Renault Clio GT Line costs £17,395

The Renault Clio GT Line (pictured) is a bit of a sheep in Wolf’s clothing

There’s one big problem when car makers build hot hatches with go-faster bits bolted on and decent amounts of power and performance, and that’s that the demographic hot hatches appeal to are the ones least likely to be able to afford insurance premiums on a pocket rocket. Which is why we get the Renault Clio GT Line.

Looking for all the world like a Clio that could take on the RenaultSport Clio 200, the Clio GT Line in fact has a 1.2 TCe petrol engine lurking under the bonnet, with a more modest 118bhp, 0-62mph of 9.9 seconds, 54.3mpg and emissions of 120g/km. A relative sheep in wolf’s clothing.

But although the Clio GT is less well endowed with power than it looks, it does get some RS toys to play with, like stiffer dampers for better cornering, switchable drive system with two modes – normal and sport – that change the steering, throttle and traction control and an EDC dual clutch gearbox.

The shouty bits include 17″ GT alloys, small spoiler at the back, butch sills, rear diffuser, new front and rear bumpers, F1 style blades and extra toys and sport stuff inside too like Arkamys Audio, AirCon, R-Link 7″ Touchscreen with TomTom, Sports Seats, GT badges and a leather steering wheel.

The Renault Clio GT Line is a sensible offering from Renault, costing a bit less than the RS Clio 200 (which costs from £18,995), with much of the visual appeal if not the outright performance, and much lower insurance and running costs, especially for younger drivers.

The Clio GT Line costs £17,395 and can now be ordered from Renault’s UK showrooms – in one of five colours including the unique launch colour, Renault i.d. metallic Malta Blue -  with first cars arriving with dealers in July and first UK customer cars in September.

By Cars UK