Renault Clio running costs shouldn’t be too onerous if you opt for the diesel that returns a claimed average fuel economy of 70.6mpg but the high diesel premium over the equivalent petrol new might not be cost-effective on moderate annual mileage. The 98bhp 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol isn’t a bad option since it’s cheaper and it’ll return a claimed average of 52.mpg.

Elsewhere, Renault servicing is reasonably priced while cheap insurance on most models and good economy make it cheap to own.

Buyers with an eco friendly attitude will be happy because Renault Clio emissions are comparably low. The best model in the range is the 1.5-litre dCi 88 which emits 94g/km of CO2 (making it free to tax).

For every reliable second-generation Clio in our owner’s review pages there seemed to be one that encountered problems. However, complaints about rattles and squeaks inside and other issues regarding build quality far outnumbered mechanical issues which suggests Renault Clio reliability should not be too shaky, despite the interior niggles. Early indications from the interior of this car are that it should fare better thanks to its softer materials and more robust construction.

We hope Renault has worked on the mechanical problems and we would be happy to increase our rating if this proves to be the case over time.