Johannesburg - There was a time when small engines and automatic gearboxes went together like water and oil – they just didn’t mix.
But the new EDC (Efficient Dual Clutch) transmission paired with a 1.2-litre turbo engine in Renault’s Clio banishes all memories of jerky auto ‘boxes that drove small-car drivers to near tears with their constant hunting and frantic nature.
Renault’s six-speed dual-clutch automatic is a model of smooth-shifting finesse. It glides through its gears like a hot knife through polystyrene, and apart from a trace of turbo lag on initial pulloff at Gauteng altitude where I drove it on the media launch, the EDC makes a contented marriage with the new 88kW/190Nm four. Both this engine and gearbox make their appearance in the South African Clio range for the first time, bringing the model count to six.
The two-pedal Clio makes a happy urban commuter with its unobtrusive self-shifting nature (although you can bump the gearlever forward or back to shift manually if you really want to), and quite a feisty little performer as well with a quoted top speed of 199km/h and a claimed sea-level 0-100km/h sprint in 9.4 seconds.
The little turbo engine’s notably quiet, and only becomes vocal when the revs are raced.
It’s economical too with Renault claiming a consumption of 5.2 litres per 100km on the town/freeway cycle, although you can expect a couple of litres higher than that in the real world.
The new Clio 1.2 EDC is offered in higher-spec Expression trim which comes fairly well loaded.
Apart from the cruise control, card key, ABS brakes, four airbags, touchscreen multimedia system, and front electric windows you’ll find standard across the Clio range, the Expression also has navigation. It’s priced at R234 900.
Also new in the Clio line-up is a new limited-edition Blaze 66kW model selling for R179 900. It offers a 20 grand saving over the next-cheapest Clio, the 66kW Expression, by deleting navigation and fog lights as standard features and also by being equipped with steel wheels instead of alloys.
PRICES
Clio 55kW Authentique - R172 900
Clio 66kW Turbo Blaze - R179 900 (new)
Clio 66kW Expression - R199 900
Clio 66kW Turbo Dynamique - R179 900
Clio 88kW Turbo EDC Expression - R234 900 (new)
Clio 66kW Turbo GT-Line - R229 900
Clio RS200 Lux - R309 900
Clio RS200 Cup - R339 900
All Renaults come with a five-year or 150 000km warranty and a three-year or 45 000km service plan. - Star Motoring
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