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
The Clio Renaultsport (RS) 200 Turbo EDC Lux is the hottest Renault Clio currently available. It has a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine that produces 200hp at 6,000rpm, a high-tech twin-clutch transmission system and the ability to choose between three different driving modes at the press of a button.
As it’s based on a regular Clio, the car is driven by the front wheels, but it has an electronic differential that aims to minimise understeer and improve grip in corners. Plus, the suspension of the regular Clio RS 200 Turbo EDC Lux is 10 per cent stiffer than the previous Renaultsport Clio and 60 per cent stiffer than the standard Clio, which should improve handling. Our review car was fitted with the optional Cup chassis, which is even stiffer and has a 3mm lower ride height.
Although a hot hatch, Renault has resisted the temptation to daub the Clio RS 200 Turbo EDC Lux in accessories such as bonnet vents and air scoops, opting instead for classier flourishes such as silver side skirts, a front F1-style air blade, a rear diffuser and and a discreet rear spoiler. Cars with the optional Cup chassis also get black 18in alloy wheels and red brake calipers. The result is a hot hatch that looks special but won’t draw unnecessary attention to itself. We think this is the correct approach, as it’s likely to appeal to a wider range of buyers.
INTERIOR
The Clio RS 200 Turbo EDC Lux’s interior is also treated to some extra styling in the form of red stitching on the front seats, red seatbelts (even in the rear), Renaultsport kickplates and an RS badge on the steering wheel, among other things. Such flourishes lift the Clio RS 200 Turbo EDC Lux’s cockpit, brightening up what would otherwise be an ordinary Clio interior.
Not that there’s anything wrong with a Clio interior. There’s plenty room for the driver and both rear and front passengers, making long journeys more comfortable for all. There’s plenty of headroom and the seats are height-adjustable, making it eminently suitable for taller drivers.
Although perfectly adequate, we did find the large, cloth front seats a little too spongy. The lateral supports were also a little spongy and they pressed against our back instead of enveloping it. We’re sure most people will be happy with them and that we’re just being fussy, but we’d prefer much firmer seats.
It’s a small point, and another sign of our fussiness, but we also think that the
gear stick and handbrake are much too wobbly for a top-of-the-range Renaultsport car. They should feel much tauter and more purposeful than they do.
