Over its 35-year history, the Renault Clio has always set the benchmark in its category in Europe and has remained Renault’s best-selling model throughout its five previous generations. The sixth generation has been entirely redesigned to accentuate the values that have already attracted so many customers.
As usual, the car is also slightly larger, more powerful, and… more frugal. Prices are higher, too. The price hike ranges from a little less than €1,000 for the base Clio to €1,200 for the E-Tech top model.
Overall, Clio has sold nearly 17 million units worldwide across 120 countries and five generations, making it the best-selling French car of all time. Once again this year, Clio continues to top the charts, emerging as the best-selling car in Europe in the first half of 2025.
“We have always seen Clio as a cultural marker, a major part of the Renault identity. When you think Clio, you think Renault, and when you think Renault, you think Clio,” said Fabrice Cambolive, CEO of the Renault brand.
“With each new generation, Clio redefines the standards for its category. We have applied the same approach to this sixth generation, revamping its design, powertrain range, and features with Google on board. New Clio perfectly represents the level of excellence of our hybrid range, alongside our fully electric models,” he added.
Boosted in every way
The New Clio is larger than the previous generation, rising from 4.05 m to 4.12 m (an additional 67 mm) in length, with extended overhangs, and from 1.73 m to 1.77 m (an extra 39 mm) in width. The height remains almost the same at 1.45 m (an additional 11 mm).
The Clio’s design is more expressive than earlier generations, with a noticeable front signature, accentuated by the lighting, and a more sporty, athletic look overall, with a steeper inclined rear window.
“This sixth generation represents the start of a bold new chapter, a Clio that is more desirable, expressive, and dynamic than ever, but that stays true to its identity,” said Paula Fabregat-Andreu, Renault’s Brand Design Project Director.
“Its sleek curves and tension lines capture the light, adding liveliness and energy to its silhouette, while its body appears almost liquid, elegantly enveloping this substantial technological package,” she added.
In its passenger compartment, the Renault Clio offers an immediately visible upgrade on previous generations. The dashboard is fitted with a double 10.1-inch V-shaped screen (depending on the trim), so the central screen is oriented toward the driver. The brand-new seat design uses recycled materials, graphics in echo and colored topstitching (depending on the trim), helping to create a dynamic driving position.
The new Renault Clio continues to accommodate five people and now boasts new storage solutions. The boot offers a capacity of up to 391 liters (depending on the powertrain) and a sill height that is 40 mm lower than the previous generation. The button to open the boot is integrated directly into the tailgate.
Higher efficiency
The new Clio has four improved powertrains. Their outputs range from 115 to 160 hp, and they are designed to make the most of the car’s chassis (built on Renault’s CMF-B platform) and its wider track.
The latest generation of the full-hybrid E-Tech powertrain now delivers 160 hp and is the spearhead of the sixth-generation Clio. It propels the 6th-generation model 1 second faster (8.3 seconds) to 100 kph than its 145 hp predecessor. More importantly, its efficiency is uncompromised, with a record-low 89 g/km as its combined-cycle consumption and only 3.9 l/100km.
The technology combines a 1.8-liter direct-injection Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder combustion engine, two electric motors powered by a 1.4 kWh battery, and a new cooling system, along with a clutchless, multimode, intelligent dog box with tailored ratios. The Clio also comes with four driving modes, which adjust powertrain calibration and steering assistance.
“New Clio offers best-in-class technology with the full hybrid E-Tech 160hp powertrain. The extra 15 hp and 22 Nm of additional torque enhance performance and driving pleasure while cutting
fuel consumption to a record low 3.9 liters per 100 km. And it can drive in all-electric mode 80% of the time on urban and suburban roads,” boasts Nicolas Laruaz, Clio Product Leader.
The entry-level new Renault Clio comes with a 1.2-liter 3-cylinder TCe engine delivering 115hp, a substantial performance boost over the previous generation. It is available with a manual
gearbox and now also with a responsive, highly efficient six-speed EDC dual-clutch automatic box with steering-wheel paddles.
A 120 hp 3-cylinder dual-fuel (gasoline and LPG) Eco-G version with an EDC automatic gearbox and an even longer range, providing a more eco-friendly alternative with particularly low running costs, will be added to the line-up at a later stage.
Four equipment levels in the Belux
The new Clio has an all-in-one OpenR Link infotainment system with built-in Google data packages and extensive connectivity. It also enables connected maintenance and over-the-air on-board software updates. Its 29 ADAS, along with Safety Score and Safety Coach, round out its array of technology.
“Connectivity is no doubt one of the new Clio’s main upsides. We built in the best onboard technologies from the high end of the Renault range, adding OpenR Link with Google built-in for the first time,” said Delphine de Andria, B-Segment Product Director.
“So you can enjoy the highly effective voice controls with Google Assistant, super-efficient connected navigation with Google Maps, and a huge choice of apps on Google Play. All this will provide a tailored experience that is unprecedented at this level in the line-up,” she added.
The Clio range usually encompasses three trim levels, but the Belux importer added a fourth level called Evolution+. It offers adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, driver attention monitoring, automatic parking brake, a 10-inch central display with smartphone screen mirroring, a textile-covered dashboard, a height-adjustable driver seat, air conditioning, and rear parking sensors.
In fact, the Generation trim level in the Belux corresponds to the Evolution trim level in other countries. Evolution in the Belux adds a central armrest in the front, a hands-free key card, foldable outside mirrors, automatic high/low beam switching, automatic wipers, and adaptive LED front lights.
The next trim level is Techno, featuring all the above, plus OpenR Link with Google built-in multimedia system (Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google Play), automatic climate control, dark-tinted rear windows, electrochromic interior rear-view mirror, LED ambient lighting, Multi-Sense settings, 16-inch alloy wheels, a reversing camera, and six speakers.
As usual, the top level is called Esprit Alpine at Renault and offers, on top, Alcantara accents and exclusive finishes, aluminium pedals, a wireless charging pad, a height-adjustable passenger seat, logo projection, 18 inch alloy wheels with blue highlights, Clio logos and a Dark Chrome monogram, distinctive front and bumper features, intelligent adaptive cruise control, side and front parking assist, blind-spot warning, safe-exit alert for occupants, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic emergency braking when reversing.
Pricing
In Belgium and Luxembourg, the new Clio can be ordered from October onward. The car will be on the market at the beginning of 2026 and will, of course, be the big star on the Renault stand at the Brussels Motor Show. Prices were communicated on Tuesday.
In general, the bigger and more powerful Clio costs around €1,000 to €1,200 more than the previous model. The much more powerful basic TCe (115 hp instead of 90 hp) now starts at €18,950, up from €18,000 for the TCe 90. The version with a dual-clutch automatic gearbox costs €2,000 extra.
The E-Tech Full Hybrid top model with the larger engine and a higher maximum power of 160 hp now costs €23,550 in the Evolution trim, while the previous model cost €22,400 in the Evolution variant.
