Renault Clio Renaultsport (01-05) - Review

Review by Parkers on
Hot hatch buyers haven't had it so good since the 1980s. Every manufacturer worth their salt has a performance version of their supermini or small hatch. This is Renault's and it's one of the best in the business. The 172 was the original car - launched in 2001 - and was a very accomplished hot-hatch offering focused performance at a reasonable price. A Cup version was launched in 2002 aimed at serious driving enthusiasts who wanted a car, without frills or luxuries, that they could throw around a race track. 2003 saw the model receive 10 bhp extra and a name change to 182. And as a final flourish, Renault launched a 'Trophy' model in mid 2005. Just 500 of these cars were available with sports suspension and Recaro bucket seats.
3.5 out of 5

Other Renault reviews

4 out of 5

Running costs

Despite its ability, this hot Clio is often overlooked (strange, in our opinion) so residuals aren't as good as some other hot hatches. Fuel economy is good, if you light with your right foot - 35mpg is achievable in everyday driving. Service intervals long, but other costs will be quite high if you drive it as hard as the car encourages you to.

Summary Running Costs

Servicing period

12,000 miles.

Warranty

Three years/60,000 miles mechanical, 12 years bodywork.

Road tax (12 months)

£250.00 - £250.00

Vehicle excise duty (VED) varies according to the CO2 emissions and the fuel type of the vehicle. For cars registered after March 1st 2001 VED or road tax is based on the car's CO2 emissions. For cars registered before March 1st 2001 it is based on engine size.

Full running costs data

2.5 out of 5

Green credentials

  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
    194
  • K
  • L
  • M

CO2 emission figure (g/km)

Fuel economy rating

The arrows indicate the best and worst CO2 bands for this model.

Emissions summary

Clio is not particularly environmentally friendly. With an average of 195 g/km CO2 across the model line-up, its emissions are fairly standard for a super mini hatchback. It's worth noting that the line-up does not feature any diesel models, which typically produce less carbon dioxide than petrol engines with similar power outputs. The range is not very frugal, averaging 34 mpg.

Find the exact engine and CO2