Insurance Group: 13
MPG: 70.6
CO2: 106
0-62 Mph: 12.7 secs
BHP: 88 BHP
Range: 854 miles
PROS: The Clio is good to drive, practical and economical.
CONS: It doesn't come with much equipment and it doesn't have the best reputation for reliability.
The Clio's 1.5-litre diesel engine is excellent, providing plenty of pull at low revs. It develops 88bhp and 148lb-ft of torque which translates into a 0-62mph time of 12.7 seconds and a top speed of 108mph. It's not the most powerful engine in the range by a long stretch but it's silky smooth and refined, even at higher engine speeds.
The Clio is also great to drive thanks to a well sorted chassis and firm suspension - which does the tricky job of both minimising body roll through the bends and providing a comfortable ride.
The Clio is a great looking car with its own distinct personality. It is arguably the best looking car in its class and the interior is similarly stylish, if a little bit basic.
Standard equipment includes electric front windows and a CD player with MP3 connectivity and that's about it. The optional extras list is very long and offers Sat-Nav (£470), metallic paint (£445), electric sunroof (£630), air conditioning (£575), alloy wheels (£520) and stability control (£315).
The Clio won't be the most reliable car in the world - Renault have a pretty poor repuation for reliability - and owners have reported a number of interior glitches with their cars. However, it should be mechanically robust and is offered with a 3 year/100,000 mile warranty.
The Clio has plenty of space inside for four adults to sit in relative comfort and has a decent boot with 288-litres of space with the rear seats up and 1038-litres with the rear seats down.
It should be safe too, having scored the full five stars in the Euro NCAP tests thanks to the fitment of six airbags.
The Clio Expression dCi 88 5dr is one of the cheaper models in the range at £12,800 and considering the lack of standard equipment, buyers may decide that upgrading to a slightly more costly and luxurious model is beneficial.
The Clio's running costs, however, will be very low indeed. You should manage an impressive 70.6mpg (combined) and CO2 emissions of 106g/km mean that the Clio falls under VED band B. However, for an extra £250, you can upgrade to the ECO model which boasts sub-100g/km emissions and therefore free road tax and congestion charging.
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