New Renault Clio Electrifies for Those Who Find the Retro 5 Too Quirky | Carscoops

      The latest front-end redesign aligns the Clio with the Rafale, Espace, and Austral, while the electric version provides an alternative to the Renault 5.

      Renault is preparing to unveil a completely new Clio for 2026, which will compete with the Peugeot 208 and will, for the first time, offer an electric vehicle option. The sixth generation of this model will also feature hybrid engines.

      Superminis or subcompacts—whatever you choose to call them—those compact hatchbacks that once ruled the European automotive market are on the decline. Ford discontinued the Fiesta and Volkswagen phased out the Polo; however, Renault's Clio is defying this trend. It remains relevant and is about to be released in its sixth generation, introducing an EV option for the first time.

      Recently, the Clio has been perceived as the less exciting sibling of the new Renault 5, a nostalgic electric reinterpretation of the 1970s-80s 5 supermini that the Clio succeeded in 1992. The spotlight has primarily been on the revived Renault 5, which has received significant media attention and numerous awards, including the prestigious European Car of the Year accolade—a title the Clio hasn't claimed since 2006.

      Nonetheless, sales numbers reveal a different narrative, underscoring the Clio’s importance to Renault. While the 5 EV has garnered a significant number of pre-orders, the Clio was the second best-selling car in Europe in 2024, surpassing the once-dominant Tesla Model Y and trailing only behind the Dacia Sandero, another vehicle from the Renault Group.

      It is logical for Renault to keep investing in its smallest model and refresh its design to align with the new family aesthetic already seen in the Rafale, Espace, and Austral.

      The R&D team certainly did not spare any effort in camouflaging the prototype for road tests, yet the heavy wrapping cannot conceal the significant changes that the Clio has undergone from generation five to six. In comparison to the current model, the new version features an entirely redesigned front end, including a new hood, grille, lighting, and bumpers.

      Unlike the previous Clio, which had the Renault diamond badge integrated into a cutout in the hood, the updated model sports a flat-edged hood with the badge located lower in the grille. The rear door handles remain positioned in the upper frame of the door, creating the illusion of a two-door vehicle, although the waistline doesn’t rise as sharply towards the C pillar.

      Powertrain options will still include a combination of hybrid and PHEV engines, but the major update is the introduction of an all-electric variant for the first time. The single-motor configurations will provide buyers with some of the EV technology available in the 5 E-Tech, but presented in a more conservative design. Battery capacities in the 5 range from 40 to 52 kWh, with three motor options offering 94 hp (70 kW / 95 PS), 121 hp (90 kW / 122 PS), or 148 hp (110 kW / 150 PS).