Renault Clio RS: Superb handling and great value for money

1.648379-216668302 — The Clio has a weightier feel than other hot hatches and the first few gears fly by a bit quicker Image Credit: Christopher List/ANM

The first thing that struck me about Renault's 2011 Clio RS was that it seemed to come equipped with a weapon. Despite never having seen West Side Story, releasing these newer, switchblade-like keys (flick knife in the Queen's English) still feels oddly thrilling to this reviewer. And yet those references aren't completely inappropriate because, like the ‘greaser' culture of Fifties Americana, Renault's 2011 Clio RS trades on a very specific style currency that, when properly understood, pays dividends. In this case, it yields a sporty, race-inspired ride that will appeal to those readers who view driving as more sport than utility.

Pottering around the side streets adjacent to wheels tower, I wasn't initially ready for the Clio's particular brand of high-rev driving. Until I got to know the car a little better, the six-speed manual transmission left me squarely in charge of shift points, and it took a little while get the feel of where the car was happiest. While driving stick was once considered a more authentic motoring experience, this simple technology seems to be something of an endangered species, so it was refreshing to once again manually navigate a gear box.

The Clio has a weightier feel than other hot hatches and the first few gears fly by a bit quicker than I expected. To be clear, this was in part because I was more or less short-shifting the car, in my capacity as wheels' most lackadaisical driver.

Once I got out onto the open road, I was able to open the car up and found out quickly that it thrives on hard driving — 3,500rpms is just the beginning, as the Clio likes to be pushed. Halfway to the redline, the naturally aspirated 2.0-litre 16V DOHC engine begins to roar, giving each of the first five gears a short window of animal aggression before it's time to jam the clutch in again.

This is why the Clio is really for those of you who just love to drive. I don't mean the act of getting from point A to point B in a zippy and comfortable fashion, but to work with the car, rather than having the car look after you like some deferential road butler. There's an experiential sweet spot with the Clio, and you have to be willing to work for it.

While this mighty little hatch might never share garage space with a McLaren or a Ferrari (except maybe at Dubai Mall), it meets a price point that is likely to attract buyers who are looking for an everyday ride with bonus oomph for bargain Dirhams.

The Clio, therefore, has a certain aspirational quality that starts with its more than reasonable price, and extends to "F1-derived" aerodynamics, including front-wing air-extractors, a rear diffuser and a front splitter, all of which, Renault points out, are unique to the performance hatchback class.

Carrying through the race theme, the crown jewel of the Clio's interior are its twin Recaro bucket seats — nay, thrones — which snugly cradle driver and passenger with a tenderness that is inversely proportionate to the Clio's aggressive styling. The seats also include slots for a racing-harness and integrated headrests for the Autodrome set. On the whole, the interior is relatively spare, and includes highlights like a perforated leather steering wheel with visible stitching and yellow centre point marker, and a yellow rev-counter that includes an audible and visible gearshift indicator to help optimise gear changes. The build feels very solid, including doors that will likely enlarge your biceps if operated on a daily basis.

The 203bhp RS is an absolute champ in the corners, gripping the road even when I pushed as hard as I dared. The 2011 Clio's front and rear track measurements have been widened by 48mm and 50mm respectively to improve handling and it shows. Additionally, the wheelbase has been extended by 10mm to 2,585mm, culminating in a car that is exceedingly fun in its Superman moments, if a tad staid when you're Clark Kent-ing your way across a parking lot.

Its rear suspension features a reinforced programmed deflection torsion beam to complement the front end design. Additionally, the steering has been recalibrated compared to the previous model, giving the driver a better feel of the road.

If you're looking for an actual race car at work-a-day prices, then I humbly suggest that you might be wearing your safety harness a tad too tight at the neck. But whatever concessions the little RS makes, it manages to crystallise a price-to-performance ratio that brings race attributes to a mortal price point. The Clio will appeal to the keen driver.

For my pregnant wife, who struggled to climb out of the bucket seats, it wasn't a match. But at Dh84,000, the Clio is great value. And if that's not enough, its exhaust note even has a charming French accent.

Specs & rating