Overview

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.

Parkers top buying tips

As with all used purchases, do remember to get a car history check. It might just save you from an unpleasant surprise later down the line. Also, don’t forget you can use our valuation tool to get an idea of how much you should be paying for a car. You can also check our reviews section for more information about the cars you are interested in.