WHAT if you liked the tres chic styling of the Renault Clio RS boy-racer, but didn’t want the stiff ride, manic performance and steeper price?

Why, you would wander down to your Renault showroom and ask to have a spin in the Clio GT, a mid-range answer to this very question that pairs a mainstream frugal engine with an edgier design with some sporty cues, as well as firmer springs than its softer base stablemates.

At $25,290 plus on-road costs, the GT is a good $4000 cheaper than the much faster RS, but comes perilously close to the astonishing $25,990 three-door, manual Ford Fiesta ST.

That said, if you want perky dynamics and sharp looks with five doors and an automatic transmission (a dual-clutch unit is standard fare), the GT is a bit of alright.

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