The biggest surprise from Renault's latest version of the Clio is that it is a smidgen over 13ft long, writes David Duffy.

That means it is a pretty compact car, but the sensations experienced at the wheel are of a car in a class, maybe two, above.

The cabin is bright, light and gives a sense of roominess of a much larger vehicle.

But it is only when you have fired up the start button nothing as ordinary as a key on the test model that the real improvements to the Clio come through.

Solidly built, taut handling and superbly comfortable, the sharply-styled Clio puts the emphasis firmly on driving pleasure with distance no object. Despite its compact dimensions, the Clio quietly and merrily munches miles.

Using suspension inspired by the latest Mgane, the Clio's handling is nicely balanced, due to a long wheelbase, wide track and low centre of gravity.

The interior is classy, takes up to five people in comfort and offers plenty of choice, with six different interior trim levels and three equipment levels.

The test car came in Dynamique trim with a dark charcoal dashboard, set off by a satin-finish chrome separating strip. The climate control display, gear lever base, vent controls and instrument dials are also all framed in satin-finish chrome.

From this trim level up, the Clio has a so-called "slush" dashboard which is softer to the touch. Also from the Dynamique trim level up, the exterior features body-coloured rear-view mirrors and body-coloured B-pillars.

There is plenty of choice too on the engine front, with 1.2-litre, 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre 16-valve petrol engines, while the 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine comes in a choice of three power outputs: 70, 85 and 105 horsepower.

Along with the Modus, the new Clio is the first car in its class to offer additional cornering headlamps, while double-distance xenon headlamps are also available.

Other active safety improvements include the fitting, as standard, of anti-lock brakes combined with electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency brake assist.

The new car is also available with an electronic stability programme, combining traction control and understeer control. Passive safety, too, has been a prime concern at Renault for some time and the Clio is packed with up to eight airbags.

In short, a class act and an unsurprising winner of the Car of the Year title.

Forget that friendly Anglo-French battling banter of the TV ads, the Renault Clio is a car on which just about everyone can agree, says Marie Duffy.

It's a little cracker. Stylish to look at, with a spacious and comfortable interior and quiet and smooth to drive, there is little to cause any discord.

The first thing you notice at the wheel is the weight of the steering. Initially, it felt rather on the heavy side, but give it a few miles and you realise the steering is, in fact, beautifully balanced, not too light and not too heavy.

It comes into its own on faster roads, where the car sits happily without twitching about, giving a feeling of solidity and confidence.

The ride is smooth and on the firm side, but again this pays off in improving comfort when soaking up the miles on longer trips.

The clutch and gearbox are those delightfully rare creatures that just work without requiring any real thought. The pedals are light and the brakes are superb.

Parking is dead easy, though the pillars at the rear are pretty large and you need an extra glance around these to make sure you are in the clear. Optional parking sensors help too.

The dashboard and centre console are a model of clarity and, at first glance, look a bit on the bare side, compared with the button-splattered, diode-winking, computer-controlled offerings from some car makers.

A closer look shows that Renault has cleverly lifted many of the controls normally dotted about the dashboard on to the steering wheel and steering column, which have become the nerve centre for many of the controls, all accessible at the flick of a finger.

So the cruise control, CD, radio and extremely well-spoken satellite navigation system man or woman's voice, you choose can be operated without having to take your eyes off the road.

As well as pumping in the technology, Renault has kept the car practical, with a decent-sized boot and rear seats that fold to allow longer items to be carried.

Safety is also a top priority and every model in the new Clio range, which has become the eighth Renault to score a top five-star rating in European crash tests, comes with at least six airbags and new headrests that cut the risk of whiplash.

The Clio was launched as a three-door, but if that gave you any reason to complain, then Renault has sorted that out with the arrival of the five-door, so everyone should be happy