Renault Clio (2005 – 2009) Review
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Renault Clio (2005 – 2009) At A Glance
Refined, comfortable and well equipped. Excellent crash test rating. 1.5 dCi is very economical. RenaultSport Clio now 197PS.
Electric power steering feels odd.
There is no doubt that Renault has turned the Clio into a classy little car. You almost expect to see a Jimmy Choo shopping bag on the back seat along with a bunch of other designer labels.
It's very good looking. Better than the 207, in my eyes. And since that's its main competition it at first seems to have the job sewn up.
Nice colour range, too. It looks particularly good in dark metallic blue with alloys. And the solid Capsicum red that mine came in is a really rich red (always the best colour to photograph).
Of course, it is up against the much cheaper and even better looking Grande Punto as well. But for strange, snobbish, style reasons, many Brits who would be happy with a Renault or a Peugeot won't be seen dead in a FIAT.
Reviews for Renault Clio (2005 – 2009)'s top 3 rivals
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Renault Clio (2005 – 2009) handling and engines
Rooting around trying to zero the trip I found that ‘my' Dynamique was fitted with optional cruise control and speed limiter. This worked quite well on a horrible trip down the M4 in the rain via Gatso alley, which was fortunate because the front ‘Sport' seat squabs lack thigh support for someone my size and shape.
As a result of bad logistical planning, I had to make almost exactly the same journey the next day. But this time I had it sussed. M4, A303, A34, M4, A419, A417. I actually got back the 120 miles or so in one hour forty minutes without exceeding any speed limits, so that says quite a lot about the car and the cruise control. Fuel economy wasn't so brilliant. Just 32.49mpg over 310 miles, which is way short of the 42.8mpg official combined figure. However there may have been a disparity between my brim and the brim the car came with.
I found myself liking the Clio, though. It is undoubtedly the most chic small hatchback around. The 207 is much more fun to drive, but doesn't quite have the Clio's classy good looks. I liked the fit and finish of the trim: no cheap cost-cuttings there, and rather better than the hard plastics of the Leon I drove last week. I was trying to compare like for like against my favourite 207, the 1.4, but the obvious choice among the Clios has to be the 64mpg, 117g/km CO2, £50 a year VED 1.5 dCi 86. A little bit expensive at £11,840, but with enough ‘big car feel' for a high mileage driver to use as an economical business car.
Renault Clio (2005 – 2009) interior
Inside (the Dynamique) you get a nice steering wheel with height and reach adjustment, a driver's seat that comes back to the position you set it after someone else clambers into the back, enough head, leg and hiproom in the back for three normal sized people and curiously angled instruments, yet after a first drive you get used to them.
Ride quality is a bit clonky over suburban surface imperfections, though far better out on the open road. The ‘variable' power steering isn't very inspiring.
A few minor irritations are that on the 3-door the door pull is too far forward to give decent leverage for shutting the door, rear 3/4 vision is badly obscured by the door pillar so you have to trust the big, useful mirrors, the centre rear belt comes out of the roof so you have to clip it together before using it.
Model History
March 2005
All new, very chic Clio on same floorpan as new Micra, with Renault look but much more restrained styling than Megane and Vel Satis. 3,991mm x 1,768mm (2,025mm inc mirrors) x 1,484mm.
Ultra low CO2 and very economical 1.5 litre diesel engines. 5 Star NCAP occupant crash safety rating. 4 Star child safety rating. European car of the year 2006. Petrol engines 1.2 litres to 2.0 litres. Combined cruise control and speed limiter extra cost option. Passenger airbag can be deactivated by key switch.
RenaultSport Clio 197 launched Spring 2006 does 0-60 in 6.6, top speed 134, 31.7mpg, 209g/km CO2. Price £15,995.
December 2006
Dynamique S 138 launched at £12,180. Has 2.0 VVT 138 hp petrol engine. Offers refinement and comfort of a large car in a supermini sized package without compromising on power. Launched as three-door only, but new 138hp engine available as a five-door Clio in Privilège and Initiale trims, as well as a Clio 138hp auto, in the first half of 2007.
January 2007
Entry-level Clio Freeway priced at just £7,488 on the road. Three-door only and one engine, the 1.2 16V 75. Based on Authentique entry-level trim. Has multi-function trip computer, R.A.I.D. (Renault Anti-Intruder Device) linked into the remote central-locking, six airbags, ABS with EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution) and Brake Assist, Clio Freeway, 2 x 15W radio single CD with two speakers, two tweeters and fingertip remote control. Four colours – non-metallic, Pacific Blue and metallic, Mercury, Pearl Black and Flame Red. Insurance Group 2E.
May 2007
All-new 1.2 Turbo 100 TCE (Turbo Control Efficiency) engine. Based on existing 1.2 16V 75, features a turbo which provides the torque of the 1.6 VVT 111 engine, the power of the 1.4 16V and the economy and emissions of the 1.2 16V 75.
October 2007
Renaultsport Clio 197 Cup launched. Offers same chassis set-up as limited-edition 197 F1 Team R27 with its reduced ride height of 7mm and stiffer springs and dampers. White available as an option for the first time. Renaultsport wheels in anthracite are standard whilst satin black Speedline wheels are optional. Air conditioning is moved to the options list for those who want to reduce the car’s weight as much as is possible. Lightweight Renaultsport Recaro seats are also available as an option.
August 2008
Entire range overhauled. Clio three-door range now consists of four trims - Extreme, Rip Curl, Dynamique and Dynamique S.
Clio five-door range now has five trim levels available – Expression, Rip Curl, Dynamique, Dynamique S and Initiale.
Extreme is now the entry-level point for Clio three-door. It gains front fog lights and extra-tinted windows as standard. Extreme is available with a choice of two engines, the 1.2 16V 75 and dCi 86, priced at £9,495 and £11,145 respectively.
Entry-level point for the Clio five-door, Expression now benefits from cruise control, speed limiter and automatic headlights and wipers. Expression is available in a choice of four engines, the 1.2 16V 75, 1.2 TCe Turbo 100, 1.6 VVT Automatic and the dCi 86. Prices start from £10,365, rising to £12,565 for the five-door whilst the Sport Tourer starts from £11,215
Rip Curl version already came packed with a huge list of standard equipment and is available with two engine choices, 1.2 16V 75 and dCi 86. Prices range from £10,195 to £11,845 for the three-door, and £10,795 to £12,445 for the five-door.
Dynamique has been significantly enhanced to include 16” ‘Canasta’ alloy wheels, extended front wings, air conditioning, automatic headlights, automatic wipers and a 4x15w RDS radio CD. Dynamique is available in three engine choices, 1.2 16V 75, 1.2 TCe Turbo 100 and the dCi 86. Prices range from £10,695 to £12,345 for the three-door and £11,295 to £12,945 for the five-door.
Dynamique S which incorporates a revised interior with stunning features which reflect its sporty exterior. ,A stylish zinc grey centre console, dashboard inserts and air vent surrounds, white instrument dials, 16” ‘Lyria’ alloy wheels, part leather upholstery and carpet mats are now additional standard features to an already long list of equipment. Dynamique S has a choice of four engines, 1.2 TCe Turbo 100, 2.0 VVT 138 six-speed, dCi 86 and dCi 106 six-speed. Prices range from £11,980 to £13,680 for the three-door and £12,580 to £14,280 for the five-door.
Initiale is available in five-door only and already includes an impressive list of standard equipment including leather upholstery. Clio Initiale is priced at £15,700 for the 1.6 VVT 111 Automatic and £16,050 for the dCi 106 six-speed.
October 2016
Haynes manual now available for Renault Clio 2005 - 2009, price £22.95. More here.
What to watch out for
Timing belts need regular replacement.
Report of injection pump of 2007 1.5 diesel breaking up and sending shards into the injectors. Definitely not caused by incorrectly filling with petrol. The reason the tank had to be flushed out is that once an injector pump sends shards of metal into the common rail, it can flow back into the tank and the shards can be so small they are not caught by the fule filter so go on to damage the fragile injectors. Quoted £3,635 + VAT for repairs. Car had full Renault service history and Renault provided goodwill of 55%, dealer 10%, total 65%.
04-01-2016:Report of leaking sunroof leading to smoke coming from the steering column and horn sounding whilst driving. The airbag and horn needed replacing (£281) and a Renault dealer wanted £400 to redo the sunroof.
19-02-2019:Report of sunroof of 2006 Renault Clio failing to open.
