Renault Clio 5 E-Tech Hybrid 145 vs Citroen ë-C4 FWD: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the ë-C4 FWD hits 100 km/h in 9.77 s versus 10.10 s for the Clio 5 E-Tech Hybrid 145. The instant torque of 260 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the ë-C4 FWD leads by 0.33 s and sits roughly 7 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the ë-C4 FWD is doing 110 km/h against 110 km/h for the Clio 5 E-Tech Hybrid 145. The gap is 0.27 s. The gap remains stable from the start.

At 400 metres standing start, the ë-C4 FWD crosses the line in 17.29 s versus 17.52 s. The 0.23 s gap represents roughly 9 m of track - barely a car length.

Past 400 metres, the situation changes. The Clio 5 E-Tech Hybrid 145 maxes out at 180 km/h while the ë-C4 FWD keeps accelerating towards 204 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.13 s.

Around 788 metres, both vehicles are level. This is the inversion point: the Clio 5 E-Tech Hybrid 145 overcomes its launch deficit thanks to a 24 km/h higher top speed.

At 1,000 metres, the Clio 5 E-Tech Hybrid 145 finishes in 31.23 s versus 31.39 s. The 0.16 s delta shows an extremely tight race.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the Clio 5 E-Tech Hybrid 145 is capped at 180 km/h, the ë-C4 FWD at 150 km/h. This isn’t a physical engine limit - it’s a manufacturer choice, usually for tyre safety or homologation reasons. Neither car reaches its true aerodynamic top speed.

Instant electric torque gives an advantage off the line. The higher top speed of the combustion engine gives an advantage over longer distances. The distance at which one catches the other depends on the top speed differential.

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 15.91 seconds. The 0.33 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.