Renault Clio hybrid 2020: prices, specifications and on-sale date

The new Renault Clio hybrid, known as the Clio E-TECH, will cost from £19,595 on-the-road in the UK and is available to order now, with first customer deliveries expected in September. The Clio E-TECH is the first full hybrid Renault ever; its rivals will include the Toyota Yaris Hybrid and Honda Jazz.

The Renault hybrid powertrain combines a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine with two electric motors and a 1.2kWh lithium-ion battery for a total power output of 140hp and a 0-62mph time of 9.9 seconds. Renault claims as much as 80% of urban driving will be possible using electric mode, while official fuel economy is just over 64mpg and CO2 emissions stand at 98g/km.

The engine is naturally aspirated and the first of the two electric motors functions as an intelligent alternator and regenerative braking system. The second, more powerful, motor does the majority of the work of propelling the front-wheel-drive Clio alongside the petrol engine. Under heavy acceleration, both electric motors can boost the car’s performance.

All of this is enabled by a ‘clutchless’ automatic gearbox that takes its complex engineering principles from Formula 1. Renault claims the gearbox offers some 15 different operating modes, including a pure-electric mode that works at up to 38mph.

Unlike Peugeot, which recently revealed the all-electric e-208 supermini, Renault will not offer an electric version of the Clio. Instead, the French brand is focusing on the ZOE as its electric offering. The plug-in hybrid Captur E-TECH SUV also broadens the French brand's electrified portfolio. The company expects to offer eight fully electric models and 22 electrically assisted models by 2022.

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Renault Clio E-TECH prices and specifications

The hybrid Renault Clio E-TECH will be offered with the same trim levels as the rest of the recently launched Clio range. Entry-level Play costs £19,595 and includes LED headlights, cruise control, manual air-conditioning, automatic emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition and lane-keep assistance.

Next up is Iconic, which ups the asking price to £20,595 and adds a leather steering wheel, 16-inch alloy wheels, front foglights, hands-free entry and go, rear parking sensors and a seven-inch touchscreen with sat nav and phone connectivity.

The S Edition trim will set you back £21,595; on top of the Play and Iconic's equipment, it features 17-inch grey alloy wheels, an 9.3-inch screen with sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, front parking sensors and a rear-view camera, auto-dipping headlights, auto wipers and climate control.

The top-spec R.S. Line costs £22,095 and adds sportier looks inside and out, courtesy of 17-inch alloy wheels and more aggressive front grille, as well as contrasting stitching for the R.S. Line upholstery. 

There's also a 'Launch Edition' model which is exclusively available with the hybrid engine and also priced at £22,095. It boasts a central armrest with storage and an electric parking brake with auto hold. An optional Tech Pack brings a 360-degree camera with hands-free parking and wireless phone charging, while there’s also an optional Bose sound system upgrade.