Renault Clio Classic 1.4 SE

Years after having developed a somewhat cynical image of the Clio Classic, I was forced to drive it eventually. That was when I first discovered that the car was actually a solid one capable of enduring plenty of hardships. That's also when I decided to push it, because after all, I didn't like the car in the first place. So I took it for a spin. A 200 km spin.

For starters, the gas station. The car only takes in unleaded and, from the first few miles of the journey I could tell that going far wasn't possible without plenty of gas, especially with the A/C on. So I asked the gas station clerk to intoxicate the Clio with 25 liters of unleaded. There, it's happy now, the fuel gauge reading above half the tank's capacity. So let's see what this Clio is all about. Inside the city, the car is very present and even with a short first gear, the second and third provide enough rev free driving to cruise along any overcrowded street. But with the A/C on, you might become paranoid about the fuel consumption.

And so we come to a tight turn, the very last in the city and the doorway to the tollway: that's when I found out that this car was to be driven slowly in sharp turns. Not because it does not handle them pretty well but because, if the tarmac is dry or wet, and your speed is above 40kph, the car could very well decide to keep going straight ahead no matter where your steering wheel is aiming.

Luckily the brakes are present and you can correct tight manoeuvres quickly, because otherwise this car would be a deadly trap. As a side note, I just want to reassure you that it does have four airbags and that it is pretty solid unlike many of today's budget frenzies.

On the highway, the car drives pretty smoothly and, over all, sticks to the road very well. It took me two hours driving in a completely foggy highway to notice how well this car goes because, even though the wind was pretty violent, and even though the visibility was extremely poor, the Clio pushed on at over 110 km/h very well and, when necessary, the brakes performed their duty without fail. And when it isn't foggy, you feel that the 1.4 liter engine has plenty to say even at speeds exceeding 160 kph. The car is still stable at such speeds.

Overall, what I enjoyed the most was the interior comfort because the Clio, after all, is not a racing car. At the speed limit you can barely hear the engine, and the A/C makes your long journeys in rough weather a pleasure. The car comes with electric front windows, Power steering, remote control central locking which secures the booth as well, and Air Conditioning. The interior trim is very pleasant and the plastics are not that bad either. The front console offers two cup holders, one of which also happens to be an ashtray holder. The ashtray itself can be gotten rid of if you suddenly decide you can't bear the smell of cigarette butts under your nose (this is very handy when the air conditioning is on). The instrumentation is very complete and even offers an RPM counter. The glove box is very spacious and two empty pockets on the front doors provide plenty of storage room. The electrically assisted power steering does a very good job on the highway and inside the city for calm drivers. And last but not least, the back seats have headrests which can be a nuisance for the driver, especially in city traffic.