RENAULT

Renault Clio Hybrid covers more than 1,100 kilometers on a single tank of fuel

Electric car range tests are commonplace these days, but how far can a modern full hybrid go without refueling? That's exactly the question Renault wanted to answer, as it organized an interesting challenge together with two famous German automotive YouTubers.

Bernd Konrad and Alexander Schäfer were given identical copies of the Renault Clio Full Hybrid E-Tech 160 with a 39-liter tank. Their task was simple - to cover at least 1,000 kilometers on a single tank of fuel in real-world driving conditions.

The Clio Full Hybrid E-Tech 160 develops 158 hp, is equipped with an automatic transmission, and according to factory data, average consumption is 3.9 l/100 km according to the WLTP cycle.

Konrad set off from Cologne towards Lake Garda in Italy, driving on motorways, regional roads and over Alpine passes, while Schäfer from Heilbronn travelled through France, visiting several Renault Group production sites along the way.

Unlike classic "hypermiling" challenges, the aim was not to use extreme fuel-efficient driving techniques. Both drivers drove in line with the flow of traffic, without disturbing other participants. On motorways, they generally maintained a speed of around 100 km/h, while on other sections they respected the legal limits.

The results exceeded expectations. Konrad covered 1,112 kilometres on a single tank of fuel with an average consumption of just 3.59 l/100 km, while Schäfer finished the drive after 1,101 kilometres with an almost identical average consumption of 3.64 l/100 km.

An interesting and relevant aspect regarding the Clio's handling—which was not previously among the most fun-to-drive compact cars—is the increase in track width (the distance between wheels on the same axle), specifically by 4 cm at the front. This change, combined with a quicker steering ratio—reducing the number of turns from lock to lock from 3.3 to 2.6—results in better cornering behavior.

It continues to use the CMF-B platform, which has been employed for several generations and features MacPherson strut suspension at the front and a torsion beam at the rear—a typical setup for compact hatchbacks. It also comes with ventilated disc brakes at the front and solid discs at the rear.

Regarding engines, the Clio offers two main powertrains. The first is the three-cylinder 1.2 TCe, delivering up to 120 hp.

The hybrid version combines a naturally aspirated, 16-valve, four-cylinder 1.8 E-Tech gasoline engine (of Geely origin) with two electric motors (one generator and one traction motor) powered by a 1.4 kWh battery. The combined output is 158 hp and 27 kgfm of torque. On its own, the front electric traction motor provides 49 hp and 20.9 kgfm, making the new Clio E-Tech significantly more powerful than the Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid (111 hp) and even the Corolla or Corolla Cross Hybrid (122 hp).

It is worth noting that the gasoline engine operates on the Atkinson cycle—where intake valves remain open longer to recirculate some of the intake air and lower the compression ratio, thereby improving energy efficiency. This engine is paired with an automatic transmission known as "Multimode," which uses actuators instead of traditional clutches; it combines four mechanical gears linked to the 1.8 engine with two electric gears, resulting in 15 combined gear ratios. Thus, regarding fuel consumption, Renault states that the hybrid system allows the gasoline engine to remain in the background for 80% of the time during urban driving.

Renault points out that these results were achieved thanks to the efficient full hybrid drive, which in urban and suburban driving often uses the electric motor, while the battery is charged through regenerative braking. A moderate driving style with a steady pace also contributed to this.

This test shows that for more than 1,000 kilometers of autonomy, it is not necessary to choose a diesel car. Modern standard hybrids, with sensible driving, can offer extremely low consumption and a range that was until recently reserved almost exclusively for diesel cars.

The official maximum single-tank range for the Renault Clio E-Tech Full Hybrid is up to 1,000 kilometers, though achieving over 1,100 kilometers is possible under real-world hypermiling conditions or by configuring specific bi-fuel variants.

According to official Renault Group Technical Data, the full-hybrid powertrain delivers excellent fuel economy but is officially marketed with a 900 to 1,000-kilometer total limit due to its compact tank size.

Range breakdown by engine type:

-E-tech full hybrid (145 hp / 160 hp): This model features a 39-liter fuel tank. With an official combined consumption of 3.9 to 4.2 liters per 100 km, the math yields a theoretical maximum range of roughly 928 to 1,000 kilometers. Drivers can exceed 1,100 km primarily in urban environments, where the car operates in zero-emissions electric mode up to 80% of the time.

-TCe 100 LPG (Bi-Fuel): If you heard the "1,100+ km" figure directly from a dealership, you might be thinking of the Renault Clio LPG variant. This version utilizes two separate fuel tanks (petrol and liquefied petroleum gas) to achieve a combined driving range of 1,100 to 1,200 kilometers without stopping.

-Larger hybrid models: The 1,100 km single-tank milestone is officially claimed by Renault's larger E-Tech hybrid SUVs, such as the Renault Rafale, which pairs a highly efficient 200 hp hybrid engine with a much larger 55-liter fuel tank.

Why Renault E-tech hybrids are so efficient:

Renault's E-Tech system, which leverages technology derived directly from Formula 1 engineering, maximizes fuel economy through a series-parallel setup:

Urban dominance: The system allows the car to run on pure electric power for up to 80% of city driving time.

Regenerative braking: The 1.2 kWh to 1.4 kWh battery self-recharges automatically whenever the vehicle slows down or brakes. No plug is required.

Intelligent gearbox: A multi-mode clutchless dog gearbox automatically shifts between 15 different operational combinations to keep the engine in its most efficient power band.

Low consumption: It achieves a certified WLTP combined fuel economy starting from 3.9 to 4.2 liters per 100 km.

 

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