All Renault Clio reviews

"If buyers can't stretch to the headline-grabbing Clio III, perhaps the tried and tested Clio II will do"

It's a tough old business the motor industry. As each lustrous new model arrives on the scene to the media clamour and the fanfare of the PR machine, so the death knell sounds for an old stager. Once superseded, these elderly models slip easily from the memory, shoved out of the showrooms to rust in peace populating the nation's used car lots and small ads sections.

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"the Clio III is undoubtedly a more competent all-round proposition than its predecessor"

Put yourself in Renault's shoes. Its previous generation Clio sold on the basis of cheeky styling and a driving experience that few of its rivals could approach. Since that car was developed, the goalposts have shifted. Size and safety are also required by demanding supermini customers and marrying this with a sporty look and feel is no easy task. Renault thinks it has pulled it off with the Clio I...

"With three variations on the 1.5dCi diesel theme, Renault are hoping to cover their bases in a cost-effective manner"

Sometimes choosing a diesel car comes down to simple arithmetic. You work out how much more the diesel option is over the equivalent petrol car, calculate how many miles you're likely to drive the car in your ownership period and then figure out if the diesel premium is worth it. That presupposes two things. Firstly, that the petrol and diesel models are equally attract...

"Renault has supersized the Clio but buyers needn't feel guilty about going large"

If you're the sort of person who is convinced that Mars Bars are getting smaller and that we're constantly getting less for our money, you might want to run the rule over Renault's five-door version of the Clio III. Substantial doesn't even begin to cover it. In fact, as I noosed up behind an old Megane on the press launch, I had the distinct impression I was sitting in the bigger car.

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"Renault has invested a lot of money in this car. It's easy to see where a lot of those Euros have been spent"

Sometimes we all have to bite the bullet. Renault realised that if it was to compete as a global player, it needed to invest in new factories, new cars and new staff. One of the first fruits of this huge spending spree was the Clio III. Put baldly, Renault just cannot afford for this car to fall flat on its face but looking at the vehicle, there seems little danger of that.

Cars like the Clio Renaultsport V6 ' to give it its full and rather cumbersome title ' don't come around too often. Any company with its eye on the bottom line will quickly scotch such flights of fancy but normal rules do not apply at the Renaultsport division. From this unassuming facility have come some of the most delightful, exotic and, at times, impractical sports cars sensible money can buy. The Clio V6 is but one of a long line and is rapidly becoming a collector's item. Get in quick i...

Many breathed a huge sigh of relief when Renault updated the Clio in 2001. Not that there was a great deal wrong with its predecessor, but with it went the naming conventions that made choosing a Clio about as straightforward as explaining Fermat's Last Theorem to Victoria Beckham. The 2001 model year car changed all that, bringing with it Renault's 'family' dihedral grille and big headlamps. As a used buy, the Clio makes sense to all but those looking for the most modern of superminis. The 1...