Renault Clio (2001 – 2007) Review
Renault Clio (2001 – 2007) At A Glance
Well-equipped, good-looking hatch with a 'big car' feel. 172 grown to 182 and another cracking hot hatch. 4 Star NCAP crash safety rating.
Build quality niggles. Reports of ignition coil and auto gearbox failures.
Reviews for Renault Clio (2001 – 2007)'s top 3 rivals
.jpg?width=240&height=160&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=240&height=160&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=240&height=160&rmode=crop)
Model History
- January 2001
- March 2002
- July 2002
- April 2004
- September 2004
- December 2004
- January 2005
- January 2007
- February 2007
January 2001
Same body as 1998 - 2001 Clio but with new bonnet and lights from July 2001. Looks good on the streets and has some cred. High spec includes electro-hydraulic power steering, sunroof and driver's airbag.
March 2002
New 1.5 litre diesel engine. 80bhp 110mph version of 1.5dCi arrived. Has very low CO2 output of 110g/km, combined consumption of 67.3mpg and prices started at £9,595 for the 3-dr Expression Plus Freeway. Both Clio 1.5 diesels qualified for £80pa VED from April 2002, in 2006 VED was down to £50pa and in 2007 down to £35.
July 2002
Clio 172 Cup model from July 2002; facelift V6 from late 2002.
April 2004
ABS standard on all Clio from April 2004.
September 2004
New lightweight RenaultSport Clio 182 Cup launched September 2004 at £13,800. Has standard a/c rather than climate control.
December 2004
Clio Extreme based on Dynamique, with 15" ‘Alium’ alloy wheels and sports rear spoiler. Prices started at £8,795 for the 1.2 16V 75hp, £505 less than the Dynamique with free insurance for age 19+ on the 1.2 and 1.5 dCi engines.
Chill Pack (Air conditioning and CD Player) extra £500. Clio Rush based on entry-level Authentique. Standard kit includes ABS with EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution), 2 x 15W RDS radio cassette with four speakers and remote control, electric front windows and electric PAS. Also height adjustable driver’s seat, 60:40 split folding rear seat, 3 height adjustable rear headrests. Price from £7,995 for 60PS 1.2 petrol or £8,995 for 65PS 1.5 diesel.
January 2005
Continued alongside new Clio in 2005 as Clio Campus and Campus Sport. Campus has 1.2 60 petrol or 1.5 dCi 68 diesel; Campus Sport has 1.2 16V 75 and 1.5 dCi 68. Each engine is fully Euro IV emission compliant. Campus versions share the same equipment specification as previous special edition Clios they are based on, the Rush (Campus) and Extreme 4 (Campus Sport). Campus is priced at £7,895 for 1.2 60 and £8,995 for 1.5 dCi 68. Campus Sport priced at £8,595 for 1.2 16V 75 and £9,495 for 1.5 dCi 68.
January 2007
Clio Campus continued for 2007 with prices starting at £7,975 (initially with a £1,000 cashback offer making it just £6,975). Interior changes include addition of multifunction trip computer on Campus and front lateral airbags as a £200 option on Campus Sport.
Clio Campus Sport i-music Special Edition has tinted rear windows as well as a 4 x 22 radio/ single CD with a TunePoint – a jack socket positioned in the glove box to allow the connection of an MP3 player such as a Sony Walkman, Creative Zen or iPod allowing you to listen to all your favourite tracks in sporty and stylish surroundings of the Campus. This is in addition to the Sport’s extra equipment including alloy wheels, front sports seats, body coloured door mirrors and rear spoiler, front fog lamps and leather steering wheel and gearknob. Campus Sport i-music is available in two standard non-metallic colours, Glacier White or Capsicum Red, and four optional metallics, Pearl Black, Mercury, Extreme Blue and Tempest.
2007 Models distinguished by horizontal kink across boot lid.
February 2007
Campus five-door version from February 2007. Two engine choices, 1.2 8V 60 and dCi 68. Available in Campus trim only. Priced from £7,449 including £1,196 cashback.
What to watch out for
Bonnet cach issue: see recalls.
Reports of coil failures, similar to those affecting VWG cars. If this happens, must replace all four coils, not just one, or it could re-occur with another coil.
On 3-door models, clips holding electric front windows in place can pop out, the window winds up outside the doorframe and the regulator cables can stretch. Costs £200 - £300 to fix, but some dealers will fight for a 50% contribution from Renault even for cars up to 4 years old.
Complaints of seat material fraying. Complaint of rattling sunroof.
Some automatics have been prone to surging - cured by replacing faulty inlet manifold gaskets. Various other engine problems.
On petrol models, fuel tanks may pressurise, expelling petrol.
Reports of coil spring failures on 3 year old Clio 172.
Timing belts: 1.2 16vs seem to be suffering a lot of timing belt failures at mileages as low as 36,000. Best to change the belts at 5 years or 40k miles max. On 1,149cc D4F 16v and D7F 8v engines it is essential to change the timing belt, tensioners and the water pump every 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first). Early timing belt failures not unknown on RenaultSport Clio 172s, so best to change belt, tensioner and all pulleys at 4 years of 40k miles whichever comes first. Same goes for 1.4 16v engines on which the waterpump is driven by the timing belt.
Expect kerbing damage, easily spotted by damaged protruding plastic wheeltrims.
Continued high incidence of automatic transmission failures.
Manual transmissions prone to wearing their top casing that can necessitate a rebuild after 3 - 4 years and around 18k miles.
Automatic ATF cooler sits in engine radiator and can fracture, allowing coolant into transmission that wrecks it.
Jacking points can weaken at the front, and shape of jack head can punch a dent in the adjacent sill.
Unlike earlier Clio and Clio based Kangoo, this mode has a rear hinged bonnet. Make sure bonnet catch is adequately greased or it may not catch properly. The plastic secondary catch on these bonnets can fail so if the primary catch pops open air pressure can fling the bonnet back over the windscreen of the car leaving the driver driving 'blind'. This has had frequent exposure on BBC Watchdog.
Previous model problem of airbags being accidentally triggered can re-occur with this model of Clio.
On 1.5 dCi EGR valve should open to allow carbon dioxide, which acts as a cooling gas) into the combustion chambers when the engine is under load (>30% boost). This allows the combustion chamber temperature to drop and thus the temperature of the exhaust gases. If it sticks in the closed position the exhaust gas temperature will rise causing a) the turbo bearings to fail and b) engine oil into the induction system. This can cause the engine to run on its crankcase oil until it is either stalled or goes bang. Problems with EGR valves in Renault dCi engines are often the cause of rough running when the valve is stuck in the open position as well. In several cases turbos have blown but the EGR valve has not been replaced. Inevitably the new turbo unit will not last long.
Not unknown for older cars to fail MoTs on corroded rear brake pipes and main suspension arm bushes. The bushes can be extracted and replaced using a special tool.
