Test drive by Renault Clio 5 doors 2001 - 2006 hatchback

Muse of electronics

A solidity rate and a rich level of quality equipment inherent in models of a higher class. Reno-Klio III reviews the standards of segment V.
 

Machines of bright colors on the serpentine of the mountain road are watching a resort audience that closes the velvet season with glances. By the way, here, there are more and more Russians on Sardinia: chic multi -deck yachts, hanging out along the coast, this is confirmation. The sun warms in the summer, and the sea surface beckons with a life-giving coolness. Eh, now
 

But we are not here for the sake of rest: the motors roar in a triumphantly, overcoming a protracted rise. The hand diligently climbs the programs, and I listen and look closely at Reno-Clio III.
 

The good name clio is soft, melodic. Regardless of the pronunciation manner, there is a feeling of something light, foggy and necessarily pretty. And what else could the muse be in the usual performance?
 

HIGHER AND HIGHER

There is no doubt: following modern canons, Clio became a little higher, longer and richer previous. The car pulled up to the upper face of the segment B, becoming a new reference point for competitors. Of course, the creators of Clio meticulously calculated all its advantages in square and cubic meters, percent, etc. Even kilograms of grown equipped mass are laid out on the shelves: so much for the sake of safety, and so much in sound insulation. Do I need to comment on? I am sure that the impressions of what happened, much more important.
 

Clio III created in record time has a common platform with Renault Moduus and Nissan-Mikra. By the design of the chassis, it is unified with Megan II, as in some details of the interior. The wide range of engines is modernized, all meet the norms of Euro IV. Of course, a lot of attention was paid to security, both passive and active. The car has already received five stars from Euroncap for the last models of Renault. And also ESP, ASR, ABS.
 

There is also a system of air pressure in the tires. The pride of Renault Electronic key-card with a free hand function. Additional lamps in the headlights light up when turning the steering wheel to a certain angle. In general, a lot of innovations and highlights, usually found by the class above. This is the ideology of Clio: the main innovations are designed to increase his status in the eyes of the consumer. A high level of equipment, thoroughbred materials of upholstery, leather, wood, chrome should convince the latter in the known exclusivity of Clio against the background of competitors. The most interesting formally closest relative of the New II new item was also among them: after all, they do not plan to remove this version from the assembly line earlier than 2008. Such a strategy today
 

Beautiful or correct?
The correctness of forms, clarity of the lines will not be shown. That's just something is missing to the eye, unusual or something. You take a look at the one hand with a clear -powered style of Renault. And you will slightly change the angle of doubt: is it so? Probably, I was expecting another, Meganovsky breakthrough from him: this is when controversial, but defiantly boldly. Clio is much calmer, more restrained, correct, but without a bitch.
 

The nit -picking disappears, it is worth it to get into the car. Immediately you feel what special attention was paid to Clio III. Soft plastic, cozy shades of upholstery, thought out ergonomics. And extraordinary ease, airiness. In this car, for some reason, I do not want to immediately rush headlong. On the contrary, you slowly look around, touching one or the other, as if absorbing the wealth of sensations. Here, for example, is a central console familiar to Megan II or steering wheel switches, borrowed from him. Nearby is an original, truly Renovsky combination of devices. It is impossible not to praise the mess of impressive sizes, and in addition to him there are many smaller containers.
 

In the driver's place, spacious and comfortable. Solid seat sizes, decent ranges of adjustments, convenient in the cross section of the steering wheel and a supply of free space around. In this regard, the car was definitely a success: you get used to it very quickly.
 

Nevertheless, something is alarming. It is worth, for example, to start the engine, and Clio begins to resemble a computer toy. The steering wheel becomes empty and weightless, you are twisting more and the steering wheel will dangle from side to side. Dual and sensations from the accelerator pedal. Two -stage, as on a machine, it is frankly electron. At first glance, trifles. But still, Klio III became different, more detached or something.
 

Or someone else?

The second gear, acceleration, quick braking and again gas to the floor. Yes, on mountain serpentines, a 1.2-liter motor does not shine with traction capabilities on the rises. But he compensates for this with a steeper enthusiasm in horizontal areas. As soon as the arrow of the tachometer is selected by 4000, Clio flies, as if on the wings. At this moment, you forget about the electronicness of the relationship: after all, the right leg acts on the principle of turning on-off. Yes, and the steering wheel is poured with a logical feedback.
 

I like this version of the car! God with her, with dynamics, but the pendants are unexpectedly comfortable. Yes, and Clio is not a pleasure to manage it good. The only thing that announces the noise of the engine, starting with the same 4000 rpm.
 

The next Clio III with a 1.6 -liter engine. You feel the increase right away: this engine is more reasonable and clearly burdened. The car became light, mobile, sensitively reacts to touching the accelerator pedal. The car is more tolerant of the choice of gears and small errors of the driver. According to the first impressions, this version is noticeably quieter. However, here it is worth the arrow of the tachometer to get to the treasured mark from the motor as if they remove the casing. So there is enough revolution on the mountain path.
 

Interesting: the car suddenly began to repeat the profile of the road more diligently, shake more actively. Cause? Other tires. Low -profile tires noticeably worsened Clio's comfort, depriving it of a successful highlight. Yes, the car has become more precise, more active in management, even more reliable with emergency braking. That's just the work of all kinds of auxiliary systems in it is more noticeable. No words, they certainly help the driver. But some artificiality is noticeable that the steering wheel becomes a joystick, and the pedal buttons. And no matter how well all this is configured, sometimes someone else seems to drive the car. I note that not only the weakest Clio seemed extremely convenient. Why? Perhaps it is simply less than other versions by electronics.
 

Finally I transplant to the machine. Now everything is in its place: both a two -stage accelerator, a full package of stabilization systems, and even a steering wheel with feedback changing from speed. The adaptive four -speed box smoothly sorts through the gears, and the rest is inconsequently know the car in the right direction. Of course, she lost a little in dynamics, but she became even easier, clearer in management. Although again for the time being.

Active riding immediately makes a correction to the existing idyll. The box begins to delay significantly, not having time behind the driver: she thinks for a long time when overtaking, then, on the contrary, for some reason, she holds a lower gear after its completion. The manual control regime helps without it on the mountain road would have to be difficult.
 

Muse without poetry

for several days I was asked about twenty times: well, like a new clio? And each time he answered quite chaotic. Yes, of course, it has become more respectable, more convenient and safer. Reliafully drives, controls well and slows down. That's just the soul in it has become less. The muse now creates on a computer. This is no longer a light, air creation, but a clear, debugged mechanism in which there is no place for poetry.
 

What will be the Russian version of Klio III? It will probably change by the settings of pendants, which means that it will go differently.
 

Prices have not yet been determined, although they promised that they would be attractive. Let's see. In Europe, Clio III is already sold from 11,800 to 21,200 euros. For such advanced muses, it is very inexpensive.
 
Voskresensky Sergey
 
 
 


 
  

Source: The magazine "Driving"