The problem with selling smaller cars, is that the dumbass public expect to pay less for small cars just because they're small. The reality is that it doesn't really cost much less to develop and produce a Clio, than it does a Megane, or a Laguna. Especially with the ever increasing levels of kit that people expect as standard. Prices rise. Things get more expensive. £18k may seem a lot for a Clio 200, but the days when you could get a brand new Megane R26 for £15k are long gone.