Much of the inspiration for the interior of the Clio is taken from the Megane with an abundance of soft-touch surfaces along with simple, clear instruments and an uncluttered dashboard. Visibility is good on the whole, apart from the thick windscreen pillars that occasionally obscure the view at junctions. The Clio may have small proportions but the sizeable pillars mean it’s not always easy to manoeuvre or judge its extremities.

The driving position remains slightly offset to the right with tight space for the clutch foot, although it’s not as bad as the previous model. It’s also worth noting that less expensive models don’t offer reach adjustment for the steering. Facelifted models are pretty much the same inside, although there is now more variety in terms of trim and upholstery designs.

Renault Clio comfort scores welll thanks to its vast interior and excellent engine refinement. The diesels feel particularly relaxed at cruising speeds and vibration from the engine as well as wind noise and tyre noise are well suppressed – as a result the Clio genuinely feels like a car in the class above helped further by the plush interior. Lower priced models offer air conditioning as a £550 option, which could prove worthwhile, not only in terms of passenger comfort, but also when it comes to sell.

Be warned that base-level models get a different – and far less appealing – interior with cheaper-looking plastics.