After leaving the catalog at the end of 2020, the diesel is tiptoeing back under the hood of the Renault Clio in a single Blue dCi 100 version. What are its arguments in a complicated context for it?
Car tested: Renault Clio 1.5 Blue dCi 100 hp Intens
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From€23,700
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The E-Tech Hybrid version and the new LPG version have been added to the Renault city car catalog. At the same time, the Clio 5 has turned its back on diesel with the withdrawal at the end of 2020 of the two 1.5 Blue dCi of 85 and 115 hp, which no longer met Euro 6D requirements. With the doors of certain large cities which will close to diesel cars within two years, we thought the fate of the Clio dCi was sealed.
Obviously wrong, since a new 100 hp Blue dCi coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox returned under the hood of the Clio in the second half of 2021. To adapt to these famous Euro 6D standards, the four-cylinder 1.5 Blue dCi has revised its mapping, optimized the operation of its EGR valve and modified its exhaust line. First only available in Intens and Business finishes (reserved for professionals), this diesel has recently expanded its range to the SL Limited version and is resisting in the segment.
Renault Clio Blue dCi 100 price
In a market less and less focused on diesel, the Renault Clio Blue dCi 100 involves an additional financial outlay of €1,950 compared to its petrol counterpart TCe 100 LPG. This additional cost is difficult, if not impossible, to amortize, especially if the second drinks regularly from a liquefied petroleum gas station.
Offered in two finishes for the individual, the diesel is available from €21,850 in SL Limited. At this already plump price, the staffing offers the essentials, but the Navigation Pack option also including an overspeed alert requires an additional investment of €550. The Intens version adds more technology and comfort (see equipment on next page), but you have to add €1,850 to the final bill, or €23,700 in total. We have the impression of talking about the prices of a Mégane, but it is indeed the amounts of a Clio that we are talking about!
Driving
A diesel, what diesel? It’s hard to believe that the Clio Blue dCi 100 runs on diesel. Not the slightest rattle during a cold start or the slightest vibration in the seat, the gear knob, the steering wheel or the pedals. The small block Renault has the good taste to be forgotten, to the point of being practically as quiet as its petrol counterpart. Discreet therefore, it cuts off and restarts without a jolt at the lights, when the Stop & Start system decides to operate.
Its excellent operating flexibility makes life easier for the driver in town. Its availability from 1,500 rev / min, followed by a nice boost to 2,000 rev / min, allows to evolve at low revs avoiding playing with a control box yet pleasant to handle. The absence of jolts and the smoothness of the controls also contribute to urban pleasure. Finally, the somewhat firm damping at low speed still retains considerate comfort for the occupants with the 16-inch wheels.
At ease in an urban environment that will soon be hostile to it, the Clio diesel is even more appreciated on the road. The 100 hp of its Blue dCi appear much more valiant than those of the Clio TCe 100 LPG thanks to the tone offered at mid-range by its 260 Nm of torque. Such a punch makes the benefits of the car largely sufficient. It then turns out to be a road car capable of exploiting a high-performance chassis, one of the best among versatile city cars. Efficient, precise and mastering her cash movements well, the Frenchwoman always responds when raising her voice.
Compared to its gasoline-LPG counterpart of the same power, the Blue dCi 100 offers more pleasure on long journeys. Its slight hum at 130 km/h on the highway may appear a little more pronounced, but it remains discreet enough not to annoy. Sixth gear lowers the sound level without stifling a mechanism that keeps pace when the TCe 100 struggles to maintain a constant pace when the terrain gets involved. And a simple downshift is enough to revive energetically. All displaying drinks of 5 l/100 miles in real life, with mechanics not yet run in. A nice tour de force.
On board
Competetion
Diesel is gradually deserting the ranks of versatile city cars. In the Volkswagen group, the latest VW Polo, Seat Ibiza and Skoda Fabia now only run on unleaded. Betting more on the E85, the Ford Fiesta has also abandoned it, and it has not existed for a long time under the hood of the Toyota Yaris, which has chosen the hybrid.
The main rivals of this diesel Clio are therefore tricolor. The Peugeot 208 Blue HDi 100 also has a six-speed gearbox. Its performance is comparable, even if it appears a little more efficient on paper (0 to 100 km/h in 10.2 s). With its eight finishes, the prices of which range between 20,950 and 26,650 €, the lioness also offers more choice. The Citroën C3 Blue HDi 100 uses the same engine as its Sochaux cousin and emphasizes comfort. Its four finishes, invoiced from 19,750 to 23,200 €, benefit from slightly more attractive prices.
Discover the results of the test, the technical sheet and the options on the next page.
