Renault Clio vs Ford Fiesta
If you are in the market for a smaller car, then two of the most obvious choices have to be the Renault Clio and the Ford Fiesta, with both cars being great hatchbacks offering impressive features.
The Ford Fiesta was given a refresh before it was discontinued, but the facelifted Fiesta offers good value for money, is a reliable choice and is light on fuel. On the other hand, the stylish French-designed new Renault Clio (now in its fifth generation) comes with standard features and exceptional looks that many would expect from a more expensive car.
So how do you choose between the two? We have done a comparison between the Clio V and Fiesta so you can decide for yourself which hatchback suits you best, based on what each one has to offer.
Renault Clio vs Ford Fiesta: Exterior Features
The design of the Ford Fiesta has come a long way from its oval shape and evolved into a more futuristic hatchback with slick LED headlights that are standard across the range (top-of-the-range models feature the matrix LED lights with anti-dazzle tech), a new-look grille and revised tail lamps, which elevated its appearance compared to previous generations.
The new Renault Clio has a chic coupe-like design with concealed door handles, chrome garnishing and C-shaped signature LED pure vision headlamps, giving it a dynamic profile that’s hard not to fall in love with, especially in the Flame Red colour option. Other colours include Glacier White, Mercury and Titanium Grey, which all give the new Clio a sense of opulence on top of its gorgeous trimmings and superior appearance.
Renault Clio vs Ford Fiesta: Interior Features
On the inside, both the Renault Clio and Ford Fiesta both boast the latest car technology. The Ford Fiesta has a digital 12.3-inch dashboard that replaces the standard analogue dials along with Ford Sync 2 and 3 infotainment, USB and 12V Outlet. The Clio V also offers a cutting-edge infotainment system integrated with Renault CONNECT, a high-quality 9.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and USB, and up to six speakers!
The last generation Ford Fiesta interior has quality finishes made for long-lasting use, but it isn’t fancy by any means. Renault, on the other hand, has given their new Clio V model a minimalist look with a complete interior overhaul in high-quality materials and finishes. Customisable ambient lighting, digital trimmings, a 7-litre cubbyhole, and an electric handbrake are some of the many new features of the latest Renault Clio.
When it comes to space, the Clio offers a little more space at 391 litres, while the Fiesta has 311 litres. In terms of length and width, they are very similar, with the Clio being slightly wider but its height is a little less than the Fiesta.
Renault Clio vs Ford Fiesta: Engine Sizes And Fuel Consumption
The Ford Fiesta standard engine lineup comprises the 1.0-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder in three states of tune: 75 kW, 91 kW and 115 kW. Buyers have a choice of either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The Clio’s new 1.0-litre TCe 100 turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine with 5-speed manual transmission delivers 74kW and 160 Nm of torque which is an improvement of 8kW and 20 Nm compared to the previous generation.
Both cars are incredibly economical in terms of fuel consumption, in fact, they are essentially the same (obviously depending on the variant). The Ford Fiesta consumes an average of 5.7 litres/100km, just like the Renault Clio. On top of this, they both are very environmentally friendly, with a CO2 emissions rating of 132g/km on the Clio and 129.0g/km on the Fiesta.
Renault Clio vs Ford Fiesta: Safety Features
As far as safety is concerned, both the Fiesta and Clio have some great safety features as standard – such as airbags, seat belt reminders, lane assist systems and automatic emergency braking systems. Furthermore, they both achieved five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests.
Several safety features were introduced on the Ford Fiesta such as autonomous emergency braking and radar-guided cruise control. All models have six airbags, ABS brakes with Electronic Brake Assist (EBA) and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), as well as Hill Launch Assist (HLA) Electronic Stability and Traction Control (ESC).
Standard features on the Renault Clio include four to six* airbags, ISOfix (i-Size), front passenger and rear side seats, seat belt warning with presence detection, front headrests with anti-whiplash function, Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Electronic Stability Control (ESC with ABS), Hill Start Assist (HSA), front and rear parking sensors* and rear parking camera*.
Final Conclusion
It’s a tight race to the finish line between the Ford Fiesta and the Renault Clio. The Fiesta offers sheer driving enjoyment, excellent fuel economy, and top-class reliability, but doesn’t deliver as much style. The Renault Clio has incredible safety ratings, great performance and dazzles in the style department too – inside and out. This makes the new Clio a top contender as the best hatchback option right now.
If you’re looking for a sporty, well-balanced and affordable hatchback, the latest Renault Clio should be at the top of your list.
*Features are trim level dependent.
