Renault Clio hybrid provides more power, emits less CO2 than diesel siblings

Renault is seeking to maximize the benefits of electrification across its range with the E-Tech hybrid version of its best-selling vehicle, the Clio small hatchback.

The Clio E-Tech emits 96 grams of CO2 per kilometer on the WLTP cycle, compared with the second-best figure in the Clio range of 109g/km for diesel versions with 100 hp or 115 hp and a manual transmission. Along with its lower emissions, the base Clio E-Tech has 140 hp, giving it better acceleration than its diesel siblings. It also comes standard with an automatic transmission.

Renault is also using the E-Tech hybrid system, which has two electric motors attached to a clutchless transmission, on its No. 2- and No. 3-sellers in Europe, the Captur small SUV and the Megane compact hatchback and station wagon, respectively. Those two models will have a plug-in version of the drivetrain.

Executives say the three hybrid models are as important as the full-electric Zoe small car for Renault to meet its CO2 reduction targets in the EU this year and in 2021.

Renault says the Clio can drive on electric power only 80 percent of the time in urban settings, resulting in 40 percent better fuel efficiency in city driving.

The E-Tech system starts the car in full-electric mode, which Renault says provides instant torque and more powerful acceleration. If there is sufficient charge it will stay on battery power at typical urban speeds of 30 kph to 50 kph, with a maximum electric-only speed of 75 kph.

The two electric motors, one of which is a starter/generator, can operate in 15 different combinations with the Clio’s 1.6-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine, depending on the demands of the driving situation.

The Clio E-Tech's 1.2-kilowatt-hour battery is built by Hitachi. The hybrid system has 230 volts, compared with 400 volts on the Captur and Megane plug-in hybrids.

There are three driving modes: MySense, the default mode, which conserves 40 percent of the battery charge; Sport, which maximizes power delivery by combining the engine and electric motors; and Eco, which prioritizes energy recovery and the use of the electric motors.

Drivers can also choose a “B” setting on the transmission that increases the strength of regenerative braking. There is also an “EV” button below the touchscreen that forces the car to run on electric motors only if there is enough charge.

Renault is aiming the Clio E-Tech at buyers who want a hybrid but don’t want to worry about remembering to plug in or finding a charging station.

The Clio E-Tech’s hybrid competitors in the small car segment are limited to two at the moment: The Toyota Yaris, the segment’s eighth-best-seller in Europe in 2019, and the Honda Jazz, which did not crack the Top 10.

Renault expects that many buyers will be cross-shopping the E-Tech version against the most powerful diesel versions in the Clio's range. E-Tech versions start at 22,600 euros ($25,500) and top out at 28,200 euros, while the most expensive Clio diesel is 27,100 euros. Both the diesel and E-Tech variants are aimed at buyers who need the ability to drive long distances on a single tank of fuel, including fleet customers.

The Clio E-Tech was first announced at the 2018 Paris auto show. The coronavirus crisis delayed production for several weeks, but Renault says that the delay was not significant and the model has been in showrooms since early June, starting in France.

The E-Tech is based on the fifth-generation Clio, which went on sale last summer. The only significant difference between hybrid and conventional models is hybrid-specific displays in the instrument panel and central touchscreen. The E-Tech variant is also 40kg heavier than its non-hybrid siblings.

For the months of February and May, the Clio was the best-selling car in Europe, surpassing the longtime leader, the Volkswagen Golf.

The Clio led Europe’s small car segment in 2019 with 317,741 sales, a decline of 4.6 percent, although segment sales fell by 5.4 percent overall in the face of competition from a growing number of small SUV offerings.