In the Evo mag group test, comprising 197, Corsa VXR, Cooper S and Ibiza Cupra, up a mountain road (i.e. real life, not a race track...) the Clio 197 got left behind... The writers were gutted they said because they loved the 182 so much, and said the Clio had now slipped from it's mantle.
But personally, I'd have the Clio over the VXR because the VXR in the flesh is gash, and it's rare you really get to fully exploit the performance and really push like those journos would have been. And I'm not Tiff Needell so i'm no way a good enough driver to get the most out of any of them probably heh.
Dan
Edit - Sorry just noticed someone else had already noted this review heh. Just as another point, the Corsa VXR has lovely looking seats and steering wheel