Renault Twingo Gordini 100 3dr Car Review - March 2012

The mini hatchback Twingo can dart about town and will fit in tight parking areas with ease. It readily zips its way in and out of traffic without difficulty thanks to its light steering. It’s a decent, comfortable ride when compared with rivals. However the Twingo Gordini 100’s 1.2 litre petrol engine has to be worked hard to get the car going.

Its 1149cc , 4-cylinder and 16-valves turbocharged engine produces a power of 110 bhp at 5500 rpm and develops a torque of 112 lb-ft at 3500 rpm. The Twingo Gordini handles a little like a go-kart, with excellent road grip enabling it to glide through corners with consumate ease.

The Twingo Gordini 100 can reach 62 mph in 9.8 s and has a top speed of 117 mph. Refinement isn't bad, although the engine makes a little noise getting up to speed. Wind and road noise however are tolerable even at motorway speeds and visibility is not an issue.

The Renault Twingo Gordini is quite spacious and its design is mature, with a grown-up feel. This version offers more space than the Citroen C1 and Toyota Aygo. There’s nothing plush and luxurious in its interior as the use of hard, shiny plastics made the cabin look cheap. Even with seat adjustment, the driver’s seat is a tad high. The dashboard and centre console seem lifeless and dull.

Standard equipment for this version includes air-conditioning, split/fold rear seats, electric front windows, electric mirrors, alloy wheels, cruise control and a unique fit radio.

Cost options available for this version are metallic paint, leather seats and climate control.

The Renault Twingo Gordini 100’s 3-door layout is not too practical as access to the rear seats can be awkward. It is a good thing that the rear seats slide back and forth to adjust space. This also affords the 230-litre boot space to contract to 165-litres when the rear seats are slid back. With the rear seats folded, boot space increases to a respectable 959 litres. The cabin might not exude a luxurious ambiance but there are pockets of storage throughout.

The Twingo Gordini is fitted with front and side airbags as standard. However curtain airbags are optional on some models only. To prevent car skids and to effectively regain control of the car, the electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes are no-cost options. The Renault Twingo has a rating of 4/5 in the Euro NCAP crash test. Isofix child seat mounts are available.

For security purposes, the Renault Gordini has deadlocks, immobiliser and central locking.

The Renault Twingo Gordini 100 is priced at £11,600 which makes it only marginally less expensive than the better and bigger Renault Clio. The Gordini can hardly be called expensive but this car offers the most basic equipment for its price.

With a combined mpg of 49.5, a car insurance group of 17 and road tax band E, this version is cheap to run. The engine has low carbon emission and it’s frugal to use.

It is not the most practical of vehicles but certainly offers more than some rivals and value for money isn't bad with the Twingo.