KEY POINTS:
Know where they seem to really like European cars? Europe. Except that over there, they just call them cars, which highlights a major problem for small hatches such as the Renault Clio in the Kiwi market.
On the Continent, cars such as the Clio are utterly mainstream, made in their millions and expected to do a pretty simple job - rocket along between A and B without a word of complaint, until their owners chuck them away and get a new one.
But in New Zealand, the small-car market has long been dominated by the Japanese. The Euros sell in much smaller numbers, often cost a bit more and therefore engender expectations they should be bigger, posher and better equipped than their Asian rivals.
So it is with the latest Clio III. The Renault brand has been near-invisible here in recent years and this new Clio does indeed look rather costly.
At $31,990, it's thousands of dollars more expensive than a top-line Mazda2 or Toyota Yaris. Not an ideal start.
But there is hope. For a start, the Clio III carries quite a big calling card - it was voted European Car of the Year for 2006 by an independent panel of motoring writers.
Granted, they were considering many more variations on the model than the single 1.6-litre petrol/auto Clio currently on offer here, but the Renault was a winner nonetheless. So some respect, please.
And the little Renault does somewhat justify its price with generous exterior dimensions and loads of kit. Technically the Clio III is a supermini, but in reality it's half a size up on the old car (Fiat and Peugeot have pulled similar tricks with their segment contenders) and not that much more compact than Renault's own Megane.
The Clio has arrived here in Dynamique specification, which means humble steel wheels but full electrics, air conditioning, a credit card-style key and six airbags.
Some buyers of these kinds of cars, usually from the posher city suburbs, seem to think that they're superior machines simply because they're European and not Japanese.
So what will they think of this Clio, then, which is based on a Nissan platform and has even been sourced from Japan, although it's still built in Europe, for the first part of 2007, pending the release of the official New Zealand export model from the factory later in the year.
If the Europhiles are at all worried, they'll be soothed straight away by the Clio experience. The cabin is unreasonably stylish for a small car and beautifully detailed, with squishy plastics everywhere and brilliant ergonomic touches, such as fingertip "satellite" controls for the audio system. The French do this kind of cabin detail incredibly well - no argument that the Clio boasts bags of showroom appeal.
It's refined on the road, too, with a more supple ride than any small Peugeot and well-suppressed wind and road noise. It's stable, if totally unin- spiring in the corners, but that's okay. The Clio plays to its strengths, and when you have a small car that's so relaxed you can live without the dynamic prowess.
The powertrain is definitely the weak link in the chain. The 1.6-litre engine is adequately powerful but thrashy at the top end, and the four-speed automatic gearbox saps anything in the way of mid-range power delivery before it even starts. The vast majority of small cars sold in Europe are still manual, and the French in particular couldn't seem to care less about automatics.
It shows in this Clio. The self-shifter is jerky, indecisive and prone to holding gears or kicking down when you least expect it. Infuriating.
There are more powertrain options on the way. Coming in September are a 1.5-litre dCi turbo diesel and the range-topping 197 Sport hot hatch with 145kW.
Once that pair come on stream, we might start to see a bit more of that car of the year quality we've been hearing about.
For now, the Clio III stands as a well-specified supermini with ride and refinement qualities that should hold huge appeal for status-conscious supermini buyers.
It's definitely our favourite French-made supermini from Japan.
Renault Clio III
We like: Refinement, quality, spacious cabin.
We don't like: Anodyne driving experience, bizarre gearbox behaviour.
The facts
Basic price: $31,990.
Options fitted: None.
Price as tested: $31,990.
Warranty: 3 years/100,000km.
Powertrain and performance
Engine: 1598cc petrol inline four.
Power: 82kW at 6000rpm.
Torque: 151Nm at 4250rpm.
Transmission: 4-speed automatic, front-drive.
0-100km/h: 10.2 seconds.
ADR fuel consumption: 7.5 litres per 100km.
Safety
Active driver aids: Anti-lock braking with force distribution and brake assist.
Passive restraints: Front and side airbags, five lap-sash seatbelts.
EuroNCAP adult occupant crash test rating: 5-star/89 per cent.
Vital Statistics
Wheels and tyres: 15-inch steel, 185/60 tyres.
Length: 3986mm.
Height: 1496mm.
Width: 2025mm (including mirrors).
Wheelbase: 2575mm.
Kerb weight: 1190kg.
Boot volume: 288/1028 litres (seats up/down).
Fuel tank: 55 litres.
The Rivals: Challengers to the Renault Clio III
Fiat Punto 1.3 JTD Dual Logic
Price: $28,490.
Powertrain: 66kW/200Nm 1.3-litre turbo diesel four, 6-speed robotised manual, ADR economy 4.4 litres per 100km.
Another supersized supermini, the Punto offers an appealing combination of diesel power and two-pedal Dual Logic gearbox.
Peugeot 207 XSP
Price: $31,990.
Powertrain: 88kW/160Nm 1.6-litre petrol four, 4-speed automatic, ADR economy 7.0 litres per 100km.
This is what the old 206 wanted to be when it grew up - the new 207. Like the Clio, it's a mature supermini with big-car cabin space.
Honda Jazz Sport
Price: $24,990.
Powertrain: 81kW/143Nm 1.5-litre petrol four, continuously variable transmission (CVT) with 7-step mode, ADR economy 6.1 litres/100km.
Turning to the Japanese is not such a bad thing. The Jazz has smooth gearbox, thrifty petrol engine and an amazingly well-packaged cabin.
