Review: 2015 Renault Clio GT Line

As buyers continue to seek more individuality, vehicle manufacturers go to great lengths to pander to varying tastes and preferences.

This came to mind when I recently sampled the Renault Clio GT Line, which essentially sits above the Dynamique and below the RS variants. The manufacturer claims that the model has a smidgeon more power and torque under overboost conditions, which lasts all of 40 odd seconds, but I struggled to really experience this. So what makes this model a GT then? Well, in a nutshell, it is the body kit that now includes a sportier bumper that is similar to that found in the RS version with LED daytime running lights located on the lower valance as opposed to the grille as in the cooking models. There is also an anthracite colour theme, including the said front valance, the wing mirrors, and those 17-inch alloy wheels. At the rear a boot lid spoiler and sportier rear bumper housing a chrome finished tailpipe, truly elevates the already good-looking design of the model.

The interior remains basically Unchanged from the regular model save for some form-hugging seats and chrome-finished foot pedals. That 900cc, turbo charged, three-cylinder engine is still impressive as far as sub-one litre engines go, but I will be honest that with the new found visual venom of the GT specification, it was left wanting in the muscle department. This anomaly became more obvious when I found every Tom, Dick and Sipho trying to dice me in their Volkswagen Polo Vivo and who could blame them? The thing is, the Clio GT looks the racy part, and I am of the view that most who saw the vehicle mistook it for the frothier RS version that it isn’t. Mind you, I did try to maintain the GT’s reputation as I valiantly attempted to give the Vivo drivers something to think about. Being turbo charged, one would assume that the Clio should easily put one over a normally aspirated, 1.4l engine such as that in the Vivo. Instead, the Renault struggles off the line, requiring the driver to pile on the revs in each gear in order to achieve any form of decent pace.

It is only in the higher gears where the model seems to find an edge over its normally aspirated rival. Then again, the engine is not geared towards performance so much as efficiency. Perhaps a slightly detuned version of the 1.2l turbo engine already doing duty in the Megane GT Line would place the Clio GT where it belongs. As it stands now, the model offers very little advantage over the Dynamique version, which remains a fairly decent and well kitted out proposition. I do understand that there are buyers who do not necessarily want to shell out the premium for the RS performance version, but still appreciate those sporty looks afforded by the GT Line variant, so there seems to be some method to the madness.

Also, the handling is superb even though the helm errs on the vague side and you have to wring out that engine to get the required momentum, but the vehicle still takes to the corners with relish. However, I still think that this particular model would benefit from a slightly more powerful engine. Models such as the Opel Corsa and Ford Fiesta Ecoboost offer a far superior package when taking into consideration the performance and refinement that they can muster, but in the best-dressed category, the Clio GT Line is definitely the swan in the segment.

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*This article first appeared in Business Day Motor News.

-Lerato Matebese

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