Facelift for Renault Clio: new nose, new style

Highlights Renault Clio Facelift

• New nose
• Tightened rear bumper
• Technically largely unchanged

The facelift of the Renault Clio does not come as a surprise, but it is surprisingly extensive. His nose in particular is going to be hit hard. For example, it gets a larger, wider grille and a completely new LED signature, as it is called today. The C-shaped daytime running lights that have dominated the front of Renaults since the arrival of the Talisman in 2015 are resolutely overboard. Instead, the Clio gets LED strings that extend to the bottom of the bumper, somewhat as is the case with Peugeot and DS. The difference is that they are placed opposite each other in a V-shape, according to Renault as a reference to the diamond-shaped logo of the brand. Speaking of which: of course, the facelifted Clio will receive the new Renault logo, just like other recently introduced Renaults.

Renault CLIO.

We will also see this new front without those C-shaped elements on other Renaults in the future. The first completely new model for which this applies is probably the new Renault Scénic (E-Tech Electric), an electric crossover of Nissan Ariya format.

There are also changes at the rear of the Clio, although Renault is less rigorous here. We see different in shared, brighter taillights and a modified rear bumper. If you want to drive ‘new’ all around, you should choose the paint color ‘Gris Rafale’. We see that shade of gray here for the first time and replaces ‘Gris Platine’.

Renault CLIO.

Esprit Alpine

What also helps in that context is selecting the ‘Esprit Alpine’ trim level. It is also new to the Clio. As with the Austral, among others, it is a sporty Renault, in the spirit of the earlier RS-Line and ‘E-Tech Engineered’ models.

On the inside, there are primarily new colors and materials, which give the interior of the Clio a higher-quality appearance, according to Renault. We will judge whether that was successful in the video, which should appear on this site sometime in the near future. Also new is the fact that every Clio now has a digital set of instruments. Depending on the version, that measures 7 or 10 inches, but previously you even had to be at the third trim level for the 7-inch variant.

Under the skin, apparently everything remains the same. The compact Renault can still be ordered as an E-Tech Hybrid, the 145 hp, fully hybrid Clio. Those who are not waiting for that or who really want to switch gears themselves can opt for the TCe 90 as usual. It is equipped with a 1.0-liter three-cylinder and delivers – you guessed it – 90 hp.