The EFTM Garage – Renault Clio TCe120 Dynamique

It is hard to fathom just how many sophisticated hatch backs have inundated the market in recent times. Outside of the handful of legitimate “hot hatch” contenders the rest make do with milk bottle capacity engines, with moderate to surprising performance results.  This week in The EFTM Garage is one of the surprise packets, the Renault Clio TCe120 Dynamique.

Make: Renault

Variant: Clio TCe120

Engine / Transmission: 1.2-litre four-cylinder 16 valve Petrol Turbo

Vital Stats: Power 88kW @ 4,900 rpm / 190Nm @ 2,000 rpm

Renault Claimed Fuel Economy: 5.2l / 100km

EFTM Claimed Fuel Economy: 7.1l / 100km

MRRP Price: $23,990 (Plus on roads)

Options fitted

• Metallic Paint: $550
• Chrome Exterior Trim: $250
• Red dash and seats: $500
• 17″ Alloy – Diamond Red: $750
• R-link: $990

Exterior Features Highlights

• Rear spolier
• Front and rear fog lights
• LED Daytime Running Lights
• Heated electric and folding door mirrors
• Hidden rear exterior door handles
• Chrome trim on radiator grille
• Rear tinted privacy glass
• Automatic dusk sensing headlamps
• Hands free entry and engine start
• Rear parking sensors
• 17” Alloy Diamond Red rims

Interior Features Highlights

• Hands-free entry and engine start
• Climate control air conditioning
• Height and reach adjustable steering wheel
• Digital speedometer
• Driver armrest with storage console
• ECO Mode
• 12 volt socket
• Automatic windscreen wipers with rain sensor
• Rear windscreen wiper
• Electric front windows with driver one touch control
• Electric rear windows
• Multi-function trip computer
• Storage – front and rear side doors
• Storage – open storage in dashboard
• Lighting (front ceiling, boot)
• 4 speaker audio system by Arkamys with AM/FM, MP3, auxiliary and USB input with fingertip controls and Renault Bass Reflex system
• Bluetooth® phone pairing with audio streaming
• Renault media navigation system with 7″ touchscreen and turn by turn instructions
• Red dash and seats
• R-link multimedia system

Safety Highlights

• Driver and front passenger airbags
• Driver and front passenger head and chest side airbag
• Brakes
• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
• Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR)
• Hill Start Assist (HSA)
• Driver, front and rear passenger seat belt warning light and tone
• Anti-submarining system (Fix4sure) in front and rear
• One-touch door locking
• Height adjustable front seatbelts with load limiter
• Height adjustable front headrests
• 3 height adjustable rear headrests
• Turn indicator lights on door mirrors with highway mode
• 3 three-point rear seatbelts
• Two rear seats with ISOFIX 3-point attachment system
• 3 child seat anchorage points for rear seats
• Cruise control with speed limiter
• Engine immobiliser
• Renault Anti-Intruder Device (R.A.I.D.) – automatic locking of doors while driving (activated once above 30km/h)
• Remote central locking with Renault Smart Key Card

Wow Factor : Head turning, ritzy looks. Decent quality interior work with impressive isolation from the outside world. The highly gimmicky R-Sound Effect engine SFX system is no more than a novelty, but will impress mates. It’s cool for a day or two.

Most Impressive : Balanced handling, excellent R-link multimedia interface. Convincing “zing” considering only 88kW are on tap.

Not So Impressive : Not sure the optional colour coded dash and wheels look the goods. We found it hard to near the claimed fuel figure. But honesty, there’s very little to complain about here!