In short
- The Clio R.S. 200 pairs a five-door body with six-speed EDC dual-clutch transmission.
- The Fiesta ST Mk7 uses a three-door body and six-speed manual gearbox.
- Both are turbocharged front-wheel-drive hot hatches, but their ownership evidence differs.
- The live prints cover the facelift Clio and the complete Mk7 ST production face.
The Clio and Fiesta reach the same hot-hatch category by different controls. One asks whether you want Renault’s EDC and five doors. The other asks whether you want a clutch pedal and three. Condition then gets the final vote.
Should you choose a Clio R.S. 200 or Fiesta ST Mk7?
Choose the Clio when its five-door body and paddle-controlled EDC suit the driver. Choose the Fiesta when the three-door body and conventional six-speed manual are the point. Then reject either answer if the exact car’s identity, history, condition, modifications or ownership budget do not support it.
Driving preference is personal. Mechanical condition is evidence. Keep those two decisions separate so enthusiasm for one control layout does not excuse faults.
Which Clio and Fiesta versions are being compared?
This page compares Jonathan’s 2017 facelift fourth-generation Clio R.S. 200 EDC with his 2014 Fiesta ST Mk7, commonly called ST180. It does not cover the 220 Trophy, earlier naturally aspirated Clios, Fiesta ST200 or the later Mk8 Fiesta.
Renault offered the facelift R.S. with 200 hp and a 220 hp Trophy, both using the six-speed EDC. A Trophy badge and exhaust can change the correct figures and hardware questions.
Ford’s standard Mk7 ST launch car used 182 PS and 240 Nm, with temporary overboost separately quoted in some material. Jonathan’s poster follows the steady 240 Nm figure and converts the power to 179 bhp.
The Clio drawing starts at 2016 because Renault changed its lights and front details. The Fiesta ST only arrived with the 2013 facelift face, so one drawing covers its whole Mk7 life.
How do the signed Clio and Fiesta figures compare?
The Clio print uses 194 bhp, 240 Nm, 1,204 kg, 6.5 seconds to 60 mph and 143 mph. The Fiesta print uses 179 bhp, 240 Nm, 1,088 kg, 6.7 seconds and 139 mph. Both are front-wheel drive, but the figures come from different signed posters.
| Car | Engine | Power | Torque | Weight | Gearbox |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clio R.S. 200 | 1.6L M5MT 401 TURBO INLINE 4 | 194 bhp | 240 Nm | 1204 kg | 6-speed EDC |
| Fiesta ST Mk7 | 1.6L Turbo EcoBoost | 179 bhp | 240 Nm | 1088 kg | 6-speed manual |
The Clio’s 194 bhp sits below the exact conversion of Renault’s 200 PS, while the Fiesta’s 179 is the converted 182 PS. Those are Jonathan’s approved poster values, not a reason to relabel manufacturer units.
The Fiesta’s 1,088 kg is lower than Ford’s commonly quoted kerb figure but inside the published spread and specifically confirmed by Jonathan. Do not combine it with a different convention without saying so.
How do EDC and the Fiesta manual differ?
The Clio’s EDC automates two clutches and two gear paths, selecting shifts itself or accepting paddle requests. The Fiesta asks the driver to operate one clutch and choose each ratio. Their service, diagnostic and viewing checks therefore differ.
On the Clio, identify the exact EDC code, software and maintenance record. Test take-up, low-speed manoeuvring, every gear and automatic and manual requests from cold to warm with Renault-capable diagnostics.
On the Fiesta, assess clutch engagement and slip, release system, flywheel symptoms, selector and each synchronised shift. A short drive after the seller warmed the car can hide cold behaviour in either.
The gearbox-types guide explains why EDC belongs to the DCT category without sharing a Volkswagen DSG service specification.
Which hot hatch is more practical?
The Clio offers five-door access, while the UK Mk7 Fiesta ST uses three doors. That does not settle seat space, boot use, child access, visibility or comfort. Put the actual passengers and luggage into both cars and test the intended journeys.
The Clio hides its rear handles in the door frame, so a side photograph can look coupé-like. Count apertures, not styling lines.
Check seat support and adjustment for every regular driver. Test phone, climate, lighting and parking controls. Performance specifications cannot compensate for a driving position that does not fit.
Ride and tyre noise depend on wheels, tyres, Cup or standard chassis and modifications. Confirm the fitted specification before repeating a review verdict.
What should you check before buying either hot hatch?
Confirm exact model, grade and gearbox, then build a service and MOT chronology. Inspect the cold engine, cooling, diagnostics, turbo system, transmission, brakes, tyres, steering, suspension, shell, underside, repairs and every software or hardware modification.
Use Renault or Ford recall tools with the VIN and verify completion. A recall list by model name cannot say whether the individual car is affected or repaired.
Mixed tyres, bent wheels and alignment faults can dominate how a front-wheel-drive hot hatch feels. Read every tyre’s size, rating, age and wear.
Remaps and exhausts need invoices, calibration, required fuel, emissions evidence and insurer acceptance. A seller’s claimed stage number is not a technical specification.
Inspect accident repair and corrosion underneath. Fresh underseal and an unbroken MOT run do not prove structural quality.
How should you compare ownership costs?
Use current quotes for the exact registration and modification list, then add immediate servicing, tyres, brakes, timing or scheduled work, gearbox or clutch exposure, cooling, body repair and a contingency. Price trim-specific lamps, wheels and bumpers as well as routine filters.
The EDC and manual create different expensive possibilities. Neither broad architecture guarantees a lower bill. Condition and specialist access matter more.
Check whether a nearby workshop can diagnose the Clio EDC or Fiesta EcoBoost properly. Transport to a specialist belongs in the budget.
This page does not quote current prices. A dated advert average would become stale and conceal the gap between an original documented car and a modified example with missing history.
How do the live Clio and Fiesta prints differ?
The Clio builder uses Jonathan’s 2016 to 2019 facelift front and signed 2017 R.S. 200 block. The Fiesta builder uses the 2013 to 2017 Mk7 ST front and signed 2014 block. Both carry their marque flags under Jonathan’s house convention, with every Fiesta deliberately using the Union Jack.
Build the Clio R.S. print or build the Fiesta ST Mk7 print. Match the body before colour and plate.
A pre-facelift fourth-generation Clio or Trophy-specific requested block needs separate evidence. A Fiesta ST200 also needs its own output rather than the standard ST180 figures.
Which manufacturer sources support this comparison?
Renault UK’s facelift release establishes the 200 and 220 outputs, 1.6 turbo engine and six-speed EDC. Ford’s official ST material supplies the 182 PS, 240 Nm and model launch context. Jonathan’s files control the printed figures.
Read Renault UK’s new Clio R.S. release and Ford’s Fiesta ST specification release. They were reviewed 9 August 2026.
This is an evidence-led comparison, not a driving verdict or diagnosis for one car.
Questions people actually ask
- What is the main difference between Clio R.S. 200 and Fiesta ST Mk7?
- The Clio uses a six-speed EDC dual-clutch transmission and five-door body. The Fiesta uses a six-speed manual and three-door body. Both are turbocharged front-wheel-drive hot hatches, so gearbox operation and access provide the clearest first comparison.
- Which is more powerful, Clio R.S. 200 or Fiesta ST Mk7?
- Jonathan’s signed Clio block says 194 bhp and 240 Nm. His Fiesta block says 179 bhp and 240 Nm. Renault and Ford launch material use metric horsepower, so preserve units when comparing official 200 PS and 182 PS ratings.
- Is the Clio R.S. 200 manual?
- The fourth-generation Clio R.S. 200 in this comparison uses Renault’s six-speed EDC dual-clutch transmission with steering-wheel paddles. Earlier Clio Renaultsport generations used manuals, so identify the generation rather than applying one gearbox to the badge.
- Which live print should I choose?
- Choose the Clio builder for Jonathan’s approved 2016 to 2019 facelift R.S. 200 front. Choose the Fiesta builder for the 2013 to 2017 Mk7 ST. Confirm the exact car, colour and registration rather than choosing a generic hot hatch.
Written by Jonathan in Derby. Last updated .