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Renault Clio Hatchback (1998-2001) review

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Parkers overall rating: 4 out of 54.0

At a glance

Price new £7,340 - £25,840
Road tax cost £190 - £415
Insurance group 5 - 39
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Fuel economy Not tested to latest standards
Range 330 - 594 miles
View full specs for a specific version

Available fuel types

Petrol

Diesel

Pros & cons

PROS

Space, comfort, value

CONS

Interior can be tatty

Written by Parkers Published: 6 June 2019

Overview

The original Clio was a breakthrough for Renault. Its chic, cosmopolitan looks, low running costs, confident handling and clever use of space had buyers reaching for their cheque books. By the mid-Nineties, European competitors had caught up. Like greying Papa, Clio was beginning to look a bit tired, and niggling mid-life reliability problems were emerging.

(Nicole remained as vivacious as ever, but was conveniently married off when Clio MkII appeared.) Renault’s answer was a comprehensive make-over programme, fixing the faults and improving the car in almost every area. The cheeky Clio MkII was launched in 1998 as a thoroughly modern supermini that inherited all the charm and classless appeal of the original Clio but felt sturdier and better built.

But being bigger and heavier than the 1991-98 car, it feels a little less agile and handling can seem blunter and less entertaining than the original.