Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
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With 334,975 currently licensed in the UK, the Renault Clio is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the Clio 4 stars in 2025, with 79% adult occupant and 82% child protection scores.
It has a 75.8% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, lighting, brakes.
Annual running costs are estimated at £2,608 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £217/month or 35p/mile.
NCAP Safety
2025
MOT Pass Rate
75.8%
320,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£217
est. annual total
New From
£22,000
Euro NCAP tested the Clio in 2025 and awarded it 4 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
79%
Child Occupant
82%
Pedestrian
79%
Safety Assist
73%
There are 24 known DVSA recalls affecting the Renault Clio. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2026/096
For certain vehicles and as a preventative measure there is concern involving the locking nuts in the area of the front suspension lower arm ball joints for where loosening of the fixings cannot be ruled out.
Build dates: 2025-10-18 to 2025-10-20
R/2026/094
For certain vehicles reprogramming of the injection computer is required. Without this software update it could lead to breakdown or the vehicle failing to start.
Build dates: 2022-09-01 to 2025-07-11
R/2020/023
The message power steering failure displayed on the vehicles dashboard and a down grading of the power steering assistance
Build dates: 2019-06-01 to 2019-10-31
R/2020/015
Contact between the positive alternator wiring and the alternator casing which could cause an electrical short circuit.
Build dates: 2019-07-08 to 2019-07-23
R/2018/094
Headlight (dipped beam) may not adjust correctly when switched on and therefore not light the road ahead sufficiently.
Build dates: to
+ 19 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 320,000 MOT tests, the Clio has a first-time pass rate of 75.8% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The Clio is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Renault Clio are estimated at around £2,608 per year, or £217 per month.
Fuel
£1,208
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£800
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The Clio achieves a combined fuel economy of around 47.9 mpg (38.2 mpg urban, 45.6 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLIO | PETROL | 47.9 mpg | 0.9L |
| CLIO | PETROL | 53.3 mpg | 1.0L |
| CLIO | PETROL | 48.7 mpg | 1.1L |
| CLIO | PETROL | 48.7 mpg | 1.3L |
| CLIO | DIESEL | 58.9 mpg | 1.5L |
| CLIO | PETROL/ELECTRIC | 65.7 mpg | 1.6L |
| CLIO | PETROL | 53.3 mpg | 1.6L |
| CLIO | PETROL | 38.7 mpg | 2.0L |
Starting from £22,000 new, a Renault Clio typically retains about 50% after 3 years and 42% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 68% | £14,850 | −£7,150 |
| 2 years | 57% | £12,600 | −£9,400 |
| 3 years | 50% | £11,100 | −£10,900 |
| 4 years | 45% | £10,000 | −£12,000 |
| 5 years | 42% | £9,200 | −£12,800 |
| 6 years | 39% | £8,550 | −£13,450 |
| 7 years | 37% | £8,050 | −£13,950 |
| 8 years | 35% | £7,650 | −£14,350 |
| 9 years | 33% | £7,250 | −£14,750 |
| 10 years | 31% | £6,900 | −£15,100 |
There are currently 334,975 licensed and 58,291 SORN Clios in the UK (393,266 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The Clio has a 75.8% first-time MOT pass rate based on 320,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the Clio 4 out of 5 stars when tested in 2025. It scored 79% for adult occupant protection, 82% for child occupant protection, 79% for vulnerable road users, and 73% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Clio are estimated at around £2,608 per year (£217/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 24 known safety recalls affecting the Clio. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
A new Clio starts from around £22,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 42% of its original value.
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