Used Renault Clio 2019-present review
The Renault Clio is a smart small car choice that's reasonably priced when used. The later, facelifted cars are definitely worth seeking out
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What's the used Renault Clio like?
Ownership cost
Our recommendations
Alternatives
Reliability
George Hill
Updated: 12 March 2026
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What's the used Renault Clio like?
If you're thinking about buying a sensible used small car, you're likely looking at that German car with the same name as a certain donut-shaped mint, right? Well, there are other cars you should be looking at as well, such as the Renault Clio, because it's also a good choice.
While we're focusing on the 2019-onwards model here, the Clio lineage is long and older versions, like the 2013-2019 Renault Clio and 2005-2013 Renault Clio, are worth considering if you're budget is tighter.
Overview
While it won't trouble a Ford Fiesta for fun or a Volkswagen Polo for ride comfort, the Renault Clio continues to be a great all-rounder that'll tick enough boxes to suit most needs. It's cheaper age-for-age than the comparable Fiesta or Polo. Stick with a mid-range model for the best value. Go for a post-facelift car for the best Clio, if you can.
Pros
- Great safety tech
- Practical boot
- Smooth hybrid system
Cons
- Reliability complaints about hybrid model
- Clunky manual gearbox
- Rivals are a bit more polished to drive
Used cars available now
In partnership with
Renault Clio
1.2 TCe Dynamique S Nav EDC Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£79
Renault Clio
1.5 dCi Dynamique Nav Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£95
Renault Clio
1.2 16v Dynamique 3dr
£450
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1.5 dCi Dynamique TomTom Euro 5 3dr
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1.4 16v Expression 5dr
£649
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A thorough facelift in 2023 brought in a completely redesigned look and the engine options were reduced to just the one hybrid power unit and a pure petrol TCe 90.
Engines & Performance: Engine options begin with an underpowered 73bhp 1.0 SCe petrol, followed by two turbocharged versions of the same engine in 89bhp TCe and 99bhp TCe forms. Above these are a 128bhp 1.3 TCe engine that comes exclusively with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, or a 138bhp 1.6 E-TECH hybrid that was added to the range in late 2020.
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Your best bet is to avoid the 1.0 SCe and go for the 1.0 TCe instead because even the more muscular 99bhp version requires a fair bit of stoking to make progress. The 1.3 TCe on the other hand is far more urgent and is paired remarkably well with its auto 'box.
From 2023 onwards only the 1.0 TCe 90 and the 143bhp 1.6-litre engine hybrid were offered. The TCe 90 needs working hard to make good progress but it's smooth and quiet, while the hybrid-engined car offers an impressively smooth and linear power delivery.
Ride & Handling: The Clio can't topple its rivals, namely the Ford Fiesta and Skoda Fabia, to drive. The steering is pleasant enough but too vague and not quick enough to best the Fiesta for engagement, nor can the suspension cushion you from the sharp shocks of potholes or ridges in the road like a Fabia can – the Clio tends to feel a tad choppy and fidgety at speed in comparison. The Clio also isn't as well isolated from wind noise as its latter rival, either.
All that said, the Clio's ride and handling balance, while no match for the best of its rivals, is good enough to satisfy. It goes around corners with enough composure, grip and agility to inspire some confidence in its driver, while the suspension (though on the firmer side) has enough give for the ride to prove largely comfortable.
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Later, post-facelift Clios had a far superior ride and handling balance, thanks to the changes made under the skin.
Interior & Practicality: The Clio (apart from the basic Play model) is quite plush inside thanks to an abundance of soft touch materials. The driving position has plenty of adjustment and S Edition and above get more supportive, heavily bolstered sports seats.
The size of the infotainment touchscreen in the Clio depends on the trim: lower trims get 7.0in screens and upper trims 9.3in. Both come with physical shortcut buttons and plenty of features, including wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring. The larger screen system is a bit more advanced than the entry-level set-up, with sharper graphics and a more intuitive layout.
Rear-seat leg and head room isn't as generous as the VW Polo's, but it is far better than the Fiesta's. Also, the boot in the Clio is noticeably bigger than that of either rival, even if the high lip makes loading items awkward.
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Trims & Equipment: On pre-facelift cars, the entry-level Play trim level comes with LED headlights, cruise control, automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep assistance and traffic sign recognition as standard. Iconic is a little smarter looking with 16in alloy wheels, along with rear parking sensors and a 7.0in touchscreen infotainment system with sat-nav and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring.
S Edition gives you bigger 17in wheels, climate control, front parking sensors and the largest 9.3in touchscreen that includes a reversing camera. You also get a 7.0in digital instrument cluster. Topping the range on pre-facelift cars is a sporty-looking RS Line with more aggressive exterior styling and plenty of red stitching in the interior.
Facelift models have a different trim structure, with the entry-level Evolution trim offering 16in alloy wheels, automatic full LED headlights, automatic windscreen wipers, keyless start, automatic climate control, a 7in touchscreen infotainment system and rear parking sensors.
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Above that is Techno trim, which introduces a lot of useful kit, including 17in alloy wheels, a leather steering wheel, a wireless phone-charging pad, upgraded LED headlights, keyless entry, front parking sensors and a rear-view camera.
Esprit Alpine (which replaced RS Line) is the range-topping trim and adds a host of sporty features, including sports seats and unique 17in alloy wheels. On top of that, it gets a bigger infotainment screen and digital driver’s display, a heated steering wheel, heated front seats and adaptive cruise control.
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"A nice-looking and reasonably nippy small car, the Clio. I always enjoy driving one. Those later, facelifted models are really good." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor
Interested in buying a used Renault Clio? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.
Tips & Advice
Make sure you’re insured for the test drive
Short-term car insurance – also called test-drive insurance – will ensure you’re legal when you’re shopping for your next car
Ownership cost
What used Renault Clio will I get for my budget?
Used pricing for this Renault Clio starts at around £7000. For the money, you can get our preferred trim, Iconic, but it will get you a high mileage example. Spend between £8000 and £12,000 on a good Clio from 2020 or 2021, and between £12,000 and £15,000 on cars from 2022 and 2023. You'll need over £15,000 to buy the post-facelift 2023 and 2024 Clios that we really recommend, and upwards of £17,000 for a 2025 one.
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Check the value of a used Renault Clio with What Car? Valuations
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How much does cost to run a Renault Clio?
MPG: The most economical Clio is the 1.5 diesel at 67.2mpg, followed closely by the hybrid at 64.2mpg. There isn't a whole lot of difference between the 1.0 SCe and 1.0 TCe at 52.3mpg and 54.3mpg, respectively.
Opting for the 1.3 TCe does drop efficiency down to 48.7mpg, but then it is lumbered with an automatic gearbox.
The later 143bhp 1.6-litre hybrid claims up to 67.3mpg under the official tests.
Road tax (VED): Every Clio will be subject to the current flat rate fee for road tax – currently £195 – and none will fall foul of the additional surcharge for cars that cost more than £40,000 when new.
Insurance and servicing: Insurance groups are low, ranging from 10 to 15 (out of 50). This means it should be inexpensive to insure annually, with an estimated cost of around £400 to £500 per year, depending on factors.
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A three-year/30,000 miles service plan costs £499 upfront of £9.99 per month, or you can go for a longer four-year/40,000 mile policy at £749 upfront or £13.99 per month.
Reliability
The Renault Clio has demonstrated good overall reliability, as highlighted by owner feedback in What Car? Reliability Survey, covering petrol and hybrid models from 2019 onwards. Most owners reported minimal unscheduled repairs, underscoring the car's reliability.
However, the hybrid models faced criticism for electrical problems that frequently required dealer attention. Owners' experiences with dealership services were mixed, with some praising the responsiveness and professionalism, while others were frustrated by repair delays and poor communication.
Discover more about used Renault Clio reliability and common problems on our dedicated reliability page.
Tips & Advice
Organise your motoring life
Whether you need to keep tabs on your insurance renewal, sort breakdown cover, or book a service, My What Car? has you covered
Can I buy a car with cash?
Paying cash isn’t always an easy way to a new car – and you may not be able to get the big discounts you might expect
Our recommendations
Which used Renault Clio should I buy?
Engine: For most people's needs, the 99bhp 1.0 TCe will offer the best blend of performance and fuel economy. The hybrid is good at offering that blend too, but its reliability is reportedly mixed.
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An 84bhp diesel is the only option if you cover big mileages, but you really need to be covering huge distances annually to justify going for it over the 1.0 TCe petrol.
If you can afford it, we recommend buying the much-improved post-facelift 2023-onwards Clio, which is only available in hybrid or pure petrol 1.0 TCe 90 form. We'd go for the latter because it's a bit cheaper to buy, plus it should still be cheap to run. We haven't heard of any reliability concerns with that engine yet, either.
Specification: While entry-level Play has plenty of standard-from-new safety technology, we'd recommend going for the next rung up (Iconic) because that has some useful added luxuries and an infotainment system you can utilise smartphone mirroring with.
If going for a post-facelift Clio we'd stick with entry-level Evolution, which is well-equipped and the cheapest.
Our favourite Renault Clio: 1.0 TCe 90 Evolution
Tips & Advice
Avoid ULEZ and clean-air zone fines
If you regularly drive into a clean air zone, you’ll want to ensure your next car is compliant to avoid costly fines
Alternatives
What alternatives should I consider to a used Renault Clio?
If the Clio is a touch too tame in the handling department, consider a Ford Fiesta. It has a smaller boot and isn't as spacious in the back, but it is one of the most engaging small cars to drive and some updates in 2020 introduced some very efficient mild-hybrid engine options.
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For unsurpassed comfort without having to resort to the expense of an Audi A1, try a Volkswagen Polo or, better yet, a Skoda Fabia. Ride comfort is hugely impressive in either option – the Polo feels a bit more premium inside – plus all the controls have an extra layer of slickness.
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Newsletter here
Interested in buying a used Renault Clio? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.
How reliable is the Renault Clio ?
Reliability rating: 93.9%
Renault Clio
Read reliability
Used cars available now
In partnership with
Renault Clio
1.2 TCe Dynamique S Nav EDC Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£79
Renault Clio
1.5 dCi Dynamique Nav Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£95
Renault Clio
1.2 16v Dynamique 3dr
£450
Renault Clio
1.5 dCi Dynamique TomTom Euro 5 3dr
£594
Renault Clio
1.4 16v Expression 5dr
£649
Renault Clio
1.4 16v Dynamique 3dr
£695
Renault Clio
1.2 Campus 5dr
£749
Renault Clio
1.2 Campus Sport I-Music 3dr
£790
Renault Clio
1.5 dCi Expression Euro 4 5dr
£790
See all available cars
About the writer
Name: George Hill
Title: Used car writer
Follow George Hill on
George Hill has worked as What Car?’s used car writer since 2024, having previously joined the team as a staff writer in 2021. In his current role he focuses on used car reviews, used car group tests and used car top 10s, as well new car editorial, for What Car? magazine and whatcar.com.
If you follow What Car? on social media, you might also see him presenting the odd video on new and used cars too.
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