Renault Clio Reviews

Something half the size and weight is going to be a much more entertaining proposition especially when it's blessed with a potent 2.0-litre engine generating 131kW/200Nm output.It also consumes considerably less juice.Renault's Clio Sport Cup is such a car, and it's an absolute hoot to drive – much more fun than something like a Holden Commodore SS which has twice the power but is almost twice the weight.The Clio Cup is a supplementary model to the Clio Sport – with stiffer suspension, a lower ride height and different alloy wheels. Cup is a more engaging drive as a result, gripping the road like the proverbial slot car and conveying plenty of information about the road back to the driver.The Cup model costs about $35,000 which is a fair old ask for such a small car but it has a big heart. Acceleration in a straight line is extremely rapid giving the Cup a David and Goliath status when stacked up against a big, high-powered, heavy hitter.Come to some tight corners and it's "bye for now."The Cup is a three door hatchback with a rigid chassis, a wheel at each corner, wide stance and massive brakes – the ideal cornering combo.The idea is to point it at a set of switchbacks, snick it into gear and fire it up for a most satisfactory driving experience. A car like this is inherently safer than a mere hatchback econobox due to its dexterity, reponsiveness and high quality components such as the Michelin tyres and sophisticated electronic controls that include ABS and electronic stability program (ESP).It also looks, feels and sounds the business.Those twin, wide spaced exhaust tips growl a stirring note, the low ride height looks like a hunkered down athlete and the dark wheels give a slightly sinister appearance to the little Cup.Inside is compact but funky with a splash of metallic fascia and trims, sports seats climate control and multi textured upholstery. The audio is average but the pedals are proper drilled items and the stering wheel has a number of controls arranged around it per- imeter.It uses a negligible amount of fuel when used sparingly, appreciably more when the wick is turned up. The engine is a non-turbo, 2.0-litre twin cam with variable intake cam timing. It has impressive performance across a broad engine speed range.Safety eqyuipment includes four air bags and auto on xenon headlights. The wipers also have an auto function. 

The Cup is a car that boasts impressive stability, response and feel. Its firm and low suspension gives it handling capabilities like a go-kart but is still comfortable on the road.That go-kart feel is enhanced by the Clio's design of positioning the wheels as close to the corners as possible.Comfort is a feature highlighted by the firm suspension, which is something usually punishing on the driver.While every bump is felt (because of the hard suspension and low-profile tyres), the impact on the body is minimal. That is not to say there is anything soft about this car.The spring rate in the Cup has been increased by 20 per cent, with matching damper settings providing for even more incisive behaviour.The leather-trimmed, front-bucket seats have plenty of side support to stop you moving around when cornering hard. These are seats you sit in, not on.Finding a good driving position is also easier than anticipated. When first driven, the Cup's slightly odd-angled steering wheel felt a little uncomfortable. Yet, when the best driving position was found, everything seemed to fall into place.The clutch is light and does not require a lot of force like some high-powered hatches, and the five-speed box, was a throw into gear. This little Cup is one of the most comfortable sporty hatches encountered.The Cup has the same engine as its lesser-priced sibling, the Clio Sport, but gets firmer suspension, charcoal-coloured wheels and lower-ride height for the extra $2000.The Cup's engine is a cracker pumping out an impressive 131kW/200Nm from the naturally aspirated 2.0-litre.Get the right foot down and the Clio responds with the twin exhausts barking out a noticeably sporty note. The 2.0-litre twin cam loves to spin and howls near the 7000rpm redline. The Cup's impressive power to weight ratio sees the 0-100kmh sprint covered in just seven seconds.The five-speed is short geared to the point where you might be looking for another cog, such as on the freeway where for fuel conservation and a little less noise the extra cog would be handy. However despite running on premium unleaded the Cup still gets about 500km-550km out of a tank.Standard equipment includes climate control, automatic xenon head-lights, rain sensitive wipers, leather upholstery, remote central locking, power windows and mirrors, height and recline adjustment on the front head restraints and leather steering wheel.There's a six-speaker AM/FM stereo with single CD, cruise control, audio controls mounted on the steering column and a chilled glove box.The Cup is near the top of the tree for crash safety. Four airbags, an electronic stability program and ABS are all part of Renault's commitment to keeping its owners alive and coming back for more. It also has an anti-hijack mechanism where the doors lock automatically at a preset speed.The front drink holders are a little awkward because they are positioned below the centre dash and a bottle of water is not easy to fit, but the rear holders are big enough.The size of the boot is good with none of the weekly shopping having to ride shotgun.The Clio does not have a spare tyre for weight and space reasons, instead using filler to limp the car on the existing tyre to the nearest service station or dealer. That's great in theory but not so good if you happen to have destroyed the rubber on the rim.

The Sport Cup model can only be distinguished from the Sport by the charcoal-coloured alloy wheels, which betray the Cup car's intent as well as proficiently hiding the brake pad dust.The Sport is no shopping trolley, so when spring rates are stiffened by 20 per cent up front and 15 per cent at the rear, and the steering is tweaked even further, something special awaits in the Cup version.Settled behind the leather-wrapped wheel and testing my broad feet on the close-set alloy pedals, the specs ran through my mind – Renault says 131kW of power, 200Nm of torque, 1009kg and 0-100km/h in 7.1 seconds.Big brakes are nestled beneath the 16in alloys – 160km/h to standstill in just over three seconds is another claim by the manufacturer. The brattish stance, a wheel at each corner and the twin exhausts ready to poke double-barrelled fun at those you've just overtaken ... this car could be fun.It's firm on the road, with every misaligned manhole cover causing a sharp bump in the cabin, although bigger bumps tend to be better dealt with by the dampers.The seats will take some of the sting from the sharper jolts, as well as holding the occupants firmly in place.An ill-timed sneeze requires maximum steering concentration, as the rack is quick and sharp – 2.8 turns lock-to-lock, a trait that had obvious benefits once the country-road corners came into view. The two-litre engine is happy to potter through the suburbs, proving flexible and well-behaved, with just a hint of what was to come beyond 3800rpm.As the revs rise to the top half of the tachometer, the engine's character changes dramatically and the corners arrive much quicker.As the upshift light burns green at 8000rpm, the aural delights of the engine are well apparent, as is the potency of its outputs.The first corners are taken easily, as the initial efforts on the brake pedal wipe off far more speed than originally intended or required.The suspension has been significantly upgraded – not that previous Clios were sloppy handlers – with stiffened spring rates, a 24mm rear anti-roll bar (up from 22mm), all reducing roll and planting the special Michelin rubber on the road to great effect.The Renault Sport Clio 182 is the first car to be equipped with the Michelin Exalto tyre, no doubt because it was developed by Michelin in conjunction with Renault Sport.The result? It's like driving a go-kart with a roof.Minimal bodyshift, a distinct lack of fuss from the tyres and an attitude that thumbs its nose at the driver, who is taunted to try a little harder.Hard late braking, savage use of the wheel and the accelerator can start the Clio moving around, but the speeds at which this happens are best left to a racetrack.Winding back the pace a little does nothing to diminish the enjoyment, as the Clio darts from corner to corner, dismissing them with an arrogance that flies in the face of its sub-$40,000 price tag. There's no all-wheel-drive, no turbos and the driven wheels are at the opposite end of the car to which I would normally prefer, but handing the keys back is a tough experience.Commuting can be a tiresome experience on the hard suspension, but this little French flyer is anything but a bare-bones track-day special – a cruise control with a speed limiter function is now standard, as is a six-speaker CD-equipped sound system (with stalk-mounted remote controls behind the wheel), climate-controlled airconditioning, automatic xenon headlights and rain-sensing front wipers. Anti-lock brakes, electronic brake distribution control, switchable electronic stability control, driver and front passenger front and side airbags, and front and outboard rear seatbelt pretensioners with load limiters are all standard.The standard Renault Sport Clio 182 carries a $32,990 starting price, with the Cup adding $1500 to the bottom line.Opting for either Clio Sport model will provide an immensely entertaining package. Cup buyers might not want to engage in the daily mundane commute, but they will jump at any chance to go for a drive.

The Renault Sport Clio is one of the surprisingly capable entrants in the performance market that is set to rejuvenate the hot-hatch title.It, together with its turbocharged Megane 225 sister, will mount a strong challenge against traditional sports-oriented rivals from Japan.Despite the Clio's benign appearance, the injection of a bigger 124kW 2-litre engine – up from 72kW 1.4-litres – is sufficient to make it quick off the mark.But that's only half the story.All that power driving through the front wheels theoretically makes this a handful through the bends and on wet roads. Not so Thanks to excellent suspension design, a rigid body, grippy tyres and a light weight of 1035kg, the Clio is an extremely quick machine through the corners.It also boasts strong brakes and pin-sharp steering – all the hallmarks of a hot hatch – and is a delight to drive in the city.But it's not what I'd call cheap. At $32,990 it's getting up there in price, even though it comes with electric windows, airconditioning, alloys, ABS and other good gear.I guess you'd also have to be something of a fan of European cars because they tend to require a dedicated owner who can put up with the odd foible. The same applies to big sister Megane 225.This is also a product of Renault's performance arm, Renault Sport, and is aimed at the serious driver who wants something a bit different.Based on the standard Megane sedan, the 225 – which indicates its horsepower and equates to 165kW – comes with a host of go-faster mods and superb handling in the same vein as the Clio.Unlike the standard Megane range, the 225 is made at Renault Sport Technologies' factory in Dieppe, which gives an indication to how serious Renault is about producing a capable machine.Above the normal Megane five-door, the hot version gets as standard fare a bigger front air-intake, a wider stance, lower suspension, twin exhausts, Brembo brakes and 17-inch alloys.Inside are leather seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, alloy pedals and orange seatbelts. The Clio comes with silver belts.The car also gets climate-control airconditioning, electric everything, six airbags, stability control and cruise control – in fact, it's dressed up as an executive express.It's also not inexpensive at $42,990, though its pretty much on par with the Subaru WRX – except for the all-wheel-drive – in price and power.It will run hard to 100km/h in a 6.5 second time – and that's pretty quick for a big family hatch.The 225 is also a very flexible machine thanks to strong low-speed torque, which also makes it a doddle in the city.Both these Renaults are definitely worth a closer look.

It's just the ticket ... or not ... after all, that's the whole point.So much oomph in Renault's Clio Sport 182 Cup but so few places to use it. Legally, anyway.There's a whole lot of engine (two-litre, 16-valve) packed into a tiny terrier and it's soooo easy to speed. But set the cruise control to the right mode and all your worries are gone.The car just won't go over what ever speed you punch in – except in the case of an emergency.(Can they adapt this gizmo to children?)The features don't stop there, though ... a "five-speed gear box, ventilated discs up front with ABS, electronic brake distribution and traction control with ESP" (everyone needs a bit of that) top the list.Translation: Road grip is great, corners are not scary or hairy and if you're travelling up Willunga Hill in fifth gear, you'll still be accelerating.Now here's one to really grab you (pardon the pun) ... an anti-hijacking precaution. The doors lock automatically when you accelerate away from the kerb.The Clio Sport may be small but it's big on image and impact. Start with the lowered suspension, twin exhausts, leather seats, drilled alloy pedals and unique "charcoal" finish alloy wheels. Some think they look dirty. I say "gritty" and they add to that "bad boy" image ... even if it's just a little bad boy.The Clio is perfect for young yuppies with no puppies. Two-door cars, like this one, are not child (or friend) friendly and the lack of windows in the back gives the young guys a perfect opportunity to complain.Things are pretty squeezy in the back seat and the stiffer sports suspension makes for a harder ride; 14-year-olds don't like bumping their heads on the roof. But with just two people, you're in hot-hatch heaven.All the effort seems to have been put into the front compartment. It looks great for starters – all black and chrome with leather, and Alcantara trim, a groovy dash and idiot-proof stereo and climate controls.And these are seats you sit in, not on. And the all-important question? Drink holders?Those in the front are a bit awkward, tucked in below the centre dash, but the rear side-panel mounted holders, big enough for bottles of water, make up for them.LOVE IT LEAVE ITRenault Clio Sport 182 Cup LOVE ITGreat size. Easy to park. Wheel-mounted radio controls save searching for small dash buttons. The oh-so-cool wipers with an action mimicking a dance step Michael Jackson would envy.LEAVE ITIndicator and wiper controls are hard to see. No windows in the back. 

Not the car itself, but the colour.In the mid-1960s, Renault performance tuner Gordini turned out some pretty sharp and fast editions of the Renault 8.To distinguish the cars, a special colour was available – an eye-jarring bright blue that would have been a shocker to a conservative 1960s kind of world.Well, it's back. Not in a Gordini, but in its spiritual successor, the Renault Clio 182 Sport.Cute in a toy shop sort of way, the Clio three-door wears the Sport badge thanks to a bigger two-litre engine and substantial changes to the suspension and brakes compared with the already pleasant entry-level Clio.This engine gives the Clio a torquey heart making it a very easy car to punt around the suburbs and city.So strong is the powerplant that gear skipping is expected and third-gear corners considered as excessively revving the engine.The five-speed manual box is short, sharp and precise, while the steering is direct and boasts excellent road feel and the brakes are strong and show little fade.It's what the Renault 8 Gordini was in the 1960s – a production car body with more oomph.Expect this to have a firm ride on the road and you'd be pleasantly surprised. The seats are comfortable and the suspension compliant, though the handling is extremely surefooted.The interior is also vast, with good rear-seat accommodation and a high ceiling. But what enhances this airy and light interior is the huge glass area.Don't be modest when touring in the Clio because the side glass drops right down to your elbows. The driving visibility is probably the best of any car – it's just a little daunting that the occupants are equally as visible.On the track that torquey engine and crisp gear change combine with remarkable roadholding to make this a fun machine.It's actually hard to provoke understeer despite this being a front-wheel drive. The back also hangs on so the progress through a corner is predictable with the Michelins refusing to release their grip on the asphalt.At a shade more than 1000kg, the $32,000 Clio Sport is a featherweight fighter.The feature list is pretty good, with climatic airconditioning, four airbags, ABS, electric windows and mirrors, cruise control – though awkward to use – and a CD player.The upholstery is alcantara which, like the rest of the interior, is black. The seatbelts are a pale grey. Do these colours match? No!The exterior gets aggressive with a lowered body, twin big-bore exhaust tips and fat 16-inch alloy wheels. This is really a fun car for the enthusiast that is as good on the track as it is toddling to work.

The three-door hatch is part of a new range of hot hatches from Renault, which includes a Clio Sport 182 Cup (add $2000 for stiffer suspension, lower ride height and charcoal-coloured wheels) and its bigger brother, the Megane turbo-charged Sport.Revisions to the engine give the Clio Sport 182 an extra 7kW of power – now up to 131kW – and peak torque (200Nm) is reached at 5250rpm, 150rpm earlier than before. Now, 80per cent of this is available from 2000rpm.Torque is noticeable underfoot in all gears, with fifth gear able to carry the car from lower speeds.The Sport has a hotter exterior than the tamer Clio models and subtle changes from the previous model include the sporty twin exhausts that protrude from the rear and the different-coloured alloy wheels.The twin exhausts produce a noticeably sporty note.The five-speed close-ratio box takes a bit of getting used to but third and fourth gear encourage high-revving fun.The wheelbase has been increased by 13mm and the track widened by 12mm at the front and 16mm at the rear. The greater track sees the Clio remain stable and have lots of grip under most driving conditions.Under harsh acceleration on rough bitumen, the Clio will tend to torque-steer, though it's nothing that can't be controlled by a slight lift of the right foot.The Cup provides even more grip than the standard 182 Sport. The stiffer suspension and lower ride height means there's minimal body movement, even under heavy load.Larger bearings in the wheel hubs also contribute to increased stability in the Cup.The lower position of the steering-arm attachment points sees the Cup react quicker and more decisively than the 182 Sport, with steering quicker as well.Despite the firmer suspension and lower ride height, the Cup is no bone-rattler – the spring rate in the Cup has been increased by 20per cent, with matching damper settings for this version of the Clio providing even more incisive behaviour.The rear spring rates have been stiffened by 15per cent and the damper settings by 10per cent.Brake-wise, the Clio's 280mm vented front and 238mm solid rear discs do an admirable job but tend to fade slightly when used quickly and repeatedly.The Clio's interior is a pleasant mix of quirky and sporty, with drilled pedals, sporty Alcantra leather seats and funky gauges.The size of the boot was a pleasant surprise, with none of the weekly load of shopping having to ride shotgun.The standard safety features include driver and passenger front adaptive airbags, driver and passenger side airbags, front and rear anti-intrusion side bars, an electronic stability program and latest generation anti-lock brakes.Comfort features include remote-operated central locking, power windows and mirrors, air recycling and particle filter, height and recline adjustment on the front head restraints, leather steering wheel and height adjustment on the driver's seat.The Clio Sport 182 also features six-speaker AM/FM stereo with single CD, cruise control with speed limiter, audio controls mounted on the steering column, climate-control airconditioning, vanity mirrors and a chilled glove box.

There are two models, the Sport and the Sport Cup. The only difference is charcoal coloured alloys, lower ride height and firmer suspension on the Cup, oh, and $2 grand more on the sticker.Though not in the same performance league as a WRX, the Sport offers possibly more driving excitement because it is such an athletic little beast. You can really drive the thing and be rewarded by its stability, response and feel.The engine has more wick and is now rated at an impressive 131kW/200Nm output. It's naturally aspirated so when you push the throttle, it goes, no waiting.And rev, sheeesh, the high compression 2.0-litre twin cam loves to spin and fairly howls near the 7000rpm redline. But there's no real need to go there because it has plenty of pick-up everywhere.Part of the secret here is size and weight. The Sport is a small car, a three door hatch capable of carrying four. It weighs 1090kg and has an impressive power to weight ratio. The 0-100kmh sprint is a 7.0 second event.A five speed manual is the only transmission and it is short geared to the point where you might be looking for another cog. But as it stands, the gearing provides excellent acceleration even if the throws between ratios are too long and the stick is too far forward for tallish drivers.The passage of gases through the engine is aided by twin cams and 16 valves while out the back is a funky looking, wide-spaced dual exhaust.The thing handles like a slot car especially with the Cup's firm and low suspension. It jiggles a bit but that is a characteristic of hot hatches.The suspension is Macstruts all round, steering is power assisted rack and pinion. Stability gains have been made on this model by lengthening the wheelbase and widening the track. The wheels are pushed right out to each corner.This is the sort of car that would be ideally suited to club gymkhanas and even club motor racing events. You just want to get in and enjoy the drive. It drinks premium unleaded but sips lightly most of the time. The 50 litre tank gives a range of about 550km.I found the flat steering wheel annoying as it forces a straight arm steering position. The sound system is OK even though it has six speakers but the drilled alloy pedals are extremely cool.Standard equipment is impressive and includes goodies like climate control, automatic xenon head- lights and leather upholstery.Like all Renaults, the Sport Clio rates highly in crash testing. There are four air bags, electronic stability program and ABS in the safety inventory. 

Even Renault admits sales of the turbocharged Megane 225 and its Renault Sport stablemate, the Clio 182 (numbers represent horsepower), won't be high in Australia. It predicts monthly figures of only 25 of each.But it's supposed to be an important step towards giving the Renault brand a shot of sex appeal."We are trying to avoid setting concrete targets," managing director Rudi Koenig says."Obviously, with this type of car, initial demand is going to be high. Then, like most sports vehicles, expectation dies down."But we want to use Renault Sport to enhance our brand awareness in this country."The Megane Sport 225 has a turbocharged version of Renault's 2.0-litre engine, boosting power to 165kW and torque to 300Nm, compared with the standard Megane's 98kW and 191Nm.The twin-scroll, watercooled turbocharger has what's called a "double-incident flow" that is supposed to reduce the amount of exhaust coming back into the cylinders. Basically, it reduces turbo lag and that means the engine doesn't have to be wound up to high revs to get the most from the turbo.Apart from the turbo, the Megane Sport has 17-inch wheels, a wider track, stiffer suspension, lower ride, and four-wheel Brembo disc brakes and calipers with electronic braking distribution. The Luxury pack includes full leather trim, a sunroof and six-CD audio.The more familiar Renault Sport Clio has also had a mild boost in power (up 7kW to 131kW), along with new standard features such as leather/anthracite trim, twin tailpipes and cruise control.It also has a wider track (12mm front and 16mm rear) and wider Michelin tyres.The biggest news is the arrival of the Cup variant, a track model with stiffer suspension (20 per cent stiffer in front and 16 per cent at back).Apart from grey metallic alloys, rather than the silver of the regular Clio Sport, and a (barely noticeable) 3mm lower ride height, there's little visual difference between the Cup and regular versions.ON THE ROADIF THE Renault Sport Clio is the genuine article hot hatch, the Renault Sport Megane 225 comes across as a bit "not quite".It's not quite edgy enough to be a hot hatch in the same sense as its stablemate, the Renault Sport Clio 182, which makes it hard to work out exactly what kind of buyer would go for it.While it's undoubtedly sporty, in the sense of having a reasonably stiff suspension, the Megane loses the edge with its steering.The best description is it feels "woolly". It's not sharp as you'd expect from a car with a sporty attitude, whether it be a genuine sports car or only a hot hatch.The ride itself is a bit "midway" as well, though in this case that's not necessarily a bad thing. Grip and control is good without the choppiness you can get in cars that have a very hard suspension.The Megane 225's biggest plus is the turbo engine, which is a delight from low in the rev range to the top. No noticeable turbo lag means it's also easy to live with.Through the windy stuff the engine gives the driver plenty in reserve to fire out of corners and dart up hills.The six-speed manual, however, isn't quite slick enough to take advantage of the motor. The shift from second to third, in particular, is fairly hit-and-miss. The Clio's five-speed is much more usable.But the car's biggest letdown is its drab and not especially sporty interior. The plastics are a dull dark grey and do little to excite. The orange seatbelts only partially compensate.The instruments are sparse for a car that will sell for $42,990 and the orange-lit display might be functional and easy enough to read, but look industrial rather than sexy.In contrast, the Renault Sport Clio, even the relatively "standard" one pushes all the right buttons.After driving the turbo Megane, power and torque feel a little bit light on, but everything else screams fun.Through the Tasmanian backroads, the Clio feels like a go-kart, the grip so impressive you can maintain speed to the point that the lack of brute power is hardly relevant.The steering and transmission are much more enticing for the driver than the larger car, as is the interior with its black and brushed aluminium highlights. The personality of the car shines through, whereas the Megane feels pale.For an extra $1500 you get the Club spec version with stiffer racetrack suspension and grey-coloured wheels. The wheels certainly look the part, but, except for those who intend to use the car on the track, the Cup has a noticeably bumpier ride without any noticeable improvement in grip.Now if we could just squeeze that turbocharged engine into the Clio . . . But I guess that's just being silly.

They include a powerful, turbocharged version of the quirky Megane hatch – you know, the one with the big derriere.The second is a slightly more powerful version of the smaller but highly regarded Clio Sport.Both cars offer high levels of performance and to go with this a free "performance" driving course will be offered to buyers.Renault which has a long history with Australia made a return to this country with a flourish and brace of new models back in 2001.But it has failed to build on the initial splash, with sales slipping backwards last year and still slightly down again this year.However, it argues that it is in for the long haul and the good news is that cars like the Megane Turbo 225 and Clio Sport 182 could set tongues wagging once again."Our aim is to develop the Renault Sport name and to show buyers a more passionate side of the brand," says director of operations Rudi Koenig.Renault Sport has its own plant which specialises in performance models at Dieppe in the Normandy region of France.Both the Megane and Clio models adopt the new Renault Sport DNA which consists of twin tailpipes and a special alloy wheel design.The Clio Sport will be familiar to readers as the little hotty that spearheaded the company's return four years ago.It was initially available in very limited numbers all of which were snapped up by performance hungry punters.The new car adds a more aggressive look and 7kW of extra power, lifting engine output to 131kW or 182bhp – a fraction more than Peugeot's 206 GTi 180 (ergo the 182 tag).Torque stays the same at 200Nm but is produced slightly lower at 5250rpm.The dash from 0-100km/h has been shaved from 7.3 to 7.1 seconds.With a longer, wider footprint and five-speed manual stick the Clio goes hard and offers the enthusiast plenty of bang for their buck, with a ride and handling package that is among the best in class.An even sportier Cup version is offered this time, with even firmer, lowered suspension for better handling.Both versions are an absolute hoot to drive.Wheel size has jumped from 15 to 16 inch on both cars but the Cup can be readily identified by its smoky coloured alloys.A bright Racing Blue is a standout new colour.On the downside weight in the Clio is up from 1035kg to 1090kg and in making way for the twin exhaust system the spare wheel has been replaced by a reinflation kit.However, it is the turbocharged Megane that is the real suprise packet.A turbocharged and intercooled 2.0-litre engine transforms the stylish hatch into something a whole lot more tastier than the standard car.The engine delivers 165kW of power and 300Nm of torque from 3000rpm, catapulting the car from 0-100km/h in just 6.5 seconds.That is quick but not quite as fast as a Subuaru WRX but then again it is an entirely different sort of car.It is the smooth, almost seamless way the Megane delivers this power that is most impressive, providing plenty of get and go across the entire engine range.The engine is hooked up to a Nissan-developed six- speed manual tranny and is one of the smoothest turbos that we have driven.Mid-range acceleration is particularly strong, mak- ing overtaking a simple matter.It is this same mid-range power that makes the car a joy to push this car through twisting mountain roads.A special front suspension setup minimises the torque steer normally associated with powerful front- wheel drive cars.This is the twisting, bucking sensation that you sometimes feel as the front wheels attempt to transmit power to the pavement.The Megane's aggressive Brembo brakes take some getting used to.Ventilated fourpot 312mm front discs are fitted along with one pot 300mm rear discs.Large 17 inch wheels and low profile rubber fill out the wheel arches.Inside, the look is ultra modern with color-coded seatbelts – bright orange in the car we drove.Both are the Clio Sport 182 and Megane Turbo 225 are very well equipped with many luxury features including stability control and several airbags.The Clio Sport 182 is priced from $32,990 while the Megane Turbo 225 retails for $42,990 – both prices exclude on-road costs.