Renault Clio: From The Third One You Drive Better

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36

The Renault Clio has matured over the years. For the small car from France: younger is better.

In France, the Renault Clio is something like the VW Polo in Germany: a popular small car. The French, on the other hand, are less common on the roads between the Rhine and Oder than the competitor from Wolfsburg. This is probably not only due to the patriotic buying behavior of customers. Because the Clio is not exactly the most reliable car from a certain vehicle age. A rule that often applies to used vehicles: the younger the car, the less trouble it causes.

Renault Clio from the third generation onwards is much more reliable

During the general inspection of the third generation of Clio, built from 2005, the TÜV hardly had anything to complain about. In the “TÜV Report 2012”, tie rod ends that are knocked out are criticized almost exclusively. With a look at its breakdown statistics, the ADAC found for copies of the third edition: "The previously wide range of defects has shrunk to a few individual defects."

These include problems with the rear brakes as well as defects in the ignition coils and crankshaft sensors in gasoline engines. With diesels of the same age, there were often malfunctions in the engine management. For the predecessor model manufactured between 1998 and 2005, on the other hand, the TÜV documents many defects - from ABS malfunctions and blocked immobilizers to broken toothed belts, defective wheel bearings and improperly laid fuel lines. Nevertheless, it is gratifying that even eleven-year-old specimens have no rust problem.

Wide range of engines for Renault Clio

The Clio was first launched in 1990 and, according to Renault, has sold more than 11.5 million units since then. The manufacturer attributes the success, among other things, to the variety of equipment. So there was the second generation offered from 1998, which received a facelift in 2001, already with automatic air conditioning and navigation system with color display. The successor model, available from 2005, was offered, among other things, with a keyless entry and start system. The Grand Tour combination version has also been available since 2008. The fourth generation of the Clio is on the market these days.

The range of engines is as large as you would expect from a volume modelcan expect. Since the facelift in 2001, the small car has been equipped with 43 kW / 59 PS to 166 kW / 226 PS petrol engines, and between 2003 and 2005 there was also a 3.0 liter V6 engine with 187 kW / 254 PS. Depending on the edition and year of construction, the diesels produce between 47 kW / 64 PS and 78 kW / 106 PS. The LPG version offered in 2010/2011 has an output of 42 kW / 58 PS.

Anyone looking for a top-powered Clio 3.0 V6 Renault Sport should expect a used car price of around 12,300 euros for a 2003 copy. The average mileage for such a vehicle is given in the Schwacke list as 126,000 kilometers. A weaker Clio 1.6 16V GT with 94 kW / 128 PS from 2009 should be available for around 8150 euros (42,000 kilometers). Diesel fans pay around 9300 euros (95,400 kilometers) for a Clio 1.5 dCi ESP FAP Initiale with 76 kW / 103 PS from 2007. (dpa / tmn)