New Renault Clio R.S.Line Review

Published Date: 12th Nov 2019

The R.S.Line is the sporty version of Renault’s fifth generation Clio which concentrates on styling, tech and equipment rather than all-out hot hatch performance amid rumours that a full-blown new Renault Clio Sport may be in the pipeline.

Clio R.S.Line Engines and Handling

Is not about sports performance with the RS line its about styling and equipment and it is firmly aimed at the mainstream Clio audience.

There’s a 1.0 litre 4-cylinder, petrol turbo engine available with manual or CVT transmission or a more powerful 1.3 petrol turbo which is also used in other Renault models like the Renault Captur and Megane.

The 1.3 petrol model is only available with dual clutch automatic transmission and paddle shifters to give it the full sporty feel. Renault say the 1.3 petrol models can do 0-62mph in around 9 seconds which is more than nippy enough for around town driving.

The dual clutch transmission is excellent, its smooth and delivers power in a punchy and responsive manner when you put your foot on the accelerator.

How does the R.S.Line handle? Well, its excellent, it’s great fun to drive with sharp/responsive steering. In the Supermini segment, the king of handling and pure driving excellence has been the Ford Fiesta for a long-time now. Does the Clio match up to it? Well, its very close indeed, the drive and handling are that good.

If you’re a long time Fiesta lover it may be worth your while going down to your local Renault main dealer to arrange a test drive of the new Clio R.S.Line, you will likely be pleasantly surprised.
 

Clio RS Line Exterior

Exterior styling takes a lot of Renault Sport cues. As well as some of the nice new features you’ll see across the entire Clio range, like the hidden rear door handles. At the front of the R.S.Line model there’s a more aggressive bumper with honeycomb grille.

The RS line gets its own unique 17-inch alloy wheels and at the rear the bumper is a shaped and designed to look like there's a rear diffuser (purely a styling feature).

The fith generation new Clio is a smart looking small car that competes with any supermini for the crown of best-looking, get the R.S.Line model and you have the icing on the cake.
 

Clio R.S.Line Interior

The fifth generation Clio’s interior is impressive, Renault have really upped their game here. Build quality is better than ever and you’ll find a lot more soft-touch materials.

The centre-piece of the RS.Line’s dashboard is the impressive 9.3 inch portrait infotainment screen and their also a digital driver display that finishes things off nicely to give a real sporty cockpit feel.

There’s a lots of ‘sporty’ touches in the R.S.Line models including red detail stitching and red trim on the dashboard that completes what Renault call the 'carbon colour' interior.

To complete the sporty interior, you also get paddle shifts, a sports steering wheel, aluminium sports pedals and sports front seats with added lumbar support.

On a practical note the boot is particularly generous for a supermini. it's up there with the best in class, offering a tad over 390 litres.

You can compare the latest Renault Clio R.S.Line deals here.