Hatchback Reviews

Each has a budget price, sensible features, good looks and Japanese parents. Neil Dowling compares two of Australia's favourite hatchbacks.

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The Renault Clio RS is one of the Carsguide favourites of 2014, packed with driving enjoyment and French character.But what about the regulation Clio, the one that's not for hot-hatch fans? It's right on the money in the tiddler class at $16,790, although that only gets you a three-cylinder engine that's better for economy than romping.So I slide into a Clio the way most people will buy it, the Expression TCe 120 with a 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine and EDC auto gearbox for a price tag of $20,990 before the inevitable on-roads. And I like it.DESIGNIt's always easy to pick a French car out of a pack of Japanese and Korean commuters and the Clio maintains its place with a distinctive body and a prominent family face. Inside, there is good room for the class, quality seats and the rest of the comfort package you expect when you're paying similar money to the starter cars - think Corolla and Pulsar - in the next size category.SAFETYSome of the Carsguide crew are still not happy without rear airbags in the car, even though the Clio gets a five-star ANCAP rating, but that's a story for another day. And a visit to the Renault safety centre outside Paris.DRIVINGThis Clio also has the EDC six-speed dual-clutch auto that's enjoyable to use as a manual, thanks to a shift pattern that means you push forward - race style - for downshifts, and the engine is strong enough for the job.My partner, Ali, does not agree and says the Clio needs more go. She says she spends too much time with her foot on the floor, admittedly in full auto mode, to get the car going the way she wants. She also votes against the seats, although I like them a lot because they are well shaped and cushioned for me. And definitely way better than the flat-bench feel of the Honda Jazz I've also driven this week.Before we move on, it's time to claim a little Carsguide credit on the Clio. When I first saw the new Clio, nearly two years ago at the Paris motor show, I complained that there was no way I could get a good grip to pull the hatch down. It's something I've always checked since a good mate, Peter Tighe, struggled with the back door on a Toyota LandCruiser. He was short and afterwards I always believed cars should have a 'Tighe-down" handle.Now Renault has reshaped the grips in the back of the Clio and it's far easier to pull the hatch down. "We call it the Gover Grip," says Renault Australia boss Justin Hocevar.

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To get five doors, front-drive, a decent boot and space for the kids, you don't have to settle for a boring shopping trolley...

If you don't have the bucks for a Renault Clio RS then you might like to opt for the GT - a slightly cheaper look-a-like but with a 1.2-litre turbo petrol four cylinder engine instead of the much more powerful 1.6 in the RS. The range topping GT Premium driven goes for $28,790, about $500 under the kick off point for the Clio RS. But not everyone wants that level of performance and handling so the GT has plenty of alternative appeal.It looks like the RS in passing especially around the nose and the rear end with body aero add-ons and a twin pipe exhaust.VALUEThis is in addition to 17-inch alloys, body coloured exterior mouldings and hardware, and a striking new blue colour choice. Inside is just as sporty looking as the outside with sporty seats and wheel, paddle shift (all GTs get a six speed dual clutch EDC transmission), Arkamys audio with Bluetooth phone and streaming.Driver assist stuff includes, hill start, auto headlights and wipers, rear park sensors, rear view camera, cruise control, smart key with button start and other goodies. The funky instrument pod features a large digital readout and in the Premium drive car, Renault's handy R-Link system with big tablet style info screen and two drive modes - Normal and Sport that alter gearbox and throttle.DESIGNThe Clio is a five door hatch with concealed rear door handles. It has a decent load space and plenty of interior room despite being categorised in the light car segment. It's possibly the biggest car in the light segment - and one of the best.Power comes from a 1.2-litre, direct injection, four cylinder that achieves 88kW/190Nm output and gets 5.2 litres/100km combined on 95 octane. This newly developed engine scores an EU5 emissions rating. Ride is by a MacPherson strut front and simple torsion beam rear and,get this, the rear brakes are drums. What tha...DRIVINGOn the road the GT is a sweet thing offering a sporty feel and plenty of comfort from the chassis/suspension. It has impressive cornering capability and direct steering. The brakes are good but that may not be the case if you push hard on a winding road with those rear drums.The engine is OK, not the most potent thing in the class and remember, you can get into Ford's Fiesta RS hot rod for a lot less than this though, to be fair, it is a three door. Some baulkiness came from the dual clutch manumatic but it's great on the move, snick, snick snick through the gears.Put it this way, the chassis of the GT could cope with a lot more than the achieved power and torque from the turbo 1.2. But it is a willing little donk spinning out freely and when you work the right foot  - the available performance is liveable. Doesn't match the looks though. Which is what this car is all about - the look.It's the Clayton's Clio RS, great little city run around, five doors, striking looks - not much under the right foot.

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