Renault Clio review
The Renault Clio is a super-stylish small car that’s packed with big-car tech, a high-quality interior and a surprisingly large boot.
Author: The Cazoo editorial team
8th Jan 2026 – 8 mins read
The Renault Clio has been one of Europe’s most popular small cars for decades, and this fifth-generation model, launched in 2019, is the best one yet. It takes everything people loved about the previous Clio – namely its stylish looks – and adds a much more upmarket interior, more technology, and class-leading practicality. It’s a seriously impressive all-rounder. While it might not have changed much on the outside, the interior has had a complete revolution, feeling more premium than rivals like the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa. With a great range of efficient engines, including a clever hybrid model, and a five-star safety rating, the Clio is a sophisticated and desirable small car that should be right at the top of your shortlist.
Pros
- Class-leading boot space for a supermini
- High-quality, stylish interior
- Generous amount of standard equipment
Cons
- Some rivals are more fun to drive
- The automatic gearbox can feel a bit sluggish
- It's not as refined as a VW Polo at motorway speeds
Interior
Dashboard & tech
This is where the new Clio has taken a huge leap forward. The cabin is now one of the classiest in the supermini segment, ditching the cheap plastics of its predecessor for a much more premium feel. The layout is clean and modern, with a new driver-focused design.
You’ll want to go for a mid-spec Iconic model or above to get the 7-inch central touchscreen, which is easy to use and comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher-spec S Edition models get an even more impressive 9.3-inch portrait-style touchscreen, along with a digital instrument cluster that replaces the traditional dials. It’s a cabin that feels genuinely upmarket.
Comfort
The Clio is a comfortable car that’s great for getting around town and is happy on the motorway, too. It feels refined for a small car, and the seats are supportive, making it a pleasant place to be on longer journeys.
There’s a decent amount of room in the back for a car of this size, and most adults should be able to get comfortable, so long as the people in the front don’t have their seats all the way back. It’s a great all-rounder that blends a comfortable ride with a nimble feel.
Quality
Renault has worked hard to improve the quality of the Clio’s interior, and it really shows. The materials used feel more premium than before, and it all feels solid and well put together. It now feels more upmarket than a Ford Fiesta or Vauxhall Corsa, and isn't far behind the benchmark set by the Volkswagen Polo. It’s a cabin that you’ll enjoy spending time in.
Practicality & boot space
Interior space
For a supermini, the Clio is impressively roomy. There’s enough space in the rear seats for a couple of adults to get comfortable on shorter journeys, and plenty of room for kids. The five-door-only layout makes it easy to get in and out, and fitting child seats is straightforward.
Boot space
This is one of the Clio’s standout features. Renault has cleverly repackaged the car to create a massive boot. At 391 litres, it’s not just the biggest in the supermini class, it’s actually larger than the boot in many cars from the class above, like the Volkswagen Golf. The only slight downside is a high load lip, which can make lifting heavy items in and out a bit of a stretch, but the sheer volume of space is a huge plus point for a small car.
Versatility
With its five-door body, spacious rear seats, and enormous boot, the Clio is one of the most practical and versatile superminis you can buy. It has the usability to cope with everything from the weekly shop to a weekend away, making it a great choice for small families or anyone who needs a bit of extra space from their small car.
Driving
Driving experience
The Clio is a very pleasant car to drive, offering a great balance of comfort and agility. It feels nimble and easy to handle in town, but it’s also refined and stable on the motorway. While it’s not quite as fun or engaging as a Ford Fiesta on a twisty road, it’s a brilliant all-rounder that’s easy and relaxing to drive in all sorts of situations.
Performance
The Clio is available with a good selection of petrol, diesel, and hybrid engines. The entry-level 71bhp 1.0-litre petrol (SCe 75) is best avoided unless you only ever drive around town, as it can feel very slow. Our pick of the range is the turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol (TCe 100), which produces 99bhp and offers a great blend of performance and economy.
For more power, there’s a 128bhp 1.3-litre petrol (TCe 130). A super-economical 84bhp 1.5-litre diesel (Blue dCi 85) is available for high-mileage drivers. There’s also a clever ‘E-Tech’ hybrid model, which pairs a 1.6-litre petrol engine with two electric motors for brisk performance and the ability to drive on pure electric power at low speeds.
Running costs
Fuel economy & CO2 emissions
Whichever Clio you choose, it should be efficient and cheap to run. The best on paper is the diesel model, which can officially return up to 67.2mpg. However, if you do most of your driving in town, the new E-Tech hybrid is a better choice. It can return a claimed 64.2mpg and has low CO2 emissions, making it an appealing option for company car drivers. The popular petrol models are also very frugal, returning around 50mpg in official tests.
Value for money
The Clio is competitively priced, undercutting key rivals like the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa. Standard equipment is very impressive, with all models getting LED headlights, cruise control, and a host of safety kit. On the used market, you can find nearly-new examples with thousands of pounds off the list price, making it a fantastic value proposition.
Reliability & Warranty
This latest Clio is too new to have a long-term reliability record, but it uses tried-and-tested engines and technology that should prove dependable. A big selling point is Renault’s five-year warranty, which is more generous than the three-year cover offered by most rivals. This means that even used examples will likely have a good amount of manufacturer warranty remaining for extra peace of mind.
Safety
Safety features
The Renault Clio has a brilliant safety record. It was awarded the maximum five-star rating when it was crash-tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP in 2019, who also named it one of the safest cars in its class.
All models come with a generous amount of standard safety equipment, including autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, cruise control with a speed limiter, and traffic sign recognition. It’s a very safe and reassuring choice for a small car.
Trims & Engines
Trim levels
The Clio is available in a good range of trim levels. The range starts with Play, which is well-equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, and air conditioning. Our pick is the Iconic trim, which adds key features like a 7-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rear parking sensors, and keyless entry.
The S Edition adds more style and tech, including larger 17-inch wheels, climate control, and a bigger 9.3-inch touchscreen. The R.S. Line model gives you a sporty look, with revised bumpers and unique styling details inside and out.
Engines
The Clio engine range offers something for everyone. The petrol lineup includes a non-turbo 1.0-litre SCe 75 with 71bhp, and a turbocharged 1.0-litre TCe 100 with 99bhp. There's also a more powerful 1.3-litre TCe 130 petrol with 128bhp.
The diesel option is an 84bhp 1.5-litre Blue dCi 85. The innovative E-Tech hybrid combines a 1.6-litre petrol engine with electric motors to produce a combined 138bhp. Most engines come with a manual gearbox, but CVT and dual-clutch automatic transmissions are available on some models.