Insurance Group: 13
MPG: 36.2
CO2: 179
0-62 Mph: 12.2 secs
BHP: 111 BHP
Range: 438 miles
PROS: The Clio is enjoyable to drive, good looking and spacious. This model also comes with a good level of standard equipment.
CONS: It's very expensive and the 1.6-litre engine is one of the weakest in the range in terms of both performance and fuel economy.
The Clio GT Line TomTom 1.6 VVT 111 Auto is fitted with Renault's 1.6-litre petrol engine which is disappointing. Despite its 400cc advantage over the 1.2 TCe, it only develops an extra 11bhp and produces 111bhp and 112lb-ft of torque. This means a leisurely 0-62mph time of 12.2 seconds and a top speed of 116mph. These performance figures would be fine for a diesel model but you expect a little bit more from a petrol-powered car.
The Clio is a hoot through the bends thanks to its stiff chassis and well sorted suspension. It's also hushed at high speeds and surprisingly comfortable, even on long motorway trips.
The French really know how to make an appealing supermini and the Clio is a prime example of this. It's much better looking than all of its rivals and the interior is superb thanks to liberal use of high quality soft-touch plastics.
This top-of-the-line GT Line model also comes with a good amount of standard equipment including alloy wheels, climate control, electric mirrors, electric windows, cruise control, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth, Sat-Nav and a CD player with MP3 connectivity.
The 2011 J D Power survey highlighted a number of complaints with Clio, mainly focussed on poor interior quality. However, the Clio should be reliable mechanically and comes with a good 3 year/100,000 mile warranty.
There is plenty of space inside the cabin for four adults and the boot is also a good size, offering 288-litres with the rear seats up and 1038-litres with the seats folded flat.
The Clio scored the maximum five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests thanks to its good range of safety equipment including eight airbags and ABS. Stability control, however, is an optional extra.
The ClioGT Line TomTom 1.6 VVT 111 Auto 5dr is the most expensive model in the standard Clio range at £16,015. It comes with a good selection of equipment for the money but both the GT Line 1.2 TCe and dCi models have better engines and are slightly cheaper, making the 1.6 VVT 111 an unnecessary expense.
It won't be especially cheap to run either, managing just 36.3mpg (combined) and emitting 179g/km of CO2, placing it under VED band I. Group 13 insurance, however, is more than reasonable.
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