Renault Clio III 1.5dCi Range : OIL BARRON

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At its best with dCi diesel power, Renault's Clio III is both big and clever. Andy Enright reports

Sometimes choosing a diesel car comes down to simple arithmetic. You work out how much more the diesel option is over the equivalent petrol car, calculate how many miles you're likely to drive the car in your ownership period and then figure out if the diesel premium is worth it. That presupposes two things. Firstly, that the petrol and diesel models are equally attractive to drive and secondly, that the manufacturer has been helpful enough to make direct comparisons possible. With their latest, facelifted Clio III, Renault have been agreeably transparent..

On an executive car, this premium would be mere bagatelle. Not only would it represent a smaller proportion of the overall cost, but given that bigger cars tend to cover bigger mileages, you'd recoup the difference back rather quickly. With the Clio, it's not such a cut and dried deal. Take the entry level versions as an example. In Extreme trim, the 75bhp 1.2-litre petrol three-door Clio costs around £10,000. Choose the 86bhp 1.5dCi diesel engine and you'll need to fork out over £11,500. But how many miles would you need to drive before the diesel car paid for itself? If you drive 10,000 miles per year and keep the car for three years, it's not even close.

"With two variations on the 1.5dCi diesel theme, Renault are hoping to cover their bases in a cost-effective manner"

There are other attractions that swing the balance back towards diesel. There's not too much difference in residual values so we can leave that one alone. Company car user choosers will prefer the diesels for the benefit-in-kind saving they'll make but private buyers will often prefer them for their sheer ease of use. Let's look at the entry level cars again. The 1.2-litre petrol manages to generate 78lb/ft of torque whereas the starter diesel is vastly superior at 147lb/ft. This means that in typical urban/suburban driving, the diesel car pulls away more cleanly, feeling stronger and sprightlier off the mark. It'll also have an easier time merging with faster traffic on main roads. Then you've got the added convenience of a much bigger range to factor in. If I could cut my petrol station visits by a third, I'd probably also cut my consumption of crisps, fizzy drinks and chocolate bars by a corresponding amount! Renault bring two versions of the 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine to the Clio III. First up is that 86bhp version of that unit that sees action in Extreme, Expression, Dynamique and Privilege trims. The range-topping 106bhp powerplant is reserved for the Privilege, Initiale and GT variants. Prices look competitive compared with rivals and the latest facelifted cars have upped their game with improved refinement and interior quality as well as sharper looks. The Clio III's impressive safety and security means that it's in a low insurance group too and over a typical three year ownership period, this will give a welcome boost to its running costs. Let's take a look at a few of those standout safety functions in a little more detail. The Clio III has excellent neutral weight distribution and some serious brakes to prevent an accident happening in the first instance. It is delivered as standard with Generation 8 Bosch ABS plus electronic brake force distribution (EBD) and emergency brake assist (EBA). Other options include electronic stability programme (ESP) incorporating ASR traction control, understeer control and MSR engine torque overrun regulation. Along with the Modus, the Clio III was the first car in its segment to offer additional beam cornering headlamps, while double distance xenon headlamps are also available for enhanced night visibility. The Clio III's structure includes a number of programmed deformation zones and has been designed to function with Renault's third-generation System for Restraint and Protection. This includes up to eight airbags, incorporating two adaptive front airbags complete with load limiter and double pretensioners for the front seats. If you must crash, at least have the foresight to do it in a Clio III. The Clio Mk III was always a big car in the supermini class but this facelifted model is even bigger. At 4,027mm, it's 41mm longer than the pre-facelift model and that extra length is utilised in making the Clio appear lower, leaner and more streamlined. This isn't one of those facelifts that leaves everyone at a loss as to what exactly has changed. The front end of the Clio is markedly more aggressive with the sharp lines of the air-intake and the headlights combined with the thin, smirking grille. It's a look that debuted on the Megane family hatch and it gives the Clio a far more purposeful appearance, even in its non-sporting forms. The interior was also upgraded with some relocating of the minor controls to increase user-friendliness. Higher spec models now get a soft touch dash with the satellite navigation screen integrated into it. The Renault Clio III offers a more sensible and cerebral package than its predecessor, ruthlessly targeting the key supermini buying criteria. That's why the diesel models will prove so popular. It remains a car that you'll buy with your head rather than your heart but on any objective basis, the latest Clio diesels more than measure up.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Renault Clio III 1.5dCi range
PRICES: £11,645-£16,895- on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 3E-6E
CO2 EMISSIONS: 117-123g/km
PERFORMANCE: [dCi106] Max Speed 118mph / 0-62mph 11.1s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [dCi86] (Combined) 64.2mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front/side airbags, ABS, brakeforce distribution, WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ?: [3dr] Length/Width/Height: 3986/1707/1497mm