- Renault’s next-generation Clio supermini has been spotted testing out in the open for the first time.
- The 2026 subcompact hatch will continue to offer combustion engines with hybrid assistance.
- New design retains hidden rear door handles, but don’t expect this prototype’s side exhaust to make production.
Renault’s sixth-generation Renault Clio has been spied testing on European mountain roads and these images suggest the French automaker isn’t going to mess too much with the current formula.
Expected to launch in early 2026, the new French supermini retains a similar silhouette to today’s model as well as the rising waistline and rear door handles that are hidden in the door frame adjacent to the C-pillar.
Related: I Took A 99 HP Renault Clio On A Road Trip And It Was More Fun Than You’d Think
But subtle differences tell us it’s more than a simple facelift. The upper section of the rear door frame tapers more aggressively than on the 2024 Clio and the lower part of the door tracks the shape of the wheel arch rather than heading straight for the rear pillar. We can also see that the rear window has a sportier rake, but the section of the hatch below sticks out more to improve trunk space.
Horizontal LEDs are visible at the rear, though with so much disguise in place it’s not clear if they run right across the back of the car. An equally liberal dose of camo on the front end prevents us from seeing all of the details there, although we can still see that there are diagonal DRLs at the outer edge of the bumper and that the grille contains a mesh featuring a diamond pattern referencing the brand’s famous badge.
Unlike today’s car, this new Clio ditches the notch in the leading edge of the hood, where the upper half of the grille badge usually sits. Although the new 5 EV has a notched hood, other new Renaults, such as the Rafale, Captur and Symbioz place their badges below straight-edged hoods.
Lifting the hood will reveal a range of available combustion engines depending on the market, including the 143 hp (145 PS) twin-motor 1.5-liter E-Tech hybrid powertrain fitted to the current Clio. But none will be equipped with what appears to be a side exit exhaust seen on the driver’s side of the prototype in these images.
We’ve previously reported that Renault will also offer a fully electric Clio for buyers not into the retro designs of the new 4 and 5 EVs. But Autocar claims Renault has decided not to make a Clio EV and will instead ditch straight combustion engines for a hybrid-only lineup to cut CO2 emissions.
