Renault Clio Sport Tourer 1.5 dCi (2007) CAR review

The common sense answer to needing a supermini with more room is to buy a Megane-sized hatchback. And the Megane is an apt example here. Not only is it from Renault, it’s sufficiently dimensionally challenged to be closer in concept to the Clio than you might think. Though if you go the whole hog and pick a Megane Sport Tourer, you really do get loads of space. Buyers seem to agree. Estate sales take just three percent of the European supermini pie, divided currently divided between the only two contenders, the Skoda Fabia and the Peugeot 207SW.

Fair point. But it does looks a bit more practical than the Clio hatch...

That’s true, for Renault has actually done a fine job within the constraints of its envelope. An extra 384 mm has been grafted on behind the rear wheel arches and there’s a neat third window that manages to allow the Sport Tourer to retain most of the balance of the original. And there’s 50 percent more luggage space with the rear seats in place, which is certainly useful.

But what about serious load capacity?

Well, there isn’t any, not in a real estate car sense, a fact that’s compounded by the raked rear window – style is as important as substance here. Yet what is on offer is handled well. There’s a straight run in from the tailgate sill through the level floor to the back of the front seats. It’s a decent length and so sensibly squared off it’s hard to imagine more being made of the available space. Actually there is a drop inside the rear sill, but this is handled by a false floor that leaves a large concealed area a few centimetres deep beneath. You can slot the retractable parcel shelf in here, and fold the floor up against the rear seat to gain some extra space when the rear seats are in use.