While it looks much like the outgoing Mark IV model with more extravagant headlamps, it's all new and 12mm shorter and 8mm lower, with a wheelbase reduced by 5mm. The rear overhang has been increased to allow the boot to expand to a class leading 391 litres.
In the cabin there's a feeling of space and air in the front seats, but the rear bench is cramped and six footers sitting behind the same will fit where they touch. The new-design cabin is pretty nice from the front seats, with a classy full-width vent across the facia and (optional) colour highlight helps lighten the mood. Shame the light coloured inset panels will not be coming to the UK, however. The new seats are comfy, supportive and height adjustable, and the storage space is well thought out and decently upholstered. There's a genuine feeling of endeavour here, with a big-car feel to the interior which will attract a lot of people more familiar with the down rent appearance of many supermini rivals.
That said, the quality feel falls of markedly as you move to the rear, with rather more prosaic materials around the rear seats and boot and our test car's doors shut with different sounds and varying amount of force required.
The switchgear and connectivity have both been updated, too. There's an optional 10-inch TFT-screen digital cluster in front of the driver and an upright 9.3-inch centre touch screen curved and angled towards the driver. Renault’s Easy Link connectivity system has been reworked to provide faster access to multimedia, sat nav, audio and customisable functions like the adjustable ambient lighting. The new steering wheel has a smaller air bag unit and the space saved has more function buttons and there are nice piano-key switches under the touch screen. Some of this is gimmicky and pointless, but there is genuine merit, too. To come next year will be an optional SAE level-two semi-autonomous driving, which we got to try and is frankly one of the best on the market in its sophistication and refinement.