Would take the 208 gti all day long. Best interior out all the hot hatches. Most comfortable car to live with daily. Great engine to thrash and when you put your foot down it can really shift.
He says he's got everything off in the Clio. He's not even got it in sport, never mind Race. You can tell by the gear change. There's no "boom" on up shifts, no pops when it changes down and it upshifts on its own. And there's no "sport" or "race" lit up on the dash. At least, there doesn't seem to be. Both great cars though.
When the beep comes on can be adjusted via the RS monitor (on the R-link system). You can make it so close to the rev limit (IE. cut out) as to make no difference. So if you keep hitting the beep then, you are not driving very well. Or don't know how to adjust it (which is a suspect the case for most people that have just had a quick shot in one). I've got an RS Clio myself and actually (shock horror) like the car. You need to just get used to it. Not perfect but still a nice motor to live with and it also handles and shifts pretty well. Though I can appreciate why some folks would still prefer a manual one. And "yes" I did try a Fiesta ST (and a 208 gti) but decided that the Renault suited me best. Not everyone's cup of tea. All I say folks, is don't dismiss it out of hand without actually driving one. Enjoy whatever you drive. That's what it's all about folks.
Michael Owen this is the thing though isn't it, different cars suit different people so it's impossible to say what car is better than another one. Nice to hear the opinion of somebody who actually owns one of these cars instead of all the willy wavers who judge a car on book figures.
For 0.1 of a second, i would go for the 208, manual gear box, interior looks a lot nicer than the Renault (quality wise) and no annoying freaking beeping!!!
Would have to be the 208 gti for me. I don't think I could get on with the Clios gearbox, I like involvement in the drive and an auto box just doesn't do that for me even if it does have flappy paddles available.
If i was a renault owner I'd definitly find that beep and kill it! Also the conclusion on these tests I don't think you do it the correct way. 0.1s can be to driver error/tire pressure/tire brand. It's not enough of a difference to say "this is one is faster than that". Probably if you'd go around an other lap, the result could easly be inverted.
@ Autoexpress: why don't you pulish the lap time of the Fiesta?? Ford said so? We all would like to see your test winning car lap time result. Top Gear has just published the Knockhill lap times and the Fiesta ST with Mountune kit is almost 2 seconds a lap slower than these two brilliant cars on a 1 minute lap: 220 Trophy: 1:05.4 208 GTi by PS: 1:05.2 Fiesta ST Mountune: 1:07.1 I guess the ST Mountune was destroyed at Llandow with similar results... :) Not to mention the straight line performance (0-100mph-0): 220 Trophy: 6.5s and 20.3s 208 GTi by PS: 6.2s and 21.1 Fiesta ST Mountune: 6.6s and 21.6s But yeh, Ford always wins in all AE tests... you should try to be fair and independent!
Damien Blaber yes, for sure one of the bests. At Knockhill and at Magny-Course the 208Gti by PS was quicker than the Clio Trophy, but here at Llandow and at Montlhery the Clio was quicker. So, 2-2 at the moment :) Both very quick and nice cars, but I like the Clio Trophy more. Has just ordered mine. If you like this kind of 208, go for it, it is a cool car as well. Both much better and quicker than the the Fiesta! :)
+TheBioSkunk Yes, ford have weight over what people publish regarding a fucking fiesta. Do you understand the world at all? The Fiesta is still the best looking, and by all accounts best driving of this lot. Lap times? In a fucking shopping car? Who cares. It completely misses the point. A hot hatch can easily be simultaneously fast and shit, as demonstrated by most of them.
The Peugeot has a Nicer Interior and a Manual Interior,but the Renault looks better in my opinion and is more practical. But i would save my money and get a Ford Fiesta ST.
Why would you do that? Fiesta ST it`s an antz compare with the interior from the renault wich is by the way comparable with some of the compact segment even it`s only a supermini on paper, four doors, aluminium dual clutch shifter while some Audi RS7 HAD PLASTIC SHIFTER actually the only car on that segment that offer that option not even the premium brands don`t offer that on a super mini, very good and eficient engine, very good exterior. I suppose that the only reason it`s that you are British, M I wrong:D?
Really liked this Review, especially because it was fresh and uncluttered. Little 208 also looks quite good. Clio - The rims miss a little more depth but thats subjective. Thank You Auto Express :D
I'd go for the 208, the interior looks better, and even though it's a bit slower, everybody is talking shit about that renault gearbox, which really puts me off
Never forget that this is a small track with a lot of close bends. I would like to see this test in a longer track. But it would be also very close match.
@ Auto Express: where is the lap time of the Fiesta ST? Was it really that slow like at Knockhill were it collected 2 seconds on one lap from these 2? :D
I want to see a track battle between these two and a fiesta st with the mountune option. fiesta with a mountune kit is still cheaper than both of these two cars in their most basic state.
The Peugeot is obviously a better choice in this scenario, it's more refined and the interior is better thought out and posher than the Renault :) And who wants a hot hatch with 4 doors???
What is it with the English and the Ford Fiesta ST? The Fiesta was developed at Ford Europe Headquarters in Cologne, Germany, and it's built in Europe in Cologne and Ford Valencia, Spain.
+DolleHengst Because hot hatches from Ford have always been a very big thing in England since Ford used to build cars there. The English loves their Fords. You can thank the Fiesta XR2 for being the start of Ford hot hatches.
I really like those new Peugeots. I do feel a bit like they're being viewed as the underdog against the Renaults though, despite being a nicer car. The new Clio has gone backwards in terms of design internally. That god awful shiny dash and sound effect console, and rubbish Seats. What are Renault thinking? The 200's are way cooler inside, simply equipped and fantastic Recaro seats. I love mine. What more do you need?
I've noticed most cars he takes around the tracks all have a similar time, even if the specs are different. I think the problem is with the driver and not the cars.
208 has less power and has a manual gearbox (fun to drive but slower gear changes)... and just a 0.1s slower?! Tire model, tire pressure, full or not petrol tank... are enough to more than justify the difference... ill say its a win for the 208 gti.
mark199suzuki its possible, the Renault has more 11 hp and dual clutch, however the Peugeot is 50 kilos lighter and has more 40nm of torque... the car are very similar, the Peugeot also has Mechanical LSD which makes it easier to pull from corners...
Janner Jan The old one wasn't a giant killer because of its performance but because of the way it drove. That's what made it a legend. This one will be forgotten very, very quickly and rightly so.
+ianiva it was called giant killer on one of EVO Magazine's front cover page back in the time and that review made it famous first. They were chasing the Lambo on B roads. That is what made it a giant killer. This car started just right now a new age and it is even faster than that was. And this is a fact. And it is still a small Clio with all its practicality together with full comfort for every day use. Drop this one now with those supercars from that review in a group road test and they will have even more trouble to keep up with it. So yes, a new legend is born! ;)
220 cvs pour finir à 1 dixièmes de la gti qui n à rien de la 208 gti by Peugeot sport... franchement gardez vos clio 3,2 cup, la vrais dernière clio rs !
Jack Naylor The Fiesta looks disgusting lol.. Awful looking grille design at the front and the rear end just looks ugly.. The 208 is the best all round car of the 3
Jonathan Bowen the 30th has a Torsen LSD, other gear ratio, wider track, stiffer springs, front anti roll bar is smaller, other tyres, bigger brake discs. Those are also mechanical differences.
Clio was definately not in race mode. Not even in sport mode. No dual cluch fart on up shifts and not popping on downshift gives it away.. This was ordinary drive mode. Bad test, trying to make clio look bad. thumb down.
Clio Looks Awful..The dash area on both look so tacky..The Fiesta St is leagues ahead in this department..Fun to drive no doubt..that beep is beyond cheap..any decent driver knows when to shift !
Colin Morand the 208 is better than the ST, has fast, has fun, better interior and more comfortable when you just need to just go to work in the morning... some say the the 208 when you keep it below 3k rmp you forget you are in a GTI for how comfortable it is...
Colin Morand the Fiesta ST is leagues ahead? Yeh, keep thinking that :D The Fiesta ST is not even close to these 2 brilliant and quick cars. And it looks shit
There's still some magic missing from these cars. The old GTi's, GTT's, GTE's, etc were special. You couldn't mistake them for the normal version unless it was the Golf and even then you would know instantly by driving it. Either of these could be a 1.0/1.2 kids car with a bodykit. You would notice the extra power but what else is stand out about them? Come on, Renault. You gave us the Megane R26.R so why are you mugging us off with this tragic gearbox and overweight (for what it should be) clio? Same goes for Peugeot. They know better but choose to just warm up a normal car. There are very few actual drivers cars in hot hatch land at the moment and for me that's very sad.
Would take the 208 gti all day long. Best interior out all the hot hatches. Most comfortable car to live with daily. Great engine to thrash and when you put your foot down it can really shift.
I'd choose the Peugeot.
agreed!
+BoschExxcel Just ordered one. I expect to get this bolid end Jan!
+Maurizio Pagani in the us?
He says he's got everything off in the Clio. He's not even got it in sport, never mind Race. You can tell by the gear change. There's no "boom" on up shifts, no pops when it changes down and it upshifts on its own. And there's no "sport" or "race" lit up on the dash. At least, there doesn't seem to be. Both great cars though.
When the beep comes on can be adjusted via the RS monitor (on the R-link system). You can make it so close to the rev limit (IE. cut out) as to make no difference. So if you keep hitting the beep then, you are not driving very well. Or don't know how to adjust it (which is a suspect the case for most people that have just had a quick shot in one).
I've got an RS Clio myself and actually (shock horror) like the car. You need to just get used to it. Not perfect but still a nice motor to live with and it also handles and shifts pretty well. Though I can appreciate why some folks would still prefer a manual one. And "yes" I did try a Fiesta ST (and a 208 gti) but decided that the Renault suited me best. Not everyone's cup of tea. All I say folks, is don't dismiss it out of hand without actually driving one. Enjoy whatever you drive. That's what it's all about folks.
Michael Owen this is the thing though isn't it, different cars suit different people so it's impossible to say what car is better than another one. Nice to hear the opinion of somebody who actually owns one of these cars instead of all the willy wavers who judge a car on book figures.
For 0.1 of a second, i would go for the 208, manual gear box, interior looks a lot nicer than the Renault (quality wise) and no annoying freaking beeping!!!
Too bad the interior of the Clio looks like a Dacia playskool and I think know that we can deactivate that annoying beep on RS' Renault
Cole Phelps
What are you doing in the XXI century, Phelps?! Back to the 1950's you go! :D
+Hugo Fernandes The Renault would have won by a larger margin if the driver had remembered to select the Nissan GTR engine sounds...
Ah non Monsieur je suis un Mirage-2000
Did not expect the Pug to be so quick. And with a manual!
patriotbarrow torsen dif and weight loss...
rui518 The clio really needs a mechanical LSD.
You need a manual to drive, would you read and steer? XD
Would have to be the 208 gti for me.
I don't think I could get on with the Clios gearbox, I like involvement in the drive and an auto box just doesn't do that for me even if it does have flappy paddles available.
He was driving the clio in standard mode, he doesn't activated the race or sport mode.
If i was a renault owner I'd definitly find that beep and kill it!
Also the conclusion on these tests I don't think you do it the correct way. 0.1s can be to driver error/tire pressure/tire brand. It's not enough of a difference to say "this is one is faster than that".
Probably if you'd go around an other lap, the result could easly be inverted.
The clio wasn’t even in the correct modes. I own one and it didn’t sound like he had it in sport or race. Definitely would have thrashed the Peugeot.
much better review this time around and car selection but i still think you guys need a more challenging / longer track. Keep up the videos like this.
Rohite ® nah..these cars are all about handling not outright power. it's a good track for cornering.
I'm picking my 208 GTi up tomorrow :D
Peugeot alllll day
Was the clio in race mode, some of the other vids of the 220 seem to have a much faster gear change??
Clio for me, please! :)
Driven all the latest small hot hatches, my fav is the clio. Superchips remap run it on shell v power 250bhp+
I wish we got these brands in America
+Samzilla not before 2017
Samzilla I wished we had dodge and Chevrolet in Europe...
István Nagy said no one ever
@ Autoexpress: why don't you pulish the lap time of the Fiesta?? Ford said so? We all would like to see your test winning car lap time result. Top Gear has just published the Knockhill lap times and the Fiesta ST with Mountune kit is almost 2 seconds a lap slower than these two brilliant cars on a 1 minute lap:
220 Trophy: 1:05.4
208 GTi by PS: 1:05.2
Fiesta ST Mountune: 1:07.1
I guess the ST Mountune was destroyed at Llandow with similar results... :)
Not to mention the straight line performance (0-100mph-0):
220 Trophy: 6.5s and 20.3s
208 GTi by PS: 6.2s and 21.1
Fiesta ST Mountune: 6.6s and 21.6s
But yeh, Ford always wins in all AE tests... you should try to be fair and independent!
Damien Blaber yes, for sure one of the bests. At Knockhill and at Magny-Course the 208Gti by PS was quicker than the Clio Trophy, but here at Llandow and at Montlhery the Clio was quicker. So, 2-2 at the moment :) Both very quick and nice cars, but I like the Clio Trophy more. Has just ordered mine. If you like this kind of 208, go for it, it is a cool car as well. Both much better and quicker than the the Fiesta! :)
+TheBioSkunk Yes, ford have weight over what people publish regarding a fucking fiesta. Do you understand the world at all?
The Fiesta is still the best looking, and by all accounts best driving of this lot. Lap times? In a fucking shopping car? Who cares. It completely misses the point. A hot hatch can easily be simultaneously fast and shit, as demonstrated by most of them.
Malc180s: you are a very clever little boy :D sit down and play with yourself
Damien Blaber You have to remember that you're an idiot though.
+Damien Blaber don't even talk to this troll. It is not worth it :)
Put a dual clutch gearbox in the pug, and it would slaughter the clio
What happens when you give the 208 GTi the same power as the Clio? 🤔
….And a DCT gearbox ..
The new Clio is attractive but a little bit overgrown. The 208 is still a proper little hatchback.
The Peugeot has a Nicer Interior and a Manual Interior,but the Renault looks better in my opinion and is more practical. But i would save my money and get a Ford Fiesta ST.
Why would you do that? Fiesta ST it`s an antz compare with the interior from the renault wich is by the way comparable with some of the compact segment even it`s only a supermini on paper, four doors, aluminium dual clutch shifter while some Audi RS7 HAD PLASTIC SHIFTER actually the only car on that segment that offer that option not even the premium brands don`t offer that on a super mini, very good and eficient engine, very good exterior. I suppose that the only reason it`s that you are British, M I wrong:D?
Steven Watson Fiesta ST is not even in the same league as these two in terms of performance.
Steven Watson No, previous genration Mini GP.
Steven Watson I actually think the new Corsa VXR is the best of the lot right now. Not as playful as the Fiesta but quicker, more effective and newer.
ianiva The Vauxhall Corsa is also good.
Peugeot 208 GTI every time...because I have one! Great car
Really liked this Review, especially because it was fresh and uncluttered. Little 208 also looks quite good. Clio - The rims miss a little more depth but thats subjective. Thank You Auto Express :D
I'd go for the 208, the interior looks better, and even though it's a bit slower, everybody is talking shit about that renault gearbox, which really puts me off
Never forget that this is a small track with a lot of close bends.
I would like to see this test in a longer track. But it would be also very close match.
*****
Not every tracks in Britain are like this!
Wow such a close result! It actually had me at the end of my seat!
Nice review by a former British auto racing driver. We need more of Steve Sutcliffe and a copartnership with Chris Harris in some videos.
";-)
Can you write other cars results at the of the test?
It'd be nice to compare with totally different cars.
I really think Steve is a great addition to Auto Express, sometimes Autocar's production quality is disappointing.
Both awesome hot hatches :-)
Very close on this track. but on NURBURGRING i bet the renaultsport is about 1-2sec a lap faster than the pug.
The peugeot hands down .
208 GTi for me, and the manual gearbox
Incoming Brits comments saying French cars are unreliable and shit...
Nice username mate!!
Cole Phelps Well, they are unreliable. I have a older magane and it breaks down just standing.
+enzo478784 thanks
+Laurynas S. Because you don't change the brakes I mean there're not for life
Cole Phelps haha good eye, english isn't my 1st language so I quite often end up with stupid typos like that :)
@ Auto Express: where is the lap time of the Fiesta ST? Was it really that slow like at Knockhill were it collected 2 seconds on one lap from these 2? :D
good laps, unlike the M3 lap a few weeks ago ...
I want to see a track battle between these two and a fiesta st with the mountune option. fiesta with a mountune kit is still cheaper than both of these two cars in their most basic state.
The Peugeot is obviously a better choice in this scenario, it's more refined and the interior is better thought out and posher than the Renault :) And who wants a hot hatch with 4 doors???
What is it with the English and the Ford Fiesta ST? The Fiesta was developed at Ford Europe Headquarters in Cologne, Germany, and it's built in Europe in Cologne and Ford Valencia, Spain.
+DolleHengst Because hot hatches from Ford have always been a very big thing in England since Ford used to build cars there. The English loves their Fords. You can thank the Fiesta XR2 for being the start of Ford hot hatches.
I own a clio RS and there both beautiful cars but I like the clio more :P
Of course you would, I have the Peugeot and love that more, both great Hot Hatches...I don't think you'd be unhappy with either...
Surprised they didnt compare this with something ridiculous like c63 going by previous comparisons
What about the fiesta ST mountune
Boring car, boring interior and lacklustre power - only thing going for it is brilliant handling....
Nürburgring look up the clio RS 220 trophy Times.
that pug is a great colour... is that standard?
I really like those new Peugeots. I do feel a bit like they're being viewed as the underdog against the Renaults though, despite being a nicer car. The new Clio has gone backwards in terms of design internally. That god awful shiny dash and sound effect console, and rubbish Seats. What are Renault thinking? The 200's are way cooler inside, simply equipped and fantastic Recaro seats. I love mine. What more do you need?
The gti should have been much quicker considering how you drove it.
I've noticed most cars he takes around the tracks all have a similar time, even if the specs are different. I think the problem is with the driver and not the cars.
We are all human and make mistakes...but seriously..The 208 could have done much better if Mr Sutcliffe hadn't driven this badly (1:20-1:25).
has Steve switched from Autocar to Autoexpress? :O
great Sutters vid!
I am between polo gti and renault, I want a automatic car.
208 has less power and has a manual gearbox (fun to drive but slower gear changes)... and just a 0.1s slower?! Tire model, tire pressure, full or not petrol tank... are enough to more than justify the difference... ill say its a win for the 208 gti.
i got a 1.2 gt line tourer in portugal and the gearbox the same as this not the best when pulling off lol
New shirt Steve?
That beep is just horrendous
whtas the beeping in the renault?
wow you missed the apex hundreds of times.
aren't the shifts faster with the dual clutch flappy paddle on the Renault? could that of that made the advantage to make one tenth of a second?
mark199suzuki its possible, the Renault has more 11 hp and dual clutch, however the Peugeot is 50 kilos lighter and has more 40nm of torque...
the car are very similar, the Peugeot also has Mechanical LSD which makes it easier to pull from corners...
+rui518 so really it could of been driver error then... the Peugeot could of been quicker...
My mum has the new Clio rs trphyn2017 it is top!
Hey, maybe too late, but i want to meet your moma
Love the 208, hate the Clio. They've ruined a legend.
ianiva Love the Clio, but unfortunately they don't sell the hot version in Finland. Well my 90 bhp version does the job on the looks side still... :'/
Juho Jalonen To be honest, I like the non-RS versions more than the RS. They indeed look very good and they're honest cars. The RS is a let-down.
ianiva new legend is born. the old trophy was a giant killer, but this new one is much faster...
Janner Jan The old one wasn't a giant killer because of its performance but because of the way it drove. That's what made it a legend. This one will be forgotten very, very quickly and rightly so.
+ianiva it was called giant killer on one of EVO Magazine's front cover page back in the time and that review made it famous first. They were chasing the Lambo on B roads. That is what made it a giant killer. This car started just right now a new age and it is even faster than that was. And this is a fact. And it is still a small Clio with all its practicality together with full comfort for every day use. Drop this one now with those supercars from that review in a group road test and they will have even more trouble to keep up with it. So yes, a new legend is born! ;)
The 208 actually has 208 hp not 205
What has happened to renaultsport even a "trophy" version of a clio can barelyyy beat a 208 gti lol
Am I the only one who has spotted Nissan R34 GTR at 4:19 ? :)
220 cvs pour finir à 1 dixièmes de la gti qui n à rien de la 208 gti by Peugeot sport... franchement gardez vos clio 3,2 cup, la vrais dernière clio rs !
The upshift beep sounds like a microwave timer.
208 gti is better.....
208
would still have a fiesta st mountune over these two any day. ugly cars !
BileMonkey the 208 is a nicer car to be in, in your commuting than any other hot hatch on the market...
Jack Naylor i'd like the fiesta chassis with the 208 interior
Jack Naylor The Fiesta looks disgusting lol.. Awful looking grille design at the front and the rear end just looks ugly.. The 208 is the best all round car of the 3
Jack Naylor are u nuts?
Jack Naylor they look fine
Did they use the standard gti??
dhns555 This is the Peugeot Sport GTi.
+VinceYT2408 so it's the standard one. They should've used the 30th year edition
Jonathan Bowen the 30th has a Torsen LSD, other gear ratio, wider track, stiffer springs, front anti roll bar is smaller, other tyres, bigger brake discs. Those are also mechanical differences.
@@its_EZ you just got schooled
For me 1.renault clio,2.peugeot 208,...3.fiesta.
finally a dual clutch on a Renault...
That horrible beep would drive you up the wall!
But you would just get the Fiesta ST then stick a mountune package on it and a diff.
Out of these two I would take the 208 GTi just cause it has a manual transmission. A automatic just kills the fun in hot hatches.
G to the T to the i...
46,5 secs for CTR huuuge
Renault can keep their shitty auto and ludicrous shift alarm. 208 GTi baby.
Renault please...
4:14 something is hit
Clio was definately not in race mode. Not even in sport mode. No dual cluch fart on up shifts and not popping on downshift gives it away.. This was ordinary drive mode. Bad test, trying to make clio look bad. thumb down.
Clio Looks Awful..The dash area on both look so tacky..The Fiesta St is leagues ahead in this department..Fun to drive no doubt..that beep is beyond cheap..any decent driver knows when to shift !
Colin Morand the 208 is better than the ST, has fast, has fun, better interior and more comfortable when you just need to just go to work in the morning... some say the the 208 when you keep it below 3k rmp you forget you are in a GTI for how comfortable it is...
Colin Morand by the way to be honest, the ST has something that can make it better, price, its a much cheaper in comparative...
Ok thanks for your opinion.;)
Colin Morand the Fiesta ST is leagues ahead? Yeh, keep thinking that :D The Fiesta ST is not even close to these 2 brilliant and quick cars. And it looks shit
French Cars Are little girls cars
Pug 4ever!
There's still some magic missing from these cars. The old GTi's, GTT's, GTE's, etc were special. You couldn't mistake them for the normal version unless it was the Golf and even then you would know instantly by driving it. Either of these could be a 1.0/1.2 kids car with a bodykit. You would notice the extra power but what else is stand out about them? Come on, Renault. You gave us the Megane R26.R so why are you mugging us off with this tragic gearbox and overweight (for what it should be) clio? Same goes for Peugeot. They know better but choose to just warm up a normal car. There are very few actual drivers cars in hot hatch land at the moment and for me that's very sad.
bull shit Peugeot fast than Clio ::)) never !
0.1 seconds of difference is too tight to prove one is faster than the other. This has no scientific support.
I've got a Rs200 edc n I think it's shite!!!
Sounds like a fuckin hair dryer
One has a dodgy DCT, the other had a dodgy engine🤣🤣
Gearbox on the Renault is 💩
shrewsnose1 what kind of gearbox has the GT-R? oh, it is a dual-cluch :D