The Clio scored the maximum five stars for occupant protection in the Euro NCAP crash tests and all cars come with six airbags (twin front and side airbags and ‘anti-submarining’ airbags in the front seats), while curtain airbags are standard on all but the entry-level Extreme model. It is also available with an optional electronic stability programme.

Front seatbelts are height adjustable, while the seatbelts on the two outer rear seats come with integrated pre-tensioners (which lock the seatbelts at the point of impact) and load limiters (which reduce the risk of injury during the impact) as well as those in the front. Renault Clio safety is further enhanced by innovative front head restraints with no rigid metal rods in the seat-back also help reduce the likelihood of whiplash injuries.

The roomy interior offers excellent storage, with a huge glove compartment (more than nine litres) and long bins in the doors. Some versions offer drawers under the front seats. The rear seats split and fold and the boot offers a minimum of 288 litres of storage space – slightly larger than hatches like the Volkswagen Polo and Peugeot 207.