Boot space is a match for the outgoing car’s, at up to 391 litres, which keeps it ahead of the 381-litre Golf from the class above.
Under its new skin sits the same CMF-B platform used by today’s Clio. However, Renault says it will be more enjoyable to drive. In that pursuit, it remains relatively light: the pure-petrol model weighs 1155kg. The new car also has a quicker steering rack – 2.6 turns lock to lock compared with the previous 3.3 – and a wider track.
Two powertrains will be offered in the UK, each a development of those offered in today’s Clio.
The entry-level 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox and now produces 113bhp and 140lb ft, up from 88bhp and 118lb ft.
That enables it to complete the 0-62mph sprint in 10.1sec, an improvement of 2.1sec. Fuel economy and CO2 emissions are nominally better than before.
The hybrid retains its two electric motors and four-speed automatic gearbox, but its four-cylinder petrol engine has been upsized from 1.6 to 1.8 litres and the battery from 1.2 to 1.4kWh.
These changes have netted an increased power output of 158bhp – cutting the 0-62mph time by 1sec to 8.3sec – and allow the car to run on its electric motors alone for 80% of the time at town speeds, claims Renault. It yields a top-end economy of 72mpg and emissions of 89g/km.
