors 2001 - 2006 hatchback

French courses

The center of the metropolis with its traffic jams and jams is not the best place for a large SUV or limousine. Neither flashing lights, nor SSU, nor other road attributes of power will help. But in a favorable position there are modest micro -lines. But the Russian mentality for the most part refers to such vehicles to the category of ladies.
And in vain. In the West, consumers of any categories willingly move on them in cities - it is convenient ...
Fashion lawmakers in the micro -lighting sector (in a western - supermini) are now Peugeot 206, Skoda Fabia and the recently updated Volkswagen Polo. This also includes such machines as Toyota Yaris Verso and Ford Fiesta. As well as Renault Clio, which - with a five -door body - appeared on the Russian market this spring. She visited our test.
At the mention of Renault Clio, I have associations with the racing team Frank Williams, which is not so strange if I recall the history of Formula 1 - the hegemony of the Williams car with Renault motor. There was also a version of the charged Clio in the modification of Williams ... But these are the affairs of the past days.
Last year, Renault Clio was updated. Modern rounded shapes, large glazing area, large flap eyes, covered with smooth polycarbonate. Designers managed to create a modern, easily memorable look - quite serious, but not without French chic.
The salon is made, as they say, modestly, but with taste. Everything is extremely functional, nothing superfluous. The new front panel looks strict and solid. The seat with tissue upholstery at first seemed too hard, but after a day of continuous traveling around the city I was completely not tired, and the landing as I picked up the first time, I didn’t change it anymore. The only remark - I wanted to lower the chair a little lower, but the range of vertical adjustment is small. Like, however, the rest.
The steering wheel has a properly selected size and section, comfortably lies in the hands. Behind it is a well -composed instrument shield. On the sides, the speedometer and a tachometer in silver rings, in the center - the block of control lamps, above it the indicators of the fuel level and the temperature of the engine. In the center of the torpedo, above the ventilation deflectors, there is a display of a route computer, and under them there is a central alarm button, a radio nest and a microclimate control unit with three familiar rotating handles. On the tunnel, the automatic transmission control lever has a special winter driving mode.
The driver and front passenger can be comfortable quite comfortable, but you can’t envy passengers. Not only does the knees have to literally hug the backs of the front seats, but also the head strives to rest on the ceiling. You should not even stutter about the three of them to fit there. What can you do - Supermini ...
The luggage compartment, as expected, does not shine in size, but you can transport some luggage, especially if you fold the rear seat. The reserve is in the niche under the rug. The trunk button is interesting - it was hidden inside the corporate rhombus, so you won’t even guess.
On the go, Clio surprised - in a good way. A modest motor with a volume of 1.4 liters accelerated the car very cheerfully, and this despite the fact that the box is a machine gun. On the box it makes sense to stop especially. It is with fuzzy logic, that is, simply adaptive (Renault engineers prefer the term proactive). If you go slowly, then it is no different from any other machine gun. Switching with minor deeds occur in the region of 3000 rpm., Gas reacts sluggishly. But everything is fundamentally changing if the gas is paved to the stop. In response, at first follows a leisurely switch to one gear down, and then a powerful jerk. The programs are twisted to 6000 rpm., Allowing the maximum use of the capabilities of the motor. When dumping gas is active in the engine.
All this is very convenient with active maneuvering in the city stream. Using a small window, you sharply rebuild and wait for the next one, while the box holds the reduced for a long time, supporting the engine in the maximum power revolution; In the case of a sharp maneuver, you do not have to expect switching to the transmission down, Clio instantly responds to the movement of the gas pedal. When braking after active acceleration, shocks in the transmission are clearly felt - this box, following a decrease in speed, goes to low gears, constantly maintaining the car in combat readiness.
Of course, a proactive box is an order of magnitude better than an ordinary machine, but it still cannot compete with mechanics, especially since it differs in some eccentricities. For example, with active acceleration from a place when the speed reached 130 km/h, she did not want to switch higher. The speed was quite happy with me, but the roar of an engine that was playing at high speeds annoyed. I had to drop gas. When the tachometer arrow fell to 3000 rpm, the box calmly switched to the highest gear, but acceleration to the same 130 km/h slowed down ...
The steering was liked by a balanced progressive characteristic - in the parking, the force is small, and on the go in the turns the necessary feedback and a good returning force appear. Clio, by the way, is electric steering.
The suspension for a car of this class is quite stiff. Brains in corners - within acceptable limits. Of course, when passing serious irregularities, it is noticeably shocking, but there is no hint of breakdown. Brakes (rear - drum) have good efficiency, and ABS showed its capabilities only once, and even then on gravel ...
Well, Clio 1.4 is a worthy representative of the supermini class. Let the Peugeot 206 look more fun, and Skoda Fabia has a more spacious salon. A distinctive feature of Clio is a harmonious combination of appearance, running qualities, equipment and prices. Plus, a high level of security: the previous version of the car received four stars in the Euro-NCAP crash tests, and the current body is stronger and harder. The price of a car on the test is $ 13.900.
Text: Alexander Nadens
 

Source: Motor magazine [No. 11/2002]