Renault Twingo (2007 – 2012) Review

Renault Twingo (2007 – 2012) At A Glance

Quite cute and very roomy for four. Not a bad drive. Brilliant sliding rear seats. Sharp steering only 1.6 turns lock to lock.

Lacks the practical charm of the original and cute looks of the original.

Insurance Groups are between 9–21
On average it achieves 84% of the official MPG figure

The biggest enemy of the new Twingo is the Fiat 500. Twingo prices are a bit lower, starting at £7,500 for the base model, rising through £8,375 for the Dynamique, to £9,995 for the TCE 100 GT tested here.

So it's not bargain basic and cheap like the original Twingo that found lots of friends for its 1959 Mini simplicity, low price and Kermit-like cuteness.

Renault was so afraid the old Twingo would steal Clio sales (and profits) they never made it right-hand drive. And that low end of the market (£5k - £6k new) is now mopped up by basic version of the Fiat Panda, Ford Ka, Citroen C1, Peugeot 107, Toyota Aygo and Kia Picanto.

Starting at £7,500, there's obviously a bit of money to be made from the new Twingo, for Renault and its dealers alike, if they can find a market for the car.

Reviews for Renault Twingo (2007 – 2012)'s top 3 rivals

Mitsubishi Colt

Affordable to run, Ralliart version is great fun to drive, feels robust and reliable.

Hyundai i10

Cheap to own. All models have airc on, five seatbelts and flat folding rear seats. Rides and handles...

Peugeot 107

Cheap to run. Economical and perky 1.0-litre engine. Fun to drive. Decent cabin room. Ideal first car....

Renault Twingo (2007 – 2012) handling and engines

Engines range from 1.2 to Gordini 133
Readers report Real MPG to be between 28–55 mpg

Driving it, the gears are all very short, including top at just 20mph per 1,000rpm. So it's a bit raucous.

The short wheelbase means it's very darty and feels like you're driving on a racetack on an ordinary road, even though you're not going very fast. This will help testosterone teenagers impress their mates and their girlfriends without wiping out everyone in the car.

There's going to be a much quicker RenaultSport version with about 140bhp and I guess they'll do a sort of junior race series for them.

That might be the car's saviour. Get enough clever marketing behind a race series and the Twingo could acquire the kind of street cred that Vauxhall Corsas used to enjoy. Start a club. Run rallies and events. Maybe a spot of stunt driving. Grab the attention of the 18-30 crowd. You know when you've been Twingoed.

In trying to gauge the Twingo's appeal I gave rides to people at both ends of the age range. The 65 year old playboy liked the twinkling lights of the dashboard and digital speedo at night. The 17 year old girl, heavily into teenage fashion, just immediately liked it.

So, while it isn't a FIAT 500, it could have more appeal than I thought.

Remember that couple of Scottish birds in the Thelma and Louise commercials for the Peugeot 106? They made the 106 into a kind of icon and sold a lot of them.

We've got the MINI. We've got the FIAT 500. Maybe there is a market for an anti-retro different little car.

One that with those siding rear seats can seat four very comfortably indeed.

Engine	MPG	0-62	CO₂
1.2	50–55 mpg	12.3–15.0 s	119–130 g/km
Gordini 100	50 mpg	9.8 s	132 g/km
Gordini 133	42 mpg	8.7 s	155 g/km

Real MPG average for the Renault Twingo (2007 – 2012)

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

84%

Real MPG

28–55 mpg

MPGs submitted

Renault Twingo (2007 – 2012) interior

Boot space is 230–959 litres

Dimensions
Length	3600–3607 mm
Width	1654–1688 mm
Height	1460–1470 mm
Wheelbase	2367–2368 mm
Full specifications

Really, it's almost identical in size and concept to the Citroen C2, that has sold steadily for Citroen. And it's a more practical car than the C2 because the back seats slide by about a foot, giving a choice of bootspace or decent rear legroom, assuming in an 11' 10" car you're never going to need both.

BMW plays for much higher stakes in the cuteness market. Its MINI is really nothing more than a small BMW in a very desirable disguise. Which is why BMW can start them at an eye-popping £11,625 without, alloys, aircon or discount.

Renault is looking at a much more price-sensitive market. The kind of people who want a trendy little car, but baulk at forking out eight to nine grand for a three year old MINI. Precisely the same market that FIAT might have snatched away with the simply gorgeous, must-have, perfectly recreated 500.

Park a 500 next to a Twingo, then ask 100 people to stand beside to the car they like best and you'll soon see which one is going to sell at full price. There isn't even a Twingo under 120g/km.

So Renault is going to have to pull a few rabbits out of its hat.

The rear-sliding seat is one of them. You don't get that or the rear legroom in a 500 or even in a MINI (or in a base model Twingo Extreme), and the rear load and passenger carrying capabilities of both 500 and MINI fall far short of the Twingo's.

The Twingo's rev counter in a column pod and digital speedo in front of the passenger are a bit different looking, but they're so far apart that if you try to read both you end up with eyes like Marty Feldman's.

Renault Twingo (2007 – 2012) models and specs

Dimensions
Length	3600–3607 mm
Width	1654–1688 mm
Height	1460–1470 mm
Wheelbase	2367–2368 mm

Miscellaneous
Kerb Weight	925–1049 kg
Boot Space	230–959 L
Warranty	3 years
Servicing	12500–18000 miles

Costs
List Price	£7,552–£14,710
Insurance Groups	9–21
Road Tax Bands	C–G
Official MPG	42.2–55.4 mpg

Euro NCAP Safety Ratings
Adult	4
Child	-
Pedestrian	2
Overall	-

On sale until January 2012

Hatchback
Version	List Price	MPG	0-62
Expression 1.2 16v 3dr	£8,995	55.4 mpg	12.3 s
Gordini 100 3dr	£11,600	49.5 mpg	9.8 s
Gordini 133 3dr	£14,710	42.2 mpg	8.7 s

On sale until July 2010

Hatchback
Version	List Price	MPG	0-62
Expression 1.2 3dr	£7,695	51.3 mpg	15.0 s

On sale until January 2010

Hatchback
Version	List Price	MPG	0-62
Freeway 1.2 3dr	£7,552	50.4 mpg	15.0 s

Model History

June 2007: Prices announced
January 2008: New entry-level Twingo Extreme on sale
January 2009: New entry-level Twingo Freeway on sale
May 2010: New Twingo launched

June 2007

Prices announced

Dynamique 1.2 16V 75: £8,375. GT 1.2 TCE (Turbo Control Efficiency) 100: £9,995. Customising decals available from £15 and £62 plus fitting costs.

Standard equipment on New Twingo Dynamique includes brushed aluminium effect instrument surrounds, dark carbon injected dashboard, rev counter, 15 Alizar alloy wheels, sports body styling (foglights, body coloured side mouldings, sports bumpers) and 2 x 15W CD RDS radio.

Twingo GT in addition features leather steering wheel, aluminium effect pedals, air conditioning, 15 Noxiane alloy wheels, electrically adjustable and heated silver door mirrors, rear spoiler, visible exhaust pipe, GT sports suspension and extra tinted glass in rear windows and tailgate.

Twingo Dynamique available in seven colours, two non-metallic Pacific Blue and Capsicum Red, and five metallic, Pearl Black, Mercury, Tempest, Blaze and Extreme Blue. GT available in six colours, one non-metallic, Capsicum Red, and five metallic as per the Dynamique version.

January 2008

New entry-level Twingo Extreme on sale

Priced at £7,500 and has petrol 1.2 60hp engine. CO2 132 g/km. In UK showrooms from mid-February 2008. Features such as ABS with EBD (electronic Brake Distribution), driver and front passenger lateral airbags and brake assist all standard. Remote central locking with dead-locking and anti-drill door locks and insurance-approved engine immobiliser.

Twingo Extreme also has black internally adjustable door mirrors, fixed one-piece folding rear seat, 2 X 15W RDS radio CD with fingertip control, front fog lights, electric front windows, rev counter and 14 Fidji wheel trims. Options include decals such as Union Jack door handle graphics (£45) and wing badges (£15), or Cross of St. George wing badges (£15), white or black racing stripes (£80) or chequered flag door graphics (£80). 50.4 mpg.

Extreme 1.2 16v belt cam petrol 1,149cc: 43kw (60PS) at 5,500rpm, 93Nm (69 lb ft) torque at 4,250rpm. 0-60 14.5 seconds; top speed 96mph; combined consumption 50.4mpg CO2 emissions 132g/km (new VED Band C £115 pa) EU4, IG 3/10. £7,500.

Dynamique 1.2 16v belt cam petrol 1,149cc: 56kw (75PS) at 5,500rpm, 107Nm (79 lb ft) torque at 4,250rpm. 0-60 11.7 seconds; top speed 106mph; combined consumption 49.5mpg CO2 emissions 135g/km (new VED Band C £115 pa) EU4, IG 2/7. £8,375

GT 1.2 16v belt cam petrol turbo 1,149cc: 74kw (100PS) at 5,500rpm, 145Nm (107 lb ft) torque at 3,000rpm. 0-60 9.5 seconds; top speed 117mph; combined consumption 47.8mpg CO2 emissions 140g/km (new VED Band C £115 pa) EU4, IG 5/15. £9,995

January 2009

New entry-level Twingo Freeway on sale

Priced at £6,995. Has petrol 1.2 60hp engine and undercuts the entry-level Fiat 500 by over £1100 and the Ford Ka by over £830. Has remote control central-locking, electric windows, tinted glass, a 2 x 15W radio single CD with fingertip remote control and a height-adjustable steering wheel. Five colours one non-metallic, Capsicum Red and four metallic, Mercury, Pearl Black, Tempest and Blaze. Options include door handle graphics (£49) and wing badges (£15). Customers can also enhance the look of their Twingo Freeway with white or black racing stripes (£98) or chequered flag door graphics (£98).

May 2010

New Twingo launched

Expression becomes the entry-level version, priced from just £7,695. This replaces the previous Freeway version and comes with new interior upholstery. I-Music replaces the Extreme and features a revised 1.2 16V 75 engine, benefiting from a 16g reduction in CO 2 down to just 119g/km and therefore qualifying for nil vehicle excise duty. Internally, customers will enjoy Bluetooth connectivity and a 4x20W radio/CD with aux input and the distinctive ‘pod’ rev counter. Externally, I-Music is identifiable with its sports front bumper design, brushed aluminium-effect door mirrors and front fog lights. Priced at £8,695, I-Music is better-equipped and yet almost £600 less than the outgoing Extreme.

The GT’s TCe 100 engine is now Euro 5 compliant and benefits from a 6g reduction in CO2 to 132g/km and the 2010 specification now includes an upgraded 4x20W radio/CD with aux input and Bluetooth connectivity. Despite an increase in specification, GT is now priced at £10,695, over £400 less than its predecessor.

	CO2 g/km	Combined mpg	OTR Price
Twingo Expression 1.2 60	130	51.3	£7,695
Twingo I-Music 1.2 16V 75	119	55.4	£8,695
Twingo Dynamique 1.2 16V 75	119	55.4	£9,695
Twingo GT TCe 100	132	49.5	£10,695
Twingo Renaultsport 133 Cup	160	41.5	£12,100
Twingo Renaultsport 133	160	41.5	£12,850

What to watch out for

01-01-0001:

One reader reports of his Twingo 1.2 Freeway: "in 4,300 miles there hasnt been a week where something didnt go wrong or play up. A week after delivery it wouldn't start for love nor money, towed to the dealer and was diagnosed as a ecu fault and new one was ordered and fitted, then a few days later the digital dash failed, took 3 weeks to arrive and was fitted. There's a annoying rattle from behind the dash that the dealer says is not a fault and is unwilling to fix, took it to another dealer 60 miles away who said that would book it in and give me a car to drive until they fixed it, they have it as we speak and have been superb. The electric window got stuck half way down in the snow so went back to the dealer and got that sorted, and the car just rattles and squeaks non stop."

02-05-2010:

Similar tale of woe: "I have a 2010 Renault Twingo. Less than 3,000 miles in and within the space of 3 weeks everything that can go wrong seems to have gone wrong. The car's electronic computer failed whilst driving causing the whole car to shut down, resulting in it being towed to the dealer. The clutch went (not sure what went, i thought the cable had snapped but the most of clutch system has been replaced and modified) again whilst driving resulting in it being towed to the dealer. Now i fear the power steering is giving up with a loud wirring noise and heavier at low speeds (i have checked the fluid levels). And the radio keeps cutting out."

17-09-2013:

Strange report of problems filling the tank on 26k mile 4 year old Twingo. Diagnosed as stuck anti-splash valve, which is integral to the tank, so new tanke needed. New tank fitted after 70% contribution from Renault, but fault remained.

27-02-2018:

Report of failure of pedal box of 2009 Renault Twingo at 43.077 miles. Replacement cost £208.