Read the full 4Car Road Test
2002 Top Ten position
All UK car sales: 6
Fleet car sales: 7
Supermini
Introduced: 1998, major facelift 2000
Bodystyles: Three- and five-door hatchback
Price band: £7,495-£25,995
NCAP crash test rating: 4
The Clio is...
excellent value for money, with a very generous level of equipment - it's the only supermini in our list to have standard ABS anti-lock brakes and driver, passenger and side airbags, for a start. There is also a lot of choice, including two excellent, state-of-the-art diesel engines, two different automatic gearboxes and engines ranging from a 60bhp 1.2 right up to the 230bhp 3.0 V6, via the acclaimed Renaultsport 2.0 172 and lightweight Clio Cup cars. Add to this the curvaceous shape, individual face and French panache, and the Clio is a very appealing choice.
For
Loads of kit, good safety features, excellent value, smooth and economical engines, two great diesels, high-performance versions.
Against
Not as spacious and as refined as some rivals; a few reports of reliability problems, handling of non-sporty models not amazingly sharp.
Sum-up
A youthful image and a very good all-round package - Renault really hits the spot with the Clio.
Engines, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions
Petrol:1.2 8v (60bhp): 47.1mpg, 143g/km
1.2 16v (75bhp): 47.9mpg, 139g/km
1.4 16v (98bhp): 38.7mpg, 160g/km
1.6 16v (110bhp): 39.2mpg, 170g/km
Renaultsport 172 2.0 16v (172bhp): 34.9bhp, 194g/km
Renaultsport 3.0 V6 (230bhp): 25.2mpg, 267g/km
Diesels:1.5 dCi 65 (65bhp): 65.7mpg, 115g/km
1.5 dCi 80 (80bhp): 67.3mpg, 115g/km
Spec rundown
Renault's specification lists are notoriously long and complex, with talk of Collections and an extensive list of vaguely French-sounding names, but it's basically plush, plusher, sporty and sportier when it comes to interior décor, and the following for equipment: Authentique models are the lowest-specced, but even these have power steering, ABS brakes, driver, passenger and side airbags, central locking, electric windows and a radio/cassette. Dynamique models add alloy wheels, a CD player, a split/folding rear seat and a manual sunroof, whilst Extreme models have 15-inch alloy wheels, metallic paint, lowered sports suspension, rain-sensitive windscreen wipers, front foglamps and double-optic front headlights. Expression and Expression Plus models have spec similar to Dynamique, with the Expression Plus having a colour-coded exterior, and Privilege models add air conditioning and an electric sunroof. Range-topping Initiale versions have pretty well the whole lot (but not the sports suspension), with standard metallic paint and optional leather seats and satellite navigation. There is also the option of the Quickshift 5 transmission (a clutchless five-speed gearbox with auto mode) on 1.2 16v and 1.4 16v models, or the fully-auto Proactive gearbox (1.6 16v).
Market info
The Clio holds its value well thanks to high demand from private buyers, though the recent purchase of a large fleet by EasyRentacar may depress residual values a little. Sportier versions, and the very well-specified models, are also very popular. It's worth a haggle with a Renault dealer over the mainstream and entry-level versions, but don't expect any money off a 172 or the lightweight Cup version, and V6 models are in very short supply. Look out for special editions and offers: Renault is currently giving a year's free insurance with some versions.
