Used Renault Clio Hatchback 2005 - 2013 review

Long gone are the days of Nicole and Papa, but the Renault Clio is still close to British buyers’ hearts.

This generation of the small hatchback is particularly appealing, because it's the version with which the Clio grew up a little, blending the Parisian chic for which it had become known with more expensive materials and better attention to comfort and space.

The result is an interior that delights, with all but the lowest-spec cars featuring soft-touch dash trim that give them a classy feel. The Clio’s interior is roomy, too, and four adults will fit in comfort.

Adding to the Clio's mature nature is its suppression of wind and road noise, which puts many bigger, more expensive cars to shame, and it can melt away a long journey like few other small cars. It’s also one of the safest cars of its age and size.

Rivals like the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo offer more involving handling and an even classier interior, but the Clio treads a nice line between the two and throws in a bit of fashion, too. The fact it’s also available for bargain-bin prices these days only adds to its appeal.

As little as £800 will get you into a Renault Clio of this shape, which seems like remarkable value when you consider what a brilliant little car it is. That said, that amount will only get you a high-mileage or previously crash-damaged example, so it makes sense to spend a little more, especially when £1200 is all you’ll need to get yourself behind the wheel of a tidy, low-mileage early example with service history.

In 2007, an excellent 99bhp 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine was added to the Clio range, and it's the one to get, for its great blend of usable performance and fuel economy. You’ll pay around £2000 for a clean example with reasonable mileage.

A facelift in 2009 brought a fresher look and more equipment; a tidy example will cost you at least £2000 today, or around £2500 for one fitted with the aforementioned 1.2-litre turbocharged engine.

If you want a faster, more invigorating Clio, you might prefer one of the Renault Sport models. These start with the 197, which will cost you at least £3500 for a tidy example with a full service history and a low mileage.

The standard 1.2-litre petrol can get 48mpg according to official figures, and it probably won’t be far off that in real-world driving. The more powerful 1.2-litre turbocharged engine can get up to 52mpg, though in the real world it won’t be quite that efficient. It will probably be better than the 1.4-litre petrol engine that preceded it, mind you.

Two diesel engines, a 1.5-litre and a 1.6-litre, were also available. While their fuel economy figures were admirable, it’s worth weighing up whether they’ll actually save you all that much on the forecourt, especially if you’re a low-mileage driver, and especially given the Clio’s age and potential for costly repairs that comes with an older diesel engine.

Those fuel economy figures aren't bad by any stretch, but it’s worth noting that from 2009 onwards, equivalent versions of the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo were better for fuel consumption.

Taxing the Clio should be pretty cheap, and certainly not noticeably more expensive than those competitors, but keep an eye on servicing and maintenance costs, as these can be quite a bit higher on the Clio than they are for its rivals.

We wouldn’t bother with diesel versions of the Renault Clio unless you’re planning to do lots of motorway miles, and even then we’d probably think twice. Petrol models are mechanically simpler and less likely to incur big repair bills, which could wipe out any savings you’ll make on the fuel economy of a diesel.

Our favourite engine is the 1.2-litre TCe turbocharged petrol, though even the basic naturally aspirated 1.2-litre engine is sweet and powerful enough for most drivers.

We’d avoid the most basic cars, because they feel stingily equipped and their dashboards are made from cheaper plastics. Instead, go for a model in Dynamique or post-facelift Expression trim. Both were very popular and come with plenty of equipment, including air conditioning, automatic headlights and cruise control with a speed limiter.

Our favourite Renault Clio: 1.2 TCe 100 Dynamique

The Ford Fiesta that came out in 2009 is a whole lot more entertaining to drive than the Clio and just as comfortable on the motorway, but its interior doesn’t feel quite as nicely designed. It’s worth a look if it’s within your budget.

The Volkswagen Polo has always been a popular small car thanks to its high-quality interior, efficient engines and grown-up feel. However, it’s more expenisve to buy than the Clio, so you’ll have to spend more to get an equivalent example.

The Mazda 2 has a cheap-feeling interior, but it’s great to drive and feels well put-together. It also has a great reputation for reliability and has a decent range of engines.

The Hyundai i20 came as standard with a five-year warranty, which means if you buy a late enough example, you’ll still get some of that remaining. It’s also comfortable and quiet, although rther bland to drive.

If none of these options appeal, you could also try the Honda Jazz, which seems to be very reliable and has flexible, flip-up rear seats that make it more practical than most small cars. It has quite a firm ride, though.

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