TWO chic little French hatchbacks make their debut in Singapore this weekend. One is the chic Renault Clio. The other is the Peugeot 308 which replaces the 307, a contender in the Volkswagen Golf category.

That means, strictly speaking, the 308 should not be considered in the same vein as Renault's debutante, which competes in the slightly smaller supermini class.

There is another important difference between the two cars: The 308 arrives mere months after it was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show while the Clio has taken nearly three years to travel from the Arc de Triomphe to Leng Kee Road.

Renault must have very valid reasons for the delay but it's safe to conclude that they don't include any problems with the car. Abiding by its roots, the Clio III is more chic than sleek, bubbly rather than aggressive.

It's just the kind of look that the Clio needs because, as every mischievous child knows, looking cute is a good way to get out of a lot of trouble.

Like the feline character voiced by Antonio Banderas in the Shrek movies - Puss In Boots would flutter his long eyelashes, ever so sweetly, before clawing the ogre - the Clio's innocent looks belie a dynamic spirit.

The controls are slightly more muted than before, but the car is still a ball of fun when thrown enthusiastically into corners. No officer of the law would suspect that the cuddly little thing is responsible for the howls of screeching rubber he heard just moments ago.

The car's penchant for mischief is complemented by a willing powerplant and drivetrain combination. The 1.6-litre engine with variable valve timing is not afraid of being revved while the four-speed automatic transmission has a learning logic that adapts to driving conditions.

Besides holding gears longer when sensing that the driver is searching for oomph, it will also downshift progressively as speed is reduced or during a corner to provide ample engine braking. Interestingly, the Clio comes equipped with steering column-mounted shift paddles for sequential shifting. But their positioning makes them awkward to use.

Reflecting the maturity of its engineering is the level of refinement the Clio delivers. Its ride mimics closely the level of suppleness that older French cars have been known for, and the cabin is hushed enough to match cars in the higher classes.

Even though its compact styling suggests otherwise, the Clio is quite generous with space. Its leggy wheelbase (75mm longer than the already very spacious and fellow latecomer Honda Jazz) ensures that rear passengers can still feel their limbs after a long jaunt. And it even has a decent boot.

As with the rest of the current Renault range, the overall build quality is confidence-inspiring. It's only the details, such as the lack of useful cubby holes for the mobile phone and secure enough cup holders, that affect the car's feel-good vibes.

Well, that and the misleading naming. This regular 1.6-litre model is branded locally as the Clio Sport, a name more commonly associated with the 2-litre, 200bhp hot hatch version, which isn't due here till (even) later.

Renault has tried to spruce things up with a five-piece body kit (not shown in the picture, but worth $2,000 if you opt not to have it) and included the shift paddles as standard, but apart from the words Clio Sport embossed on the head restraints, the naming makes little sense.

Just like the long delay in bringing the charming thing here.

RENAULT CLIO 1.6
Price: $76,000 with COE
Engine: 1,598cc, 16-valve, inline-4
Transmission: Four-speed automatic with manual select
Power: 110bhp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 151Nm at 4,250rpm
0-100kmh: 12.2 seconds
Top speed: 186kmh
Fuel consumption: 7.5 litres/100km (combined)
Agent: Wearnes Automotive

The writer is the editor of Torque, published by SPH Magazines.

This article was first published in The Straits Times on May 31, 2008.