SuperminiIntroduced: 1998, restyling and revisions April 2001
Bodystyles: Three- and five-door hatchback
Prices: from £1500; 1.4 RSI from £3000, 1.9 dTi from £4500, facelifted 2001- models from £2500, 1.5 dCi 65 models from £3500, Renaultsport 172 from £6000
4car rating: 
The Renault Clio is: excellent value for money, with a very generous level of equipment - especially safety kit. The current model is the only best-selling supermini 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 of these second-generation models, their 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 dCi diesels, high-performance versions
Against: Not as spacious or 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
Model rundown and historyThe cheapest of the second-generation Clios were simply the 1.2 and 1.9D, which had a driver's airbag only. Up from those, trim levels were badged RN and Grande (power steering, central locking, sunroof, body-coloured bumpers, split rear seat, optional ABS), RT (ABS, front electric windows, passenger airbag, height-adjustable driver's seat, better stereo) and RXE (air conditioning, alarm, front fog lamps, colour-coded mirrors, rear head restraints, driver's seat lumbar adjustment). 1.6 Si models (8-valve) are sporty, with alloy wheels, sports seats, front fog lamps and electric sunroof, and 16-valve RSi models have different alloys, uprated suspension and improved brakes. RN, RT and RXE were later badged Liberte, Alize and Initiale. The somewhat pretentious 'Collection' was launched in January 2000, with the spec levels divided into Freeway (budget, with sub-divisions Liberte and Grande), Elegance (comfy, Alize, Etoile, Initiale) and Sport (Sport, Si, RSi), and new model the Renaultsport 172, a proper GTi for the modern age with full sports spec and a 172bhp, 2.0-litre 16-valve engine. The mid-engined - but utterly over-the-top - 3.0 V6 followed soon after. The mainstream range was restyled, revised, up-specced and rebadged in April 2001, with models starting from Authentique, with 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).
Clios to buy: Nicely-trimmed, comfortable little cruisers or sporty, speedy versions - take your pick. Even the entry-level models do well as budget runarounds. The new dCi diesels are the best in class. Of course, we'd all love a Renaultsport 172 or even (if we're a bit mad) a V6, but if that's not realistic then the RSi and other 1.4 and 1.6 16-valve models are nicely warm-ish.
Clios to avoid: There's not really a duff one in the range, and even the early diesels are OK. There are lots around, so no need to buy a rough, scruffy one; avoid anything with a less-than-complete history or any suspected ex-rental cars, or thrashed/trashed sporty models.
Buying the best Clio: There are plenty at independent retailers, as well as in the private ads; for the most peace of mind, Renault-approved used stock at franchised dealers is generally not ridiculously priced. Watch out for general quality defects, misfiring and ignition problems (especially in 1.4s) and check auto gearboxes thoroughly.
Engines and performance:1.2 8v (60bhp): 99mph, 0-60 14.7 sec, 45.6mpg
1.2 8v (60bhp), 01- ):100mpg, 0-60 15 sec, 47.1mpg
1.2 16v (75bhp): 106mph, 0-60 13 sec, 47.9mpg
1.4 8v (75bhp): 106mph, 0-60 11.8 sec, 41.5mpg
1.4 Sport (81bhp): 106mph, 0-60 12.1 sec, 41.5mpg
1.4 16v (98bhp, -01): 116mph, 0-60 10.5 sec, 43.5mpg
1.4 16v (98bhp, 01-): 116mph, 0-60 10.5 sec, 42.2mpg
1.6 16v (110bhp): 115mph, 0-60 9.6 sec, 39.2mpg
Renaultsport 172 2.0 16v (172bhp, -01): 130mph, 0-60 7.2 sec, 35.8mpg
Renaultsport 172 2.0 16v (172bhp, 01-): 138mph, 0-60 7.4 sec, 34.9mpg
Renaultsport 172 Cup (172bhp): 138mph, 0-60 6.8 sec, 34.9mpg
Renaultsport 3.0 V6 (230bhp): 147mph, 0-60 6.4 sec, 25.2mpg
Diesels:1.9D (65bhp): 100mph, 0-60 15.4 sec, 54.3mpg
1.9 dTi (65bhp): 109mph, 0-60 15 sec, 54.3mpg
1.5 dCi 65 (65bhp): 100mph, 0-60 15 sec, 65.7mpg
1.5 dCi 80 (80bhp): 109mph, 0-60 12.2 sec, 67.3mpg
