How has the Renault Clio changed over time?

Renault has just unveiled its latest Clio, heralding the arrival of the sixth generation of the firm’s popular hatchback. With a bold new look, it’s arguably one of the most distinctive Clio models to date, though this compact car does have a track record for mixing things up design-wise.

So, how has the Renault Clio got to where it is today and what was this car’s history like? Let’s take a look.

First generation: The small car begins

Unveiled in 1990 at the Paris Motor Show, the new Clio showcased a bold new direction for Renault. While the French outfit was well-known for its compact city cars, the Clio aimed to bring a ‘big car’ feel in a car which didn’t feel overly large or cumbersome.

Launched with a 1.2- and 1.4-litre engine, the Clio acted as the successor to the famous Renault 5 but introduced a more modern, cleaner aesthetic overall. It finally made its way to the UK in 1991, with a starting price of £7,190. An updated ‘Phase 2’ model brought some styling updates when it arrived in 1994, too.

Second generation – the tricky follow-up

The first-generation Clio had been a runaway success for Renault, with well over 300,000 models shifted within the UK alone in its lifetime. Replacing it, therefore, posed quite the challenge for Renault, which is why it didn’t stray too far from the popular setup of the original.

Showcasing a more rounded design, the Clio II brought a slightly longer wheelbase which helped to boost interior space, while the introduction of lightweight panels – such as the aluminium bonnet – helped to make this new Clio more efficient. Prices started at £8,350 when it launched in 1998, though a broader selection of safety equipment and cleaner engines helped to offset this price increase over the original.

Third generation – a trio of successful Clios?

The next instalment of the Clio story came in 2005, when the third-generation car arrived in the UK. As before, it had undergone a growth spurt with larger dimensions than the second-generation car which came before it, while safety became a large consideration and this was reflected in the Clio’s five-star Euro NCAP score.

It gained a number of more upmarket features, too, such as a greater use of premium materials and more high-tech touches such as a clever wireless ‘card’ which replaced the standard key. Though launched as a three-door, a more practical five-door model soon joined the ranks. It was priced from £8,895, too, which wasn’t too much of an uplift compared with the car it replaced. As with previous generations of Clio, an updated Phase 2 model brought a sharper front end and a higher-quality interior when it launched in 2009.

Fourth generation – A new breed of Clio?

Showcased for the first time in 2012 at the Paris Motor Show, the new fourth-generation Clio – as had been the case previously – grew in size considerably in order to offer an even better level of interior space. Now five-door-only, the Clio had a lower roofline than the car which came before it, helping to give it a more dynamic stance on the road.

Arriving with small-capacity petrol and diesel engines, the Clio range gained a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox for the first time, showcasing a big breakthrough for this compact car. A new touchscreen was equipped inside the Clio, too.

Fifth generation – A more modern Clio?

Making its debut at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, the fifth-generation Clio was arguably the sharpest-looking car that we’d seen. Sitting atop a brand new platform, this generation of Clio focused on more premium materials and a greater level of technology. A new 9.3-inch infotainment system was impressive for the time, too, while a variety of safety-focused features made the Clio more secure than ever.

Introducing hybrid engines, the new Clio was more efficient, too, while a facelift car – introduced in 2023 – brought a redesigned exterior and a sporty new Esprit Alpine trim level.