Renault unveils sixth-generation Clio, UK buyers face 2027 wait

Renault on Monday unveiled the sixth generation of its Clio hatchback at the IAA Mobility show in Munich, describing the model as larger, more efficient and more technologically advanced than its predecessor. Continental European showrooms are scheduled to receive the car in early 2026, while right‑hand‑drive versions for the UK will not arrive until 2027.

The new Clio will be sold in the UK only with electrified or efficient petrol powertrains, Renault said, reflecting the company’s broader EV strategy in which the Renault 5, Renault 4 and a forthcoming all‑electric Twingo serve as the brand’s electric hatchback portfolio. Renault said the UK launch will include three trim levels and prices broadly in line with the outgoing model, subject to market conditions.

Renault highlighted modest dimensional increases for the sixth‑generation Clio: it is 67 millimetres longer, 39 millimetres wider, 11 millimetres taller, and benefits from an 8‑millimetre longer wheelbase than the previous model. The automaker said the changes allowed it to incorporate features and materials typically found in larger vehicles while retaining a compact hatchback footprint.

For the UK market the Clio will be available with two powertrains. The headline option is a 160‑horsepower, 1.8‑litre four‑cylinder full hybrid E‑Tech powertrain paired with a six‑speed automatic transmission. Renault provided figures of 89 grams of CO2 per kilometre and average fuel consumption of about 72 miles per gallon, and said the hybrid can travel roughly 620 miles on a full tank. The system uses two electric motors and a 1.4‑kWh battery and, Renault said, can operate in electric mode as much as 80 percent of the time in urban driving; 0–62 mph is quoted at 8.3 seconds.

The second UK‑market engine is a 115‑horsepower, 1.2‑litre three‑cylinder TCe turbo petrol unit offered with a six‑speed manual gearbox. Renault gave combined fuel consumption for that powertrain of about 47 mpg and CO2 emissions starting at 114 g/km, with a 0–62 mph time of 10.1 seconds. Both powertrains have a limited top speed of 112 mph. Renault said more powerful sporting variants are likely to appear later in the model cycle.

Inside, Renault said the Clio features a revised driving position, a compact steering wheel that reduces lock‑to‑lock turns from 3.3 to 2.6, and a dashboard that in higher trims incorporates a central 10.1‑inch touchscreen with a similarly sized adjacent driver display. Connectivity is built around Google services, including Google Maps, Google Assistant and access to Google Play, alongside wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Charging options include two front USB‑C ports, an optional wireless charging pad and a rear 12V socket.

Renault described material and sustainability improvements for higher specifications, noting that 33.7 percent of materials in the Esprit Alpine trim are ‘‘green,’’ including 24 percent recycled content, and that more than 85 percent of the full‑hybrid Esprit Alpine can be recycled. Boot capacity is quoted at up to 391 litres for petrol models and 309 litres for the hybrid, the company said, with a tailgate opening threshold reduced by 40 millimetres to improve accessibility.

The automaker has rolled out a marketing campaign for the new Clio under the strapline "Love redesigned," and introduced a swirled red heart logo. Renault UK managing director Adam Wood said the model continues the Clio’s ‘‘success story’’ in Britain and Europe, adding that the car ‘‘takes Clio to a new level.’’ Renault design chief Paula Fabreget‑Andreu said the model aims to deliver a distinctive visual character.

Sales context for the Clio underscores the stakes for the new generation. Renault said the Clio has sold about 1.3 million examples in the UK since its 1990 debut and roughly 17 million worldwide. In 2025 the model remained Europe’s best‑selling car, the company said. In the UK to date this year Renault reported Clio sales split roughly 60 percent hybrid and 40 percent petrol, compared with the overall UK hatchback segment where petrol remains the majority fuel type and hybrids account for about 22 percent.

Renault did not publish final UK pricing at the Munich unveiling but said retail prices will be ‘‘broadly in line’’ with the outgoing model, adjusted for inflation and market factors, with a likely range from just under £20,000 to just under £30,000 depending on specification. Models destined for continental Europe will arrive in early 2026; production and distribution of right‑hand‑drive models will follow for the UK with deliveries expected in 2027.

Renault framed the decision to limit the UK line‑up to hybrid and petrol variants as part of a dual strategy to offer both electrified internal combustion and bespoke EV products. The company did not release detailed allocation figures for UK production volumes or confirm diesel availability, reflecting continuing shifts in small‑car customer demand and regulatory pressure toward electrification.