Renault Clio RenaultSport 200 Turbo EDC Lux review
We love the turbocharged engine and EDC transmission, but it would benefit from even stiffer suspension and firmer seats
As it’s a hot version of a regular supermini, the RS 200 Turbo EDC Lux’s interior is perfectly practical and is well suited to families. The car has electric windows all round, with the driver having control over all four. There are deep drinks holders for the both rear and front passengers, making spillages less likely on long journeys and drive-thru takeaway runs, and there are a few cubby holes for items such as sunglasses and mobile phones. All this makes the Clio RS 200 Turbo EDC Lux as easy to live with as a regular small hatchback.
The Clio RS 200 Turbo EDC’s instrument conveys information well, and we especially like the large, centrally positioned digital speedometer, as you barely need to drop your eyes to see it. To the left of the speedo is a rev counter and to the right is a large fuel gauge.
Its 300-litre boot is larger than you’d expect, and will happily take a couple of cases. Plus, the rear seats can be folded down to provide 1146 litres of luggage space.
MOOD SELECTOR
The car’s 1.6-litre engine is mated to an automatic dual-clutch gearbox. You can either drive the car as a regular automatic or change gear manually with the gear stick or paddles. It’s a truly fantastic gearbox, easily the one of the best we’ve used and an absolute bargain considering the price of this car. It enables very quick changes whether you’re driving in auto or manual modes; just one blip of the paddle and you can downshift in what seems no time at all.
One of the best things about the RS 200 Turbo EDC Lux is the way you change its behaviour to suit your needs. In normal mode, for example, the car feels much like a regular 1.6-litre hatchback, which is ideal if you’re ferrying people around town or doing the weekly shopping. The gearbox always selects the most economical gear for your speed, and general performance is subdued unless you downshift and press the accelerator.
Should you want to have a little fun, though, and don’t mind burning more fossil fuel, the car provides two further modes: Sport and Race. These modes make the throttle more responsive, firm up the steering and adjust traction control settings. They also make gear changes even quicker. When in Race mode, the gearbox downshifts is less than 150ms, making it seem instantaneous. This is important considering how quickly the car revs to the red line.