Renault Clio reviews

I bought this reluctantly as my experience of Renaults was not good. It's done well on long runs and running costa have been much as expected. The automatic gearbox isn't great, it doesnt change when it should and sometimes the engine whines like a sewing machine. Space and comfort are good. It's needed a new battery which was fine but it has also developed some electrical problems which will probably lead to its demise. I know it's old but I've had better cars.

I bought the 2007 Clio Mk 3 as my first car and I'm amazed at how versatile it is. From a 10 year old, small engine hatchback I was expecting it to be way out of its comfort zone on country roads and long motorway journeys. However, great country driving in this and went from Sheffield to the deep South on less than half a tank without​ so much as a threat of breaking down. My only issues with the car are its reliability (mostly electrical faults) and the overall performance - punchy for a 1.2 but I could do with some more power now. There's also a lot of body roll on roundabouts and the windscreen pillar is always in the way going round one (might just be my driving position). The car has a big heart and I'm looking at buying the 1.6 GT Clio to succeed this one.

I tried to contact two AA garages with Renault clio diesel cars for sale, I forwarded my inquiry and even spoke to a AA Rep on line but neither garage had the politeness to answer my question. Rubbish service as far as I am concerned Allan stephenson

The fuel usage is very high by present day standards though 40 years ago it would have been fairly good. The engine is underpowered and quite easy to stall. The design of the glove box is quite the worst I have ever come across. It is designed so that on opening, any small items fall out at the sides. A proper spare wheel [i.e. not a slim jim] would be preferable. The controls for the radio/sound system are quite unnecessarily complicated and difficult to use. The body shape, particularly the windows, make reversing difficult without sticking one's head out of the window. It is reasonably roomy and comfortable to drive. The headrests get in the way when the back seats are being folded down.

I chose the clio as i wanted to downsize for economy and reduce clutter i left in the car. I had a scenic before and the Garage treated me well. Clio has not let me down.

Apart from a faulty battery (replaced under the warranty) my Renault Clio is very reliable. I particularly like the touch screen which automatically connects to the music on my phone. The only criticism I have is that there is no spare wheel/tyre and in each of the three cases that I have been unfortunate enough to have had a puncture, the compressed repair kit would not have sufficed resulting in a callout to the AA each time.

A good runner that is close (within 5mpg) to the listed mpg, which quite surprised me. A very spacious boot and cabin that actually looks smaller than it is when you sit inside. I find it very good on long journeys and do not find it tiring at all. The only downside is that when anything goes wrong it is very expensive to repair if using Renault parts. Unfortunately as it is a sports tourer version finding spares is not easy in the UK as it is a very low seller here and not very well known. The tyre range is also very limited, just two makers, neither are cheap.

The model Clio that I own has the turbo engine, and while it is reasonably economic for town driving the MPG drop considerably for motorway driving. It has part leather seats and leather covered steering wheel, as well as wide alloy wheels. All making it a more pleasant drive than standard models.

Apart from having to buy new tyres and a recent fuel leak, I've had very little expense with this car. It is comfortable, fairly economical and has no advanced electronics so it can be repaired at any garage. I always buy second hand Renault cars and would have no hesitation in recommending the Clio.

Lovely to drive and nipper than you would think

Good first car, sometimes can be unreliable but very cheap to run including insurance and petrol. Nice little car.

Had my Clio for 8 years no problems at all and after 8 years needed new battery today . This car is excellent for short or long journeys comfortable and reliable

Might be 15 years old but has only done 60k miles. Runs like a new one. Lacks a few modern accessories but it's a car and gets from A to B.

Has been a really reliable and economical car and I have been very happy driving it. Would certainly buy another.

I have had my Clio from new and other than a flat battery in a sudden cold spell it's never let me down. Really comfortable to drive not tinny like some of the small cars around. Fairly spacious interior for a car of that size. Although I really enjoy driving the Clio I probably wont have another one as I know a number of people who have numerous problem (mainly electrical) with theirs. This my 2nd Clio and both have been reliable and comfortable cars.

Great little car

Suits my life style very well--my 5th Renault

This is a lovely little car. It's in immaculate condition for its age. It performs a very rapid demist and the interior warms up very quickly. The automatic gearbox could be smoother when moving up the gears, but on the whole we are very pleased with our purchase.

I bought my clio 12 months ago at 85000 miles, I do approx. 25000 miles a year with work, In that time I,ve changed a spring and the rear shocks which were a dawdle, the cost of servicing parts I would say compared to other cars is peanuts , brake pads, engine filters, springs, shocks, really low prices, and that's from Renault. Couple that with £30 a year road tax and 60+ mpg. You see where I'm going with this ? ( I get this at motorway speeds btw). It,s never let me down yet . The only problem I,ve discovered with those cars is the poor quality cabling used throughout, Rear Reg plate light and high level brake lamp wiring especially is so thin and fragile that this year of car suffers from broken/corroded cables cores because of exposure to atmosphere, another weak point is the wiring under the seats for the airbags/seat belt pre-tensioners, common for weak/broken cable cores here as well. This is where Renault gets bad reviews about their car electrics, they have skimped on cable quality throughout, little wonder they stopped trying to sell Laguna,s in the UK. RANT OVER.

Fantastic car, Few minor faults, but ideal project car