Renault Clio Sport 2005 Review

The Sport Cup model can only be distinguished from the Sport by the charcoal-coloured alloy wheels, which betray the Cup car's intent as well as proficiently hiding the brake pad dust.

The Sport is no shopping trolley, so when spring rates are stiffened by 20 per cent up front and 15 per cent at the rear, and the steering is tweaked even further, something special awaits in the Cup version.

Settled behind the leather-wrapped wheel and testing my broad feet on the close-set alloy pedals, the specs ran through my mind – Renault says 131kW of power, 200Nm of torque, 1009kg and 0-100km/h in 7.1 seconds.

Big brakes are nestled beneath the 16in alloys – 160km/h to standstill in just over three seconds is another claim by the manufacturer. The brattish stance, a wheel at each corner and the twin exhausts ready to poke double-barrelled fun at those you've just overtaken ... this car could be fun.

It's firm on the road, with every misaligned manhole cover causing a sharp bump in the cabin, although bigger bumps tend to be better dealt with by the dampers.

The seats will take some of the sting from the sharper jolts, as well as holding the occupants firmly in place.

An ill-timed sneeze requires maximum steering concentration, as the rack is quick and sharp – 2.8 turns lock-to-lock, a trait that had obvious benefits once the country-road corners came into view. The two-litre engine is happy to potter through the suburbs, proving flexible and well-behaved, with just a hint of what was to come beyond 3800rpm.

As the revs rise to the top half of the tachometer, the engine's character changes dramatically and the corners arrive much quicker.

As the upshift light burns green at 8000rpm, the aural delights of the engine are well apparent, as is the potency of its outputs.

The first corners are taken easily, as the initial efforts on the brake pedal wipe off far more speed than originally intended or required.

The suspension has been significantly upgraded – not that previous Clios were sloppy handlers – with stiffened spring rates, a 24mm rear anti-roll bar (up from 22mm), all reducing roll and planting the special Michelin rubber on the road to great effect.

The Renault Sport Clio 182 is the first car to be equipped with the Michelin Exalto tyre, no doubt because it was developed by Michelin in conjunction with Renault Sport.

The result? It's like driving a go-kart with a roof.

Minimal bodyshift, a distinct lack of fuss from the tyres and an attitude that thumbs its nose at the driver, who is taunted to try a little harder.

Hard late braking, savage use of the wheel and the accelerator can start the Clio moving around, but the speeds at which this happens are best left to a racetrack.

Winding back the pace a little does nothing to diminish the enjoyment, as the Clio darts from corner to corner, dismissing them with an arrogance that flies in the face of its sub-$40,000 price tag. There's no all-wheel-drive, no turbos and the driven wheels are at the opposite end of the car to which I would normally prefer, but handing the keys back is a tough experience.

Commuting can be a tiresome experience on the hard suspension, but this little French flyer is anything but a bare-bones track-day special – a cruise control with a speed limiter function is now standard, as is a six-speaker CD-equipped sound system (with stalk-mounted remote controls behind the wheel), climate-controlled airconditioning, automatic xenon headlights and rain-sensing front wipers. Anti-lock brakes, electronic brake distribution control, switchable electronic stability control, driver and front passenger front and side airbags, and front and outboard rear seatbelt pretensioners with load limiters are all standard.

The standard Renault Sport Clio 182 carries a $32,990 starting price, with the Cup adding $1500 to the bottom line.

Opting for either Clio Sport model will provide an immensely entertaining package. Cup buyers might not want to engage in the daily mundane commute, but they will jump at any chance to go for a drive.