Renault unveils sixth‑generation Clio but UK buyers face 2027 wait for right‑hand‑drive models
Compact hatch grows in size and tech, offered in the UK only as hybrid or petrol as Renault prioritises other models for EVs
Renault on Monday unveiled the sixth generation of its Clio hatchback, saying the model is larger, quieter and more efficient than the outgoing car, but confirming that right‑hand‑drive versions for the UK will not go on sale until early 2027 — about a year after French and continental European showrooms begin taking deliveries.
The company said the new Clio will reach French roads in early 2026 and will be offered in the UK in two reconfigured powertrains: a 160hp full hybrid E‑Tech and a 115hp three‑cylinder turbo petrol. Renault executives said the UK line‑up will not include an all‑electric Clio because the automaker has already positioned the Renault 5, Renault 4 revival and a forthcoming electric Twingo to cover its small electric hatchback offerings.
Renault highlighted dimensional increases compared with the outgoing model — 67mm longer, 39mm wider, 11mm taller and an 8mm longer wheelbase — and said those changes allowed it to add more in‑car technology and improved interior materials while retaining the Clio’s compact footprint. The company said the new Clio will ride on 16‑ or 18‑inch wheels and will be priced in the UK broadly in line with the current model, accounting for inflation and market conditions, which Renault expects to put entry prices roughly just below £20,000 and upper specs under £30,000.
The hybrid powertrain pairs a 1.8‑litre four‑cylinder petrol engine with two electric motors and a 1.4kWh battery, producing 160hp and linked to a six‑speed automatic‑mode gearbox. Renault quoted combined consumption of about 72mpg and CO₂ emissions from 89g/km, and said the Clio can cover roughly 620 miles on a full tank and that the hybrid can operate in electric mode as much as 80% of the time in urban conditions. Renault said the hybrid accelerates to 62mph in 8.3 seconds, about one second faster than the prior generation.
The petrol option is a 1.2‑litre three‑cylinder turbocharged TCe unit with 115hp offered with a six‑speed manual gearbox in the UK. Renault quoted 0–62mph in 10.1 seconds, fuel consumption of around 47mpg and CO₂ emissions from 114g/km. Both powertrains are electronically limited to a top speed of 112mph. Renault said more powerful sporting variants are likely to follow in the model cycle.
Inside, Renault emphasized a more comfortable driving position, a compact steering wheel that reduces lock‑to‑lock turns from 3.3 to 2.6, and higher trim levels that feature a 10.1‑inch central touchscreen alongside a driver screen of similar size. Connectivity is built around Google services, with Google Maps, Google Assistant and access to Google Play, and the car supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Higher specifications include a wireless charging pad and Harman Kardon audio with five sound profiles developed with composer Jean‑Michel Jarre.
Renault also highlighted practical improvements: the boot loading threshold is 40mm lower, with trunk volume up to 391 litres on non‑hybrid versions and 309 litres on the hybrid because of battery placement. The company said 33.7% of materials in the Esprit Alpine version are "green," including 24% recycled content, and that more than 85% of a full‑hybrid Esprit Alpine vehicle can be recycled.
Renault UK managing director Adam Wood said the new Clio continues the model’s "success story," noting the model has sold about 1.3 million examples in the UK since its introduction in 1990 and 17 million worldwide. "Nicole and Papa really would be proud," he said, referencing Renault’s long‑running UK advertising characters. Renault design chief Paula Fabreget‑Andreu said she was confident the car would inspire an emotional response in buyers.
The Clio has been a central product for Renault’s small‑car strategy for more than three decades and was Europe’s best‑selling car in 2025, the company noted. Renault pointed to market data showing that while electrification is progressing, a majority of the UK’s hatchback market remains non‑electric: Renault cited an overall hatchback segment composition of roughly 12% electric, 65% petrol and 22% hybrid this year, and said 88% of the market remains non‑EV.
Renault said UK buyers this year have chosen Clio in a roughly 60% hybrid to 40% petrol split, reflecting the company’s broader move to offer internal combustion and electrified models side‑by‑side. The automaker framed the Clio’s delayed UK arrival as part of its dual strategy to retain internal combustion and hybrid options while delivering dedicated small electric models elsewhere in its line‑up.
Renault’s marketing for the Mk6 Clio includes a "Love redesigned" strapline, a swirly red heart logo and a darker, cinematic television campaign. The company said it hopes the design language — reportedly inspired by Renault’s Emblème concept — and the car’s LED lighting signature, coupe‑like roofline and widened track will emphasise a sportier stance.
The Clio’s launch follows a historical run of memorable advertising campaigns in the UK, from the Nicole and Papa spots that accompanied the model’s UK debut in 1990 to later "Va Va Voom" campaigns that used celebrity endorsers and theatrical stylings. The car has won European Car of the Year twice, in 1991 and 2006, and Renault said the new model aims to carry that legacy into the next decade.
The sixth‑generation Clio will be formally presented at the IAA Mobility show in Munich. Renault said more detailed UK pricing, final specifications and ordering information will be announced closer to the start of UK sales in early 2027.
