Blog home Autos Fresh face and new tech - The new Renault Clio lands in South Africa

Fresh face and new tech - The new Renault Clio lands in South Africa

After months of anticipation, the Renault Clio has finally arrived in South Africa.

Just a bit of history regarding the Clio - the hatchback is currently in its fifth-generation and was first introduced to the local market in 2000 with the second-generation model, and has gone on to sell more than 76 000 units in the country and 15 million globally. When you're talking about household brands then the Renault Clio definitely falls into that category.

Under the bonnet is a revised 1.0-litre TCe 100 petrol engine that generates 74kW and 160Nm - which is an improvement of 8kW and 20Nm over the outgoing model - and is mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The French automaker claims a fuel consumption of 5.7-litres/100km.

The model is immediately distinguishable in design and though it follows a similar blueprint, all components are brand-new. The exterior is kitted with a revised front grille and C-shaped LED daytime running lights and headlights, while the rear sees the fitment of larger LED lights.

On the inside is where you'll find a 7-inch digital cluster and a (category-leading) 9.3-inch multimedia touchscreen, integrated with the Renault CONNECT universe and is compatible with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Also present is a six-speaker audio system as well as keyless entry and ignition. Boot space capacity measures in at a total of 391-litres and a maximum of 1069-litres with the rear seats folded flat.



Electronic Stability Control, Anti-lock Braking System with Electronic Brake Distribution combined with Emergency Brake Assist  and Auto High Beam Control. are the usual safety features, along with front and side airbags and Lane Departure Warning (in Intens trim). Also, depending on the trim level chosen, Pure Vision headlights and front and rear parking sensors are available. Other nifty additions include seat belts with pretensioners, ISOFIX seat anchors and whiplash headrests.


Customers can also opt for optional extras like Metallic paint (R2 500), Intens Option Pack (R15 000) that consists of a 9.3-inch infotainment screen, rear camera, front PDC and 17-inch Diamond Cut alloy wheels. Body colours consist of four metallic (Flame Red, Mercury, Titanium Grey, Diamond Black) and two non-metallic (Glacier White, Urban Grey).

The entire Clio range comes standard with a five-year or 150 000km mechanical warranty, a six-year anti-corrosion warranty and a two-year or 30 000km service plan.

Now that you’ve got the knowledge, it’s time to shop! Head to gumtree.co.za or your Gumtree app (click for Apple & Android) and don’t forget to use your location settings to find local service information close to home.