New Renault Cleo in Israel: Starting at NIS 85,000

Cleo, Renault's best-selling car for almost 30 years, has arrived in Israel in a new generation and it just looks similar to the outgoing generation. The price of the automatic version rose slightly and raised the level of equipment

New Renault Cleo in Israel: Starting at NIS 85,000

In many ways Cleo symbolizes Renault's transformation. The first generation introduced in 1990 helped Renault in the process of recovery it needed, and the outgoing and fourth generation marked the new design line for the entire brand. Now comes a new and fifth generation in Israel that may look similar to its predecessor, but completely different, signifying the beginning of the Brno hybrid era.

The hybrid version is called 'E-Tech' and combines a 1.6-liter atmospheric gasoline engine (with Atkinson cycle) and a pair of electric motors. Meanwhile, little is known about the hybrid version which is due to be launched only in April-May this year, and will be available to us this summer.

First Driving: New Renault Cleo

The design evolution and vehicle dimensions are not significantly different

First Driving: New Renault Cleo (Photo: Manufacturer, Manufacturer Website)

Until then, Renault importer will market the new Cleo with 2 turbo-petrol engines and 3 gearboxes. The supply starts with a 3-cylinder, 1.0-liter, 100-hp engine (a 10-hp increase over the replacement 0.9-liter engine) combined with a 5-speed manual box, with a new continuous-automatic box added in a month. Above it will be a 1.33-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 130 kW (120 kW in the previous engine) combined with a dual-gear automatic-robotic box with 7 gears (6 gears previously). It is a power unit developed together with Mercedes and serves other models in the corporation, such as the Renault Grand Coupe, Nissan Extras and Mercedes's current A and B Class families.

The new Cleo is Renault's first car to be built on the new, modular CMF-B platform that also serves other models including the new Renault Capchore and Nissan Jock. The new generation Cleo dimensions are similar to the outgoing generation with one cm less in each dimension, except for the width that grew, and very significantly: 7 cm to about 180 cm. This addition also increased the trunk by a significant 91 liters, to 391 Liter total.

Huge screen at high finish levels

First Driving: New Renault Cleo (Photo: Manufacturer, Manufacturer Website)

The new generation will be offered in Israel in two finishes, 'Intens', which includes a 7-inch multimedia system, climate control, steering wheel transmission handles, cruise control, electric folding mirrors, dark rear windows, perimeter lighting, 16-inch rims and more. The high-end RS Line finish features a different multimedia system with a 9.3-inch vertical tablet screen (the largest in the category, meanwhile), a digital-sharing dashboard (7-inch), a choice of driving modes, different upholstery that combines velvet, 17-inch rims 'Easy and more.

The safety system includes emergency autonomous braking (including pedestrian and pedestrian identification), lane deviation warning, traffic sign detection and all of these Cleo is eligible for 5 euroNCAP safety stars. The higher finish also includes lane deviation, car warning "Dead Space" and adaptive lighting.

First Driving: New Renault Cleo (Photo: Manufacturer, Manufacturer Website)

Meanwhile, the 1.0 liter engine will only be offered with a manual box, and at the basic finish level for NIS 85,000. In about a month you will also join a version with a continuous-automatic box when the price has not yet been finalized. The 1.33 liter engine will only be offered in combination with an automatic box and priced at NIS 105,000 for the basic finish level and NIS 115,000 for the fully equipped finish. The price of the manual version is similar to that of the previous generation, while the price of the automatic version has risen by about NIS 5,000 to NIS 7,000, though we note that the basic intense finish level is more well-equipped and cheaper than the high level finish of the outgoing generation.

The Supramini segment in Israel is on the decline and mainly loses volume to the small crossover segment that stars, for example, Renault Capchore and Nissan Jock. This is, among other reasons, why Bershaw is not interested in specifying sales expectations. And yet, according to Roy Blacky, Creso Motors VP and Renault division director, these are a few thousand Clio models to sell each year.