Renault Clio
A supermini that twice won European Car of the Year.
The Renault Clio is a B-segment supermini built by the French automaker Renault. It first appeared in 1990, and the sixth generation arrived in 2025. Since its launch, the Clio has been a consistent top seller in Europe, earning both critical and commercial acclaim. It is widely seen as the car that revived Renault’s reputation after a rough second half of the 1980s. Alongside the Volkswagen Golf, it is one of only two cars to win the European Car of the Year award twice—first in 1991, then again in 2006.
The name comes from Clio, one of the nine Muses in Greek mythology. In Japan, it is sold as the Renault Lutecia because Honda owns the rights to the name “Clio,” having established the Honda Clio sales channel in 1984. “Lutecia” is derived from Lutetia, the ancient Roman city that preceded Paris. The Lutecia was originally available through Yanase Co., Ltd., but after Renault bought a stake in Nissan in 1999, distribution rights shifted to Nissan in 2000, and the car was sold at Nissan’s “Red Stage” dealerships.
**First generation (X57; 1990)**
Renault had replaced its R5 supermini with a completely redesigned model in 1984, but soon began work on an all-new supermini for the 1990s. It was decided that this new car would use a name rather than the numeric designations Renault had traditionally used—a shift that would apply to the entire Renault range by 1995. The Fuego coupe (launched in 1980) had been an exception, and the last numeric Renault was the 19, launched in 1988. By the end of 1996, numeric model names had vanished from Renault’s Western European lineup.
The Clio debuted at the Paris Motor Show in June 1990, with sales starting in France and the rest of Europe immediately. Right-hand drive sales in Britain began in March 1991. It replaced the hugely successful Renault 5, though that car continued production until 1996 at a factory in Slovenia, where some Clio versions were later built. The Clio’s suspension and floorpan were largely the same as the R5’s, which came from the R9 saloon (1981) and R11 hatchback (1983)—not the original 1972 Renault 5, despite the later R5’s visual resemblance to that model.
The suspension uses half-width torsion bars (full-width on higher-spec models) with trailing arms at the rear, and coil-sprung MacPherson struts attached to a thick pressed steel subframe at the front.
Quick Facts
- Manufacturer
- Renault
- Aka
- Renault Lutecia (Japan) / Mitsubishi Colt (2023–2025)
- Production
- 1990–present
- Class
- Supermini (B)
- Layout
- Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
- Predecessor
- Renault 5
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Clio was introduced at the Paris Motor Show in June 1990, with sales in France and continental Europe beginning then; right-hand drive sales in Britain began in March 1991. It replaced the hugely successful Renault 5, though the R5 remained in production until 1996. The Clio's suspension and floorpan were largely the same as the R5, which was derived from the R9 saloon of 1981 and R11 hatchback of 1983. The engine range at launch included 1.2 L and 1.4 L E-type petrol engines and 1.7 L and 1.9 L diesel engines. A minor trim facelift occurred after a year, and a phase two model launched in March 1994 with updates to the exterior and interior. The phase three facelift arrived in May 1996, bringing more rounded headlights, a new tailgate with a third brake light, and mechanical improvements including side impact bars and airbags.
Renault released a hot hatch version in 1991, the RSi, with a 110 PS 1.8 L eight-valve engine. A fuel-injected 1.8 L 16-valve engine producing 137 PS was introduced during 1991, known as the Clio 16S in France and Clio 16V in export markets. In 1993, Renault launched the Clio Williams as a limited edition of 3,800 cars, named after the then Renault-powered Formula One team WilliamsF1, though Williams had no involvement in the car's design. The modifications were the work of Renault Sport. The car served as Formula One's Safety Car in 1996. Due to demand, Renault built Williams 2 and 3, with more than 12,000 eventually built.
Reader's Guide
The Renault Clio's significance lies in its role as a commercial and critical benchmark in the European supermini segment. It restored Renault's reputation after a difficult period in the late 1980s and became one of Europe's top-selling cars consistently from its launch. Its double win of the European Car of the Year award (1991 and 2006) places it alongside only the Volkswagen Golf in that achievement. The Clio's naming marked Renault's shift from numeric model designations to name-based branding, a change adopted across the entire Renault range by 1995. The car's success in the United Kingdom was notable, with annual sales exceeding 50,000 units by 1995, aided by a famous television advertising campaign featuring the characters Papa and Nicole. The Clio Williams, though a limited edition, became a celebrated hot hatch and served as the Formula One Safety Car in 1996, linking the road car to motorsport. The Clio's longevity through six generations and its consistent market leadership underscore its legacy as a defining model for Renault and for the supermini class in Europe.
Did You Know?
- The Clio is named after Clio, one of the nine Muses in Greek mythology.
- In Japan, the Clio is sold as the Renault Lutecia because Honda holds the rights to the name Clio.
- The Clio Williams was named after the Renault-powered WilliamsF1 Formula One team, though Williams had no role in its design.
- The Clio was one of only two cars, alongside the Volkswagen Golf, to win European Car of the Year twice.
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