Superminis, subcompacts, call them what you will, those little hatchbacks that dominated the European landscape for decades are dying out. Ford killed off the Fiesta and VW axed the Polo, but Renault’s Clio is bucking that trend. It’s not going anywhere yet and is about to launch in sixth-generation form, bringing an EV option to the line for the first time.

The Clio’s been cast lately as the sort of frumpy sister to the new 5, a retro-electric reimagining of the 1970s and ’80s 5 supermini the Clio replaced in 1992. It’s the reborn Renault 5 that’s had all the media attention and been showered with awards, including the coveted European Car of the Year title, something the Clio hasn’t won since 2006.

Related: R5 Too Retro? A New Electrified Renault Clio Is Coming In 2026

But the sales figures tell a different story, reminding us just how important the Clio is to Renault. Because while the 5 EV has racked up a big bank of orders, the Clio was Europe’s second most popular car in 2024, moving ahead of the once-mighty Tesla Model Y and beaten to the top spot only by the Dacia Sandero (another Renault Group product).

So it makes sense that Renault would want to keep investing in its smallest car, and updating the design to fit in with the new family face already seen on models like the Rafale, Espace and Austral.

The R&D department certainly didn’t skimp on the camouflage before sending this prototype out on the road, but the extensive wrap can’t hide the fact that the Clio has had major surgery in the jump from Gen 5 to Gen 6. Compared with the current car, the new model has an entirely different nose, comprising a new hood and grille as well as new lights and bumpers.

Instead of the Renault diamond badge poking up into a cutout in the hood as on the current Clio, the revised car gets a straight-edged hood and a diamond badge positioned lower in the grille. The rear door handles are still mounted in the upper door frame to give the impression of there being only two doors, but the waistline doesn’t rise so dramatically as it reaches the C pillar.

Powertrain options will continue to include a mix of hybrid and PHEV engines, but the big news is that, for the first time ever, there will also be an all-electric variant. The single-motor setups will give buyers some of the EV technology they get in the 5 E-Tech, but in a more conservative-looking package. Battery options in the 5 range from 40-52 kWh and there are three motors available with 94 hp (70 kW / 95 PS), 121 hp (90 kW / 122 PS) or 148 hp (110 kW / 150 PS).

Images: Baldauf