Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
Enter a registration number to see MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and more for any Renault Clio.
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With 338,648 currently licensed in the UK, the Renault Clio is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the Clio 5 stars in 2019, with 96% adult occupant and 89% 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 £2,392 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £199/month or 30p/mile.
NCAP Safety
2019
MOT Pass Rate
75.8%
320,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£199
est. annual total
New From
£19,000
Euro NCAP tested the Clio in 2019 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
96%
Child Occupant
89%
Pedestrian
72%
Safety Assist
75%
There are 22 known DVSA recalls affecting the Renault Clio. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
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
R/2018/024
In the event of heavy breaking such as an emergency stop or an impact with heavy luggage in the boot the rear seats central hinge may break. There would be no prior warning to the customer. In extreme circumstances may cause the luggage to enter the passage compartment.
Build dates: 2012-05-09 to 2017-07-11
R/2016/192
In sub-zero weather conditions the front windscreen blades arms may become frozen to the screen. In extreme circumstances when the wipers are activated the wiper arm linkage may weaken detach or bend. Should the linkage break or bend the wipers will not clear the screen effectively.
Build dates: 2012-11-01 to 2015-07-31
+ 17 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 £2,392 per year, or £199 per month.
Fuel
£1,101
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£691
/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 | 54.3 mpg | 1.0L |
| CLIO | PETROL | 45.6 mpg | 1.1L |
| CLIO | PETROL | 48.7 mpg | 1.3L |
| CLIO | PETROL | 41.5 mpg | 1.4L |
| CLIO | DIESEL | 56.5 mpg | 1.5L |
| CLIO | PETROL/ELECTRIC | 65.7 mpg | 1.6L |
| CLIO | PETROL | 53.3 mpg | 1.6L |
Starting from £19,000 new, a Renault Clio typically retains about 50% after 3 years and 42% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 68% | £12,850 | −£6,150 |
| 2 years | 57% | £10,900 | −£8,100 |
| 3 years | 50% | £9,600 | −£9,400 |
| 4 years | 45% | £8,650 | −£10,350 |
| 5 years | 42% | £7,950 | −£11,050 |
| 6 years | 39% | £7,400 | −£11,600 |
| 7 years | 37% | £6,950 | −£12,050 |
| 8 years | 35% | £6,600 | −£12,400 |
| 9 years | 33% | £6,250 | −£12,750 |
| 10 years | 31% | £5,950 | −£13,050 |
There are currently 338,648 licensed and 57,289 SORN Clios in the UK (395,937 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 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2019. It scored 96% for adult occupant protection, 89% for child occupant protection, 72% for vulnerable road users, and 75% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Clio are estimated at around £2,392 per year (£199/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 22 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 £19,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 42% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
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