Renault Clio VI: Europe's favorite city car enters chapter six

There are cars that need no introduction. The Renault Clio is one of them: since 1990, it has accompanied an entire part of Europe, from first driving licenses to family cars, selling over 17 million units. Thirty-five years and five generations later, the diamond-badged city car is turning a new page with a sixth generation more ambitious than ever. The perfect opportunity to retrace the saga of a popular icon… before making acquaintance with the newcomer.

Thirty-five years, five generations, one same formula

When the Clio I succeeds the venerable R5 in 1990, it makes a strong impression: named Car of the Year 1991, it establishes a blend of style, practicality and tight pricing that would become its hallmark. The Clio Williams version, which appeared in 1993 in its Sport blue livery and golden alloy wheels, made it a small legend in its own right—and a highly sought-after youngtimer today.

The Clio II (1998) grew in size, enhanced safety and democratized ABS and airbags. Above all, it dared the extravagant Clio V6, a city car transformed into a radical sports machine with a mid-mounted rear engine—a 230 hp oddity produced in around 1,500 units. The Clio III moved upmarket, gained an Estate variant and snagged a second Car of the Year award in 2006. The Clio IV (2012) gambled on style and technology, with its design penned by Laurens van den Acker and its R-Link touchscreen. Finally, the Clio V (2019) raised the bar on finish and introduced the E-Tech hybrid, while remaining, year after year, one of the continent's best-selling cars.

Twice Car of the Year, European best-seller still leading sales in the first half of 2025: few models can claim as much. This is the heavy legacy that the sixth generation must now build upon.

The Clio VI: a city car with bigger ambitions

Unveiled at the Munich Motor Show in September 2025 and on sale since the start of 2026, the new Clio takes a radical turn in tone. Gone is the modest silhouette: enter a sculpted and muscular design, inspired by Renault's new styling language. The hood stretches, the tracks widen and the sweeping roofline now evokes a compact coupé. At the front, a wide diamond-patterned grille and a slender diamond-shaped LED light signature give it an unprecedented look in its class.

The beauty has also grown by a few centimeters: 4.12 m long (7 cm longer than its predecessor) and 1.77 m wide. Enough to gain presence on the road and interior space without leaving the versatile city car segment that made its name.

Under the hood: hybrid as the flagship

The heart of the range is the full hybrid E-Tech 160 hp. It combines a 1.8-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with Atkinson cycle, two electric motors and a small 1.4 kWh battery, all managed by a clever multi-mode gearbox without clutch. Result: first-rate performance for a city car (0 to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds), mixed consumption held to 3.9 l/100 km and above all record emissions of 89 g/km CO₂. In town, the Clio can run on full electric power up to 80% of the time—enough to seriously ease the fuel bill.

Those who prefer simplicity are not forgotten: the range also offers a TCe 115 hp three-cylinder petrol (in manual or dual-clutch automatic) and an Eco-G 120 version with petrol-LPG dual fuel, still appreciated for its low running costs.

Inside: technology for all

The interior also takes a big step forward. Facing the driver, two screens merge into a modern panoramic display, with integrated Google connectivity, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Clio boasts an impressive array of next-generation driver assistance features, without compromising on the essentials: real physical controls for climate and ergonomics designed for daily use.

A legend that continues

Price-wise, the new Clio starts at €19,900 in TCe 115 petrol, while the E-Tech 160 hybrid begins around €24,600 and climbs to nearly €29,300 in Esprit Alpine sports trim. A positioning that remains true to the Clio's DNA: offer a lot, for a controlled budget.

With this sixth chapter, Renault does more than simply renew a best-seller: the brand proves that a city car can still inspire dreams, blending style, effective hybridization and reasonable pricing. The Clio has cradled the memories of millions of drivers—how many first cars, holiday getaways and freshly-passed driving tests?—and it seems determined to write many more. Find all the brochures for the Renault Clio, from the first to the very latest generation, to view and download free of charge on Brochure Auto.