Used Renault Clio Buying Guide
The Clio has been a UK supermini fixture for three decades, and the current fifth-generation car (2019 on) is one of the best in the class — with the E-Tech hybrid a genuine star. The fourth generation (2013-2019) remains plentiful and cheap. Between them they cover every small-car budget.
Engines and trims
On the current car, the TCe 90/100 1.0 turbo petrol covers most needs, while the E-Tech 140/145 full hybrid is the pick: clever, smooth, and capable of astonishing town economy without ever plugging in. Fourth-generation cars ran 0.9 TCe and 1.2 petrols plus the frugal 1.5 dCi diesel — the dCi is a motorway workhorse, though diesel superminis now suit few buyers. Trim runs Play/Evolution, Iconic/Techno and R.S. Line/Esprit Alpine; mid-grade cars with the portrait touchscreen and parking sensors hit the sweet spot.
What to check before buying
On older 1.2 16v and early TCe petrols, watch for oil consumption — check the level on inspection and ask when it was last topped up; a well-documented oil-change history matters more than mileage. Fourth-generation EDC dual-clutch automatics deserve a thorough town test: hesitation or shunting at parking speeds signals costly trouble, so favour manuals or the newer car’s smoother units. The E-Tech hybrid has proven dependable; confirm smooth petrol-electric handovers and no hybrid warning lights. All Clios: check for kerb rash, worn interior plastics on abused examples, and that every screen function works. The MOT mileage trail should march evenly upward, and full service history separates the cared-for from the merely cheap — finish with a full car check as standard.
Running costs
E-Tech hybrids regularly return 55-65mpg in mixed use; TCe petrols mid-40s to low-50s. Insurance sits low, parts are cheap and independent garages know Renaults well. There’s no cheaper class of car to run properly.
Verdict
A current-generation E-Tech Techno is the thinking buyer’s supermini — hybrid economy with no plug and real polish. On a tighter budget, a late fourth-generation TCe manual with history does the same job with less glamour.
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